The Epson RX510 adds a film scanner to the standard home multifunction capabilities, all at an affordable price.

The Stylus Photo RX510 is an unusual All-In-One (AIO) as it's pitched as a photo studio. While lacking any sort of fax capability, it's also the first AIO to offer support for the scanning of slides and films. With a sticker price of AU$599, the RX510 looks like the most affordable way for users to obtain a complete home mini lab.

According to Epson, a group of users will soon be moving from an analog to a digital platform. For them, abandoning film altogether--with any old negatives that they have--may be a scary proposition. Hence, the RX510 was designed to allow them to digitize their current works while also allowing them to wet their feet in digicam waters. A basic photo editing software (ArcSoft PhotoImpression) is also included to help with these tasks.

In design, the RX510 doesn't wander too far from its elder brethren, the CX5100. Besides the darker greyish guise and the addition of a numeric pad, you'll be hard-pressed to find any difference externally. Delving further though, you'll discover that the RX510 does not feature the Japanese firm's DURABrite (pigment inks) technology, opting instead for a dye-based solution for a larger colour gamut--allowing better looking photos. Even though these inks will not last as long as its DURABrite associates, according to Epson, they resist smudges, water discoloration, and offer long lightfastness (prevents fading) when used in combination with the manufacturer's premium glossy photo media.

Setting up the RX510 is a breeze--if a little time consuming. Included is a startup guide detailing steps and instructions that are easy to follow. However, the full software installation took a rather lengthy 20 minutes. If you do not need the complete package, it's recommended that you pick only the programs you require, saving you valuable time.

The machine flips open like a music box from just below the scanner bed to reveal a spacious interior. You'll find ample room to work with when replacing or installing the INKdividual cartridges. The INKdividual system has a separate cartridge for each colour ink, so you don't have to spend replacing all the inks when only one is empty.

With printers, USB cables are usually attached to the rear. The RX510, on the other hand, sports a peculiar spin. The cable lines the left edge of the unit and connects to a port hidden beneath the top cover. To access it, you'll have to pop open the machine. Granted, this will prevent the capable from accidentally getting dislodged. It also means you won't be able to reuse your USB cable on other devices as easily.

Whether you're planning to scan, print, or copy, operating the RX510 is easy. On the front panel, clearly labelled buttons give users one-touch access to scan, copy, and photo print. On the front lip of the controls, you'll be able to find the 7-in-1 memory card reader protected by a plastic cover to prevent dust.

The RX510 produced respectable scores in our speed tests and with reasonable quality. This printer finished our 10-page test in 86 seconds or approximately 7 pages per minute. This puts the unit on par with mid-range dedicated photo printers such as Canon's i470D. For "borderless" A4-sized photo outputs, the RX510 manages to keep up with Canon's speedy MP730, churning out prints in 5.2 minutes.

With regard to quality, the results were mixed. Text came out very slightly blotchy and were only legible to 3pts font size. For photos, however, the prints turned out great with little visible dithering and no banding. Even prints on plain paper managed to impress.

The scanner and copier of the RX510 did very well with regard to colour fidelity--although the colours were not always matching. This AIO did not produce noticeably washed-out colours when copying. The copy still pales in comparison with the original, but nonetheless, it looks great on its own.

Like most AIOs that arrive without an automatic document feeder (ADF), copy speeds will never be decently quick. It took slightly more than 20 seconds to copy one monochrome sheet. Expectedly, copies of photos took longer needing about 6 minutes for high-quality prints.

Unlike typical film holders, the one found on the RX510 doesn't attempt to snap onto the slides. Instead, the holder attaches to the face of the scanner and the slides drop in easily. The scanner program has various filters, including the useful dust removal function. These worked reasonably well, with the exception of the grain reduction algorithm. On our scans, grains were still noticeable even with the settings set to high.

In all, we were pleased with the RX510's reasonable speed and quality. If faxing is not on your list of requirements, the RX510 should prove a compelling buy, especially if you're a photography buff. With the flexibility to print and process both silver halide and digital film, this multitalented machine has just about covered all the bases.

Epson Stylus Photo RX510
Company: Epson Australia
Price: AU$599
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: 1300 361 054

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