The argument for Kodak is still the same: econom for ink jets. This isn't enough for everyone though. You still have to think about how speed and quality compare with the competition. This was already a problem on previous models. So Kodak has updated its product: new ergonomics, new look, supposedly higher speeds. What about the quality?

After the ESP-5, it’s now over tto the ESP-7. With the exception of the black case, we have a totally new look machine, both in terms of aesthetic and functionality. There are two sections allowing the separation of 4x6” prints and A4s. The control panel has also been moved. It is now right at the front instead of on the side.

One real plus point, the panel also has new functions such as an ethernet port and Wi-Fi.
The ESP-7 has undergone some major changes, moving in the right direction Some problems remain however: the printer is extremely loud and the installation software takes a long time to load.

Kodak claims 30 pages per minute (ppm). In black and white draft mode, we actually got 23 ppm which is pretty good in fact. In standard mode, the results are less impressive. Black and white speed is 8.8 ppm, a very good score not mirrored by colour performance which gives only 4.6 ppm.

When it comes to quality, a sensitive subject, draft mode is an appropriate name. Although readable, the blacks lack intensity and drops are visible. Black and white graphs are very good: tinted areas are nice and even and text is precise Once again, results for colour work is not so good; tints lack homogeneity and characters that appear on a colour background are practically illegible.

Photos print quite fast: count about 50 seconds for a 4x6” colour print. A4s take more time: a little over 2 minutes per page. Photo quality is good. Images are sharp and drops and/or lines are not very noticeable or even invisible: obviously a good thing. If you really want to be critical, you could say that a bit more contrast would give a more faithful reproduction and also look better on the eye.

Cost per page

Cartridges		ISO* lifespan
Colour		415
Black and white		442

Office colour prints are pretty economical (only HP with its extra large cartridges getting close) . Colour photo prints also come in cheaper than the competiton. Kodak is still only working on a mono-cartridge system: when one colour is out you have to chuck the whole cartridge and waste ink. Try to recycle your cartridges as far as possible: by taking them back to the shop for example.

We had a look inside one empty cartridge to see : there was still a lot of ink in there. Best not to leave these chemicals in the office bin and even less throw them out who knows where.

* Autonomy: in the absence of an official figure for the ISO standard in force, we measured this autonomy ourselves, using our ISO reference document.