Canon S600

Generic colour performance was more impressive though, and the S600 reproduced smooth colour fades with only mild banding. Colours were stronger than the DeskJet 980cxi, although the composite make-up of some colours was evident, unlike the smooth colours of the Stylus Photo 890.

Photo printing wasn't a strong point for the S450, and the S600 isn't significantly better. Speed was good though, with an A4 print appearing in less than three minutes, even on the maximum settings. However, the S600 had problems resolving fine detail, and the colour balance was also difficult to get right. More importantly though, was the level of grain, which gave photos a sandy look. Dark areas also tended to be saturated, destroying the fine shadow details in our test image. The DeskJet 980cxi achieved smoother, more detailed results, and the Stylus Photo 890 was frankly in a different league with its superbly crisp and highly realistic prints.

The S600 is an excellent printer for text printing and general colour use. Text quality and performance, even in draft mode, is among the best I've seen, and colour performance is similar to that of the DeskJet 980cxi, which is impressive given the £34 price difference. Photo printing is poor though, and if this is a major priority then the Epson Stylus Photo 890 should be your preference.

It's difficult to wholeheartedly recommend the S600. A £161 printer should be able to print good photos, and the S600's grainy images lacked the more professional look of those produced by the 980cxi. The S600 is a good inkjet at a competitive price, but the 980cxi remains the better all-round printer.

Author: Gareth Ogden