Feb
05

Epson PictureMate Dash: A photo-Printing Marvel

The PictureMate line of small-format photo printers has always stood out, but Epson has really outdone itself this time, with its newest value addition, the sub-$100 Dash. Although the Dash is the low-cost version of the newest generation of PictureMates, it ofers features I am used to seeing only on printers that cost far more –from a suprisingly big 3.6-inch LCD screen to the ability to print from a wide range of sources. It’s also the fastest small-format photo printer I have seen at any price.

Though, like its predecessors, the Dash may resemble an ordinary lunchbox, opening the unit’s top cover reveals the controls and the surprisingly large 3.6-inch LCD screen panel underneath. The Dash is a litle bulky, but a separate battery option helps with portability. The unit can churn out about 140 photos per charge, according to Epson.

After a simple setup, the Dash can print from a memory card, PictBridge camera, USB key, or computer. The tiltable LCD screen offers an impressive array of editing commands that let you adjust brightness and color saturation, select black-and-white or serpia modes, remove red-eye, and add frames and graphics.

The Dash aptly named, coming in at 42 seconds per photo on our standard suite, the fastest time of any dedicated photo printer I hve ever tested. The Dash excels in terms of output quality as well. All of the photos I printed, regardless of source, qulify as true photo quality. They are one step down from what you might get at a professional photo lab or from a much more expensive printer, but easily a match for what you would expect from a local drugstore or photo shop. Cost per photo –25.3 cents per print for glossy and 32.3 cents each for matte — is the lowest of any dedicated small-format photo printer I have seen.

The Dash delivers a combination of features, speed, and output quality unheard of at this price.

Pros: Low cost. Low price per photo. Fast High-quality 4-by-6 inch output. Large LCD, particularly for the price.
Cons: Relatively big and heavy.
Usually Price: $99.9
Printer Category: Ink Jet
Type: Printer Only
Color or Monochrome: 1-pass color
Ink Jet Type: Dedicated Photo
Connection Type: USB
Maximum Standard Paper Size: 4″ x 6″
Number of Cartridges: 1
Number of Ink Colors: 4
Direct Printing from Cameras: Yes
Direct Printing from Media Slots: CompactFlash Type I, CompactFlash Type II, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, Secure Digital, MultiMedia Card, xD-Picture Card, MiniSD Card
LCD Preview Screen: Yes
Input Capacity: 20 sheets
Network-Ready: No
Duplexing: No
Cost Per Page (Color): 25.3 cents