In summary
Promoted as a ‘total photo solution for home users’, Epson’s Stylus Photo RX530 supports direct printing from PictBridge enabled cameras and most popular memory cards as well as computer-based printing from editing software. It also sports a high-resolution flatbed/film scanner that doubles as a copier for both photos and documents. Stand-alone users can scan, copy and print with one-touch simplicity and the bundled software provides easy integration with image and document editors and email utilities when the RX530 is connected to a PC. . . [more]
Full review
Promoted as a ‘total photo solution for home users’, Epson’s Stylus Photo RX530 supports direct printing from PictBridge enabled cameras and most popular memory cards as well as computer-based printing from editing software. It also sports a high-resolution flatbed/film scanner that doubles as a copier for both photos and documents. Stand-alone users can scan, copy and print with one-touch simplicity and the bundled software provides easy integration with image and document editors and email utilities when the RX530 is connected to a PC.
For direct printing, the RX530 has a three-way mode selector that lets users print from memory cards, scanned film/photo print originals or copying. Users who print from memory cards or via PictBridge can set the printer to print all images (individually or as index prints) or selected shots, which can be chosen from previews on the small LCD panel. Two copying settings are provided: 100% or fit-to-page.
A film holder that accepts a strip of six 35mm frames or four mounted slides is provided and you can scan and print film frames without connecting the RX530 to a computer. Simply unlock and remove the reflective scanning mat, clip the film strip or slides into the holder and locate it on the platen by fitting two knobs into the corresponding sockets on the edge of the platen. Use the LCD to select the type of original (reversal or negative/B&W or colour) and choose the frame to print and press the Start button. The process takes approximately one and a half minutes.
Although only a four-colour printer, the RX530’s MicroPiezo print head, AcuPhoto Halftoning software and Variable-Sized Droplet Technology are designed to deliver excellent print quality with fine detail and accurate colours in all operational modes. For prints from memory cards and editing software, the RX530 delivered surprisingly good print quality (though not quite as good as Epson’s six- to eight-colour photo printers). Direct prints from film tended to be rather contrasty and slightly over-saturated and you have to take care the negatives are clean and not faded, as on-board correction facilities are not provided.
As a scanner/copier, the RX530 is relatively fast and its resolution is an adequate match for up to A4 size print output. The test unit scanned an A4 photo print into editing software at same size with 300dpi output resolution in just 25 seconds and took 9 seconds to produce a preview of the scan. Scans of B&W originals took around 10 seconds, while document copying was completed at a rate of roughly four pages per minute. Previewing a film strip in Epson Scan’s Home or Professional mode took 32 seconds and a 3200dpi scan from 35mm film took between 2.3 and three minutes with dust removal engaged, producing a 3058 x 4373 pixel image of 38.25 MB. The end result was slightly contrasty but better than direct prints from film scans. Dust removal was quite effective.
It took just over five minutes and 40 seconds to produce an A4 print, including roughly 10 seconds of spooling time. A 10 x 15cm ‘snapshot’ print took two minutes and 50 seconds. The three coloured inks all ran out at roughly the same time – after we had produced the equivalent of 30 A4 prints. This gives an approximate per print cost of $4.20 per A4 print or $1 per 10 x 15cm snapshot print.
Some ink leakage occurred during our tests, showing up as streaking on the reverse sides of A4 prints. The only times this could have affected the resulting print quality was on printouts made on plain office paper. No prints on photo papers were affected.
Prints showed only slight traces of the surface irregularities that can affect inkjet photo prints. No signs of metamerism were detected and prints dried quickly and tolerated normal handling. Epson makes no claims for the longevity of prints made with this ink set.
Overall tonal reproduction was good for the price of this printer but Imatest showed the colour gamut to be restricted, although the distribution of hues was more even than in the two Canon printers, which accounted for the RX530’s slightly better green and blue reproduction. The Canons had a slight edge with skin tones. [27]
The above plot shows the limited colour gamut of the RX530’s output, along with the compression of the blues and greens and bluish-purple hues. We can’t explain the irregularity in the top (red/orange) corner, nor the jaggedness of the plot lines.
The hue plot confirms the findings of the L*a*b colour space plot and shows the high levels of compression in the darkest and lightest tones. In an ideal situation, this graph should show evenly-spaced vertical lines to indicate an even distribution of hues and tonal intensities.
Specifications
Maximum print resolution: 5760 ‘optimised’ dpi
Maximum scan resolution: 1200 x 2400dpi
Colour scanning bit depth: 48-bit input and 24-bit output
Copying reduction/enlargement:
Interfaces: USB 2.0 high speed, PictBridge, slots for CF, SD/MMC, MS, SM & xD cards
Paper sizes: A4, A5, A6, Letter, B5, 100 x 150mm, Legal, 4″ x 6″, 5″ x 7″, Envelopes
Ink cartridges: T0561 black, T0562 cyan, T0563 magenta, T0564 yellow.
Dimensions (wxhxd): 432 x 199 x 413mm
Weight: 7.8kg
Retailers
CamBuy
www.cambuy.com.au
Digital cameras, lenses and accessories with 100% genuine Australian manufacturer’s warranties.
Ph: (02) 9029 2219
Camera House
www.camerahouse.com.au
Ph: 133 686
The largest speciality photographic retail chain in Australia.
Camera Pro
www.camerapro.net.au
CameraPro Pty Ltd
Suite 607, 180 Queen St, Brisbane 4000
Tel: 07 3333 2900
Australian owned and run company based in Brisbane.
Camerasdirect
www.camerasdirect.com.au
Retailer of digital camera equipment and more.
Secure online shopping and delivery across Australia.
Ph: 1300 727 056
Camerastore.com.au
Camerastore.com.au
Ph: 1800 155 067
Camera-Warehouse
www.camera-warehouse.com.au
Comprehensive range of digital cameras and accessories online (www.camera-warehouse.com.au) and an online print service (www.royalexpress.com.au).
Digital Camera Warehouse
www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au
174 Canterbury Road 367 High Street
Canterbury Northcote
NSW 2193 VIC 3070
Ph: 1300 365 220
Electronics Warehouse
www.electronicswarehouse.com.au
1300 801 885
Australian retailer of Vapex rechargeable batteries offering factory direct prices and fast, free shipping Australia wide.
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Photographic Equipment & Supplies – Retail & Repairs. Click here for list of stores.
Ted’s Cameras
1800 186 895
Big range of cameras and photographic products with stores in most states and online.
Rating
Rating (out of 10):
- Build: 8.5
- Ease of use: 8.5
- Print Resolution: 8.5
- Print Colour Gamut 6.5
- OVERALL: 9
