Product Reviews

Epson's original PictureMate was our favourite compact photo printer, but it was discontinued in favour of two new models. The PictureMate 500, reviewed in What's New, Shopper October 2005, retains the original's six-colour inkjet engine, but a preview screen makes it more expensive.

The PictureMate 100 is the new entry-level model. It costs about £50 less than the PictureMate 500, yet it has the same range of memory card slots and supports Epson's optional lithium-ion rechargeable battery. However, it prints with four dye-based colours rather than six pigment inks, and its preview screen is smaller than the 500's.

The 100 and 500 are similar in size and shape, but rather than smart black and silver, the PictureMate 100 is made from lavender and pearlescent white plastics that together remind us of a 1980s tracksuit. Print head alignment is still manual, but the single-page pattern is far quicker

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than the original PictureMate's lengthy routine.

The printer's LCD screen is small but clear. This is more than can be said for the menu system, which we found harder than most to understand. Screens are icon-based, and some have no explanatory text at all. When making prints from a memory card, it's possible to print a proof sheet or select individual prints and quantities directly on the screen. Basic colour effects such as black and white or sepia prints are available.

Direct printing proved quite rapid, with the PictureMate taking just 13 minutes and 23 seconds to produce six borderless photos from an SD card. Prints were sharp and detailed, with excellent colour accuracy, but they had a trace of grain and banding.

Unlike the PictureMate 500, the printer itself has no quality setting, so you must connect it to a computer to print at its best. The driver is simple but easy to understand. With Enhance Fine Quality selected, it took 16 minutes and 44 seconds to print our six borderless test photos, but the quality was impressive. Sharpness was visibly improved, banding was minimal and there was surprisingly little grain.

The PictureMate 100 takes a specific PicturePack, which comprises enough glossy paper and ink for 135 photos. Prints work out at 20p each, which is cheaper than most of the competition.

This printer isn't as fast as its dye-sub competitors, but its high-quality photos and range of direct printing options help make it great value.