Epson R260 Ink
Stylus Photo R260 Ink Cartridges

Epson R260 Printer Review

A perfect match for amateur photographers, the Epson Stylus Photo R260 includes convenience and efficiency with impressive quality. Using inkjet technology, which delivers small droplets of printer ink through hundreds of nozzles, the 6 colors of Epson R260 ink are precisely placed and layered to create brilliant photographs that can last up to 200 years in an album and under the right conditions.

A 4x6-inch borderless picture can be printed in as little as 13 seconds, though that slows to about 30 seconds when using a higher resolution mode. When simply printing text, either standard black or in color, as many as 30 pages per minute can be produced. This output rate allows users to use the R260 in an office setting if needed, though it is clearly intended to be an at-home device. The sleek, black and silver design will fit nicely with modern decors, while the compact size of 18x21x11 inches makes it very easy to store. For photographers that like to print on the road, the R260 weighs only about 15 pounds, so it will not be difficult to transport.

The high-definition Epson R260 ink comes in six colors – cyan, magenta, yellow, black, light cyan, and light magenta. Each color of printer ink has a printhead that contains 90 nozzles, ejecting dots that are as small as 1.5 picoliters, creating a maximum optimized resolution of 5760x1440 dpi. Though the black supply can only yield about 300 pages, the other Stylus Photo R260 ink cartridges can yield up to 515 pages. Users that print frequently may find themselves buying replacements more often than preferred, but third-party vendors offer remanufactured Epson R260 ink cartridges that cost less than half the price of the OEM versions, reducing operational expenses.

A computer can be connected to this inkjet printer through a standard USB 2.0 port. A PictBridge port is also present for users to connect a phone or digital camera to, which eliminates the need for a computer entirely. A number of media types can be printed on as well, including various types of photo paper, envelopes, and even CDs and DVDs. This versatility makes the R260 a top choice of photographers and creative individuals.

This unit could be functional in a small office environment, but the target audience that Epson was hoping to appeal to is photo enthusiasts. The six colors of smudge and fade-resistant Stylus Photo R260 ink provide the additional detail and vibrancy to create photos that flourish in a professional atmosphere, making this printer a good buy.