Advanced-level home users and small-office users are the target markets for Lexmark International's latest addition to its Z series of colour ink jet printers. The Lexmark Z52 Color Jetprinter (AU$399) has a maximum resolution of 2,400 by 1,200 dpi. And like its predecessor, the Z51, the Z52 uses seven picoliters per ink droplet for general fine-quality output, but higher performance and faster speed rates give the Z52 an edge.
In its beige and grey case, the Z52, which measures 33 by 46 by 53 cms (HWD), has just two control buttons -- for power and paper feed. Included are black cartridges ($66.55) and colour ink cartridges ($78.65). An optional photo cartridge ($86.90) can be substituted for the black cartridge for photo printing, but it isn't essential given the printer's high-resolution capability.
The driver application's user interface guides you smoothly through user-controlled settings for print quality (four options) and advanced colour adjustments for halftone, brightness, contrast, saturation, and colour settings. Job-finishing options include collation, reverse page order, handouts, posters, booklets, and two-sided printing.
The Z52's 100-page capacity input tray and 50-page capacity output tray can handle envelopes to custom paper (3 to 8.5 inches wide to 5 to 17 inches long). The duty cycle is 1,666 pages per month.
Installation using the parallel port was quick and simple, but with the USB connection we had to change some settings in the Windows printer properties screen manually. A 25-page mixed-text print job that took 5 minutes 38 seconds with the Z51 with a USB connection and 7 minutes 8 seconds with a parallel connection was completed in 4 minutes 40 seconds in both modes by the Z52.
Also note that though a discerning eye can detect the improvement in photo printing in 2,400- by 1,200-dpi resolution versus 1,200- by 1,200-dpi, the difference is not readily apparent -- for most applications; the faster 1,200-by-1,200 mode produces acceptable quality output.
The Lexmark Z52 Color Jetprinter is a fine, speedy printer at a compelling price.
Lexmark Z52 Color Jetprinter
Company: Lexmark
Ph: 1300 362 192; Fax: 02 9930 3550
Price: AU$399.
Rating: 4 Star
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