Kodak ESP C110 multi-function inkjet printer-scanner

Kodak's printers have tended to be relatively expensive up-front and cheaper to run in the long term due to lower ink costs.

The ESP C110 is part of a new line-up of printer-scanners that are cheaper to buy and slightly more expensive to run. There are also simplifications in the design, not all of which are to the user's benefit.

The chunky black plastic case is taller than previous models and it sits larger on the desk or table, when open. This is because paper now feeds straight through the printer section rather than doubling back on itself. It holds 100 sheets in a folding, nearly vertical tray at the back.

The control panel, to the right of the scanner lid, has a small screen set into it at a fixed angle, and simple controls to make scans and copies. There is a single memory card slot at the front, which can take SD and Memory Stick cards, but no USB input socket for direct printing from a camera. It's not a network model – it connects to the computer using USB.

Kodak has simplified the print engine of its inkjet models: rather than the old five-colour print, with different blacks for printing on plain and photo paper and a clear overlay layer to protect prints from ultraviolet light, it now only has one black and no overlay. The company says that improved ink formulation makes both unnecessary.

The printer was slow, with our tests showing maximum speeds of 3.8 pages per minute (ppm) for black prints and 3.3ppm for colour. A colour photocopy took 29 seconds, which is reasonable, but not great, though the accuracy of its colour reproduction was well above average and close to the originals.

Other prints were also good, with clean, black text and bright colours on plain paper and both pastels and vivid colours coming through as expected in photo prints. Photos also showed highlight and shadow detail well.

Although the costs of the two ink cartridges have risen slightly, the ESP C110 is still considerably cheaper to run than most of its competition. We calculate costs per page of 1.1p for a black page and 3.9p for colour, both of which are very economical.