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Large format scanner claims

INDUSTRY ROUND-UP: Ricoh claims 1200 dpi for new Aficio MP W5100/MP W7140 - but is it really?

Ricoh Aficio MP W5100/MP W7140
Ricoh Aficio MP W5100/MP W7140

Ricoh Americas Corporation has announced the new Aficio MP W5100 and MP W7140 wide format digital imaging systems with color scanning and printing capability. Without going into specific features and benefits, these two new multi-function devices are not unlike similar scanner / printer combos from KIP, Oce and Xerox.

Achieving parity with their competitors in the economic downturn is as important to Ricoh as it is to Xerox, Oce and KIP. Ricoh say that "the Aficio MP W5100/MP W7140 feature fast output speeds up to 10 and 14 ppm respectively, placing them near the top of the market amongst their competitors". Near the top of the market? Seldom do we hear a press statement so modest in its claim. Press releases seldom trumpet anything less than "market leading". Brownie points for Ricoh then. Well, not quite. What follows is a big disappointment.

"In addition to the high speeds," say Ricoh, "the products offer high resolution color scanning at up to 1200 dots per inch (dpi) with the included TWAIN driver."

In reading this, we assumed that the Ricoh Aficio MP W5100 and MP W7140 wide format digital imaging systems are 1200 dpi optical resolution scanners. We got quite excited about this because other than the Contex SD Series there are no true 1200 optical resolution scanners at present. Right now, 1200 dpi optical resolution is a "market leading" feature. However, when we looked at an image of the scanner which is supplied with the Aficio MP W5100 and MP W7140, it looked awfully like an OEM version of the 36" wide, 600 dpi optical resolution Graphtec CSX300. Ding dong. Alarm bells began to ring. We then took a good look at the bucketful of specifications supplied with the press release and there it was, "150 – 600 dpi (1200 dpi with enhancement)". (Click here to see the original press release with the full specifications.)

The Aficio MP W5100 and MP W7140 large format digital imaging systems have a maximum of 600 dpi optical resolution, not 1200 as you might think. We were certainly fooled when we first read that statement.

Of course, Ricoh's new Aficio devices can scan at 1200 dpi interpolated, just not 1200 dpi optical. Semantically, their carefully worded description is correct. However, 1200 dpi interpolated ("enhanced") resolution is not "high resolution" in the same way that 1200 dpi optical is. We and many other people understand that only optical resolution is an indicator of image sharpness. All and any interpolation or "enhancement" is a fudge.

Most editors will not question Ricoh's statement. They will print it as they receive it. Nor will they print the long and stodgy-as-porridge list of technical specifications which Ricoh supply which set the record straight. No, most editors will simply print that the new Aficio MP W5100 and MP W7140 offer a 1200 dpi high resolution capability. Our advice to you, the reader, comes too late. Most publications have already unwittingly perpetuated this inadequately qualified information.

We believe that Ricoh perceive their new products to have inadequate optical resolution. (Why else would their press release claim 1200 instead of 600 dpi resolution?)

We believe that Ricoh recognise that 1200 dpi optical resolution is the emerging standard and that they feel that their new products at just 600 dpi optical are under-powered. Ricoh should be arguing that no-one in their right mind scans large format documents at 1200 dpi optical, that it is unnecesary as most documents are scanned at no higher than 400 dpi. However, this argument is unfashionable in a market where sellers try their best to convince buyers that very high optical resolution is best and consequently desirable. This industry has much to answer for. Just like Oce who recently announced a new CCD-based scanner with the laughable statement that it has 9600 resolution suitable for architects and engineers, this is a flawed attempt to create a spurious sales benefit while hiding an assumed weakness which is nothing of the sort!

Pity. The Ricoh Aficio MP W5100 and MP W7140 wide format digital imaging systems deserve better. Not to mention you, the reader!