DCP-150C

The entry-level Brother DCP-150C looks similar to the Brother DCP-350C, but looks less sophisticated in its white and grey livery.

The Brother DCP-150C's scanning functions are strong, with a maximum resolution of 600x2400dpi and a well-supported, hinged lid that can be raised high enough for bulky items. But although the Brother DCP-150C is one of the fastest models we've seen in terms of colour copying, results came out dark and dull. Mono copies were also dark and not as crisp as we'd like.

The Brother DCP-150C did beat its sibling (the Brother DCP-350C) in draft printing mode, but text was parsimoniously feint. The Brother DCP-150C produced good-looking 'best quality' text documents and, with a massive top resolution of 6000x2400dpi, photos were crammed with detail. But photo prints took an age and the Brother DCP-150C needed four minutes to produce an A4 photo. If you want excellent photo prints, it's probably worth the wait - and scan quality at 300dpi was second only to the Brother DCP-350C.

Brother provides a PictBridge connection so photos can be sent directly from camera to printer, but you're limited to a text-based selection menu. More usefully, both Brother units have power cables plugged into the side of the unit, allowing you to save space by pushing the Brother DCP-150C right up against the wall. The Brother DCP-150C has memory card slots along the front, while the ink cartridges are easy to get to via a front-facing compartment.

The Brother DCP-150C has an ink management button and clearly labelled colour and mono copy, scan and photo capture buttons. Other buttons adjust the photocopier output. It's all very easy to use. The Brother DCP-150C feels well built - although an occasional humming sound concerned us - but we were less convinced by the bundled software.