Review: Epson Stylus Photo RX640 multifunction device

This MFD (multi-function device) replaces the Epson Stylus Photo RX520.

Like its predecessor, it's a standard-feed model that takes paper in at the back and spits it out through a tray at the bottom of the front of the unit.

The landscape scanner sits above the print unit and, as with all such devices, you lift the scanning unit up to replace the ink cartridges.

Thanks to their space saving nature, MFDs are becoming ever more popular and, as a result, manufacturers are churning out more and more units.

The idea behind the Stylus Photo range is to combine standard printing and scanning with photo quality capabilities. Since it's designed for home users (few businesses have a need to print colour photos), there's no fax facility.

The front of the printer is home to a 2.5in LCD screen, which is clear and easy to read. At first, the menu system and various buttons are a little confusing, but it doesn't take too long to get to grips with it.

As with the RX520, the memory card reader is mounted on the front of the scanner unit, which isn't the easiest place to access. It reads an impressive array of cards, though - every type of memory card we could think of, except Memory Stick Duo, although these can be inserted using an adapter.

Both scans and photo quality prints are extremely good - the latter is almost indistinguishable from similarly priced full-on inkjet photo printers. However, the quality of text prints isn't quite so impressive.

Draft quality is poor but readable, and while normal quality shows an improvement, it still looks slightly blurry due to ink bleed.

At over £200 it's by no means the cheapest of MFDs, but there's not much the Stylus Photo RX640 from Epson can't do.

That said, it's aimed very much at the home market and anyone wanting both a home-office workhorse and a photo printer will have to look elsewhere. Brother's MFC-820CW is worth considering.