Group test: what's the best large-format printer?

5. Samsung CLP 770ND

• Reviewed on: 19 October 10
• RRP: £645.95 inc VAT
• Rating:

We’d be happy to use the well-built and speedy Samsung CLP 770ND network colour printer for everyday print jobs that required splashes of colour. However, we couldn’t recommend this network colour printer as a genuine alternative to a professional print house if you need to reproduce detailed images or require faithful colour reproduction.

4. Brother MFC-J6910DW

• Reviewed on: 11 February 11
• RRP: £350 inc VAT (RRP £450)
• Rating:

As an A3 multifunction device, the Brother MFC-J6910DW goes about its tasks with aplomb. It's fantastically well featured and connected, and A3 performance is good. Its A4 showing was a little more disappointing, though, and we'll really want to see that price fall below the £300 mark before we can give it a ringing endorsement.

3. Kyocera FS-C5350DN

• Reviewed on: 19 October 10
• RRP: £499 inc VAT
• Rating:

Relatively quick off the mark, and with sharp text output and Kyocera's famed economical running costs, the Kyocera FS-C5350DN is a great network colour printer. However, the port for USB flash drives is inconveniently placed, and the colour range a little limited.

2. HP Officejet 7500A

• Reviewed on: 17 January 11
• RRP: £193.49 inc VAT
• Rating:

If you don't mind the small input tray and lack of double-sided printing, the HP Officejet 7500A A3 inkjet multifunction printer is an excellent choice for high quality and large format document printing. It's also able to produce good quality A4 and A3 photo prints.

1. Epson Stylus Pro 3880 [PCA]

• Reviewed on: 2 September 10
• RRP: £984.89 inc VAT
• Rating:

The Epson Stylus Pro 3880 is that most remarkable of things – a desktop A2+ printer that's quiet, easy to use and which produces great-looking prints. Ideal for use in a small offices, photo studios and for printer proofs, we simply can’t recommend it highly enough.