Comparative Test of 8 MFCs with Fax: An Overview
Brother MFC-5860CN and MFC-845CW
There are two MFCs coming from Brother in our test, using the same type of ink-tanks. One has a high paper capacity with two trays (Brother MFC-5860CN) and is fit for a busy office, the other one, Brother MFC-845CW, sports a wireless phone. It also can print wireless (WLAN).
Their four separate ink-cartridges contain pigmented ink and work without a chip or a device to prevent refill. The piezo-printhead needn´t be changed in the printer´s lifetime.
| Brother-MFCs | ||
|---|---|---|
| MFC-5860CN | MFC-845CW | |
| Price (approx.) | 230 Euros | 380 Euros |
| Cardreader | yes | yes |
| Pictbridge | yes | yes |
| Display for preview | no | yes |
| ADF | yes | yes |
| Connections | USB, Ethernet | USB, Ethernet, Wireless LAN |
| Single Ink | yes | yes |
| Papertray | 100 sheets + 250 sheets | 100 sheets + photo-tray 10 x 15 cm |
| Additional features | — | DECT-phone comes with MFC |
| © Druckerchannel | ||
Canon Pixma MP830
Canon´s MFC Canon Pixma MP830 has single ink-tanks with a permanent printhead, a better solution than the cheaper single-use type.
Valuable additional features are: Two separate papertrays, a duplexer, and CD/DVD-print.
Epson Stylus 7000F
It took Epson quite a while to launch a MFC with fax. Their Epson Stylus DX7000F comes with the same undersized ink-cartridges we find in the D78 - a nuisance for an office device.
| Canon- and Epson-MFCs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Canon Pixma MP830 | Epson Stylus DX7000F | |
| Price (approx.) | 300 Euros | 160 Euros |
| Cardreader | yes | yes |
| Pictbridge | yes | yes |
| Display for preview | yes | no |
| ADF | yes | no |
| Connections | USB | USB |
| Single Ink | yes | yes |
| Papertray | 1 x 150 and 1 x 150 sheets | 100 sheets |
| Additional features | CD/DVD-print / duplexer | — |
| © Druckerchannel | ||
HP Officejet J5780 and HP Officejet Pro L7580
DRUCKERCHANNEL has chosen two MFCs from HP with a fax: HP Officejet J5780 and the new HP Officejet Pro L7580. The latter has already been testet by DRUCKERCHANNEL as HP Officejet Pro L7780. The smaller J5780 is the only one in this test without a cardreader.
| HP-MFCs | ||
|---|---|---|
| HP Officejet J5780 | HP Officejet Pro L7580 | |
| Price (approx.) | 150 Euros | 300 Euros |
| Cardreader | no | yes |
| Pictbridge | no | yes |
| Display for preview | no | no |
| ADF | yes | yes |
| Connections | USB | USB, Ethernet |
| Single Ink | no | yes |
| Papertray | 100 sheets | 250 sheets - optional additional 350-sheet-tray |
| Additional features | 3 years warranty for 10 Euros (J5785) | 3 years warranty (limited offer) |
| © Druckerchannel | ||
Kodak Easyshare 5300
The only MFC in this test without a fax comes from Kodak (Kodak Easyshare 5300). They weren´t able to supply their Easyshare 5500, which costs an additional 100 Euros and comes with fax, ADF, and duplexer. Kodak boasts about very low cost of print, this is checked by DRUCKERCHANNEL on page 9.
The Easyshare 5300 has a sizable display for preview, a cardreader (which, with severe limitations, can be used as a storage device), a pictbridge-connection, and a separate tray for photos (10 x 15 centimeters).
Lexmark X9350
Lexmark tries to prove they can build high-quality MFCs by putting the Lexmark X9350 on the market. Too bad they didn´t focus on single ink cartridges, as they once tried with the J110. Lexmark is the only manufacturer today which delivers printers and MFCs with combined cartridges only, that is, all colors in one cartridge with a single-use printhead.
| Kodak- and Lexmark-MFCs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kodak Easyshare 5300 | Lexmark X9350 | |
| Price (approx.) | 200 Euros | 300 Euros |
| Cardreader | yes | yes |
| Pictbridge | yes | yes |
| Display for preview | yes | yes |
| ADF | no | yes |
| Connections | USB | USB, Ethernet, Wireless LAN |
| Single Ink | no | no |
| Papertray | 100 sheets | 150 sheets + optional 2nd papertray |
| Additional features | 2 x USB - frontside | duplexprint |
| © Druckerchannel | ||
