Ricoh MP C3004 Series Review

Good: Improved touchscreen control panel, versatile paper-handling features, optional Fiery controller.
Bad: PostScript is only optional.
Bottom Line: New color MFPs with strong features for the small-to-medium offices.
Vendor:
Product:
Price:
Intended Users:
Ricoh
MP C3004/MP C3504
$12,689-$15,155
Small, Medium
Speed Black:
Speed Color:
Processor:
Memory:
30ppm-35ppm
30ppm-35ppm
1.33GHz
2GB

Product Overview

Ricoh has refreshed its older MP C6003 Series with four new devices. This review will focus on the MP C3004 and MP C3504 devices. The MP C3004 prints and copies at 30ppm in both black and color, while the MP C3504 has an engine speed of 35ppm in both black and color. There is a 25-second warmup time and a first-color-copy-time of 7.1 seconds. Both MFPs offer printing, copying and scanning features as standard, but faxing is an option.

The MP C3004 ($12,689) and MP C3504 ($15,155) starts with a 1.33GHz processor, 2GB of memory and 250GB hard drive. Users can optionally add another 250GB hard drive and additional memory that maxes out at 4GB. PCL and PDF printing language is standard, but PostScript is only offered as an option. USB and Ethernet connectivity is standard, and Ricoh offers optional parallel and wireless connectivity. Mobile printing is supported via Ricoh’s Smart Device Connector app.

Ricoh has improved its control panel by providing a 10.1″ touchscreen with touch-and-swipe functionality referred to as the Smart Operation Panel. Users can customize their own commonly-accessed workflows, such as one-touch printing or copying, applications or accessing the web. Users can download widgets and apps from Ricoh’s Application Site.

Ricoh also offers an optional Fiery color controller that includes a 2.9GHz processor, 2GB of memory, 500GB hard drive and Ethernet connectivity. It supports various color tools, such as ICC profile color chart, RGB color tests, and ColorWise Pro tools.

More details on these devices are in our Features section below.

The MP C3004 and MP C3504 are scalable machines with strong features for small-to-medium offices that are looking for color and multifunctionality.

Features

Paper supplies: Both devices come with a standard paper capacity of 1,200 sheets fed from two 550-sheet trays and a 100-sheet bypass. Users can optionally add a second two-tray bank for 1,100 more sheets or add a 2,000-sheet large-capacity tray. There is also an optional 1,500-sheet large-capacity tray as well. Lastly, there is a 550-sheet option, which requires an optional caster table. Total paper capacity is 4,700 sheets.

There is a standard 220-sheet single-pass duplexing feeder.

Output and finishing features: The C3004 and C3504 starts with a standard 500-sheet output tray. There’s an optional 125-sheet one-bin tray and a 250-sheet internal shift-sort tray.

There are multiple finishing options. First, there is a 250-sheeet internal finisher that includes stapleless finishing of up to 5 sheets. Second, there is a 500-sheet dual-position internal stapler that staples up to 50 sheets. Users can add an optional 2/3-hole punch kit to the finisher. In addition, there’s a 1,000-sheet hybrid stapling/stapleless finisher with 50-sheet multiposition stapling, 5-sheet stapleless capability and optional 2/3-hole punch kit. Finally, there is an optional external 1,000-sheet stapler finisher with 50-sheet dual-position stapling. A 2/3-hole punch is optional for this finisher as well.

Multifunctional features: Scan-to functions include email (with LDAP support), folder (SMB and FTP), and URL. Scan-to-media is supported with an optional USB/SD card slot option, which gives users the capability to scan to a USB flash drive and other similar devices.

There is a standard server for document management functionality that stores up to 3,000 documents, 2,000 pages per document and a maximum of 200 folders.

The optional fax kit runs at 33.6kbps with 4MB of memory. Users can purchase additional memory of up to 64MB. LAN fax and Internet fax is supported.

Security features: Ricoh continues to expand its security options, including the ability to make copying secure and confidential, user authentication, and the ability to set limits of printing by user. Also offered is watermarks, encrypted protection and hard drive data overwrite.

  • Automatic Document Feeder?
  • Duplexing?
  • Ethernet Connectivity?
  • Wireless Connectivity?
  • Mobile Printing/Scanning?
  • Finishers?

Shortcomings

PostScript is only available as an option – most devices in this level of the market usually include it as standard.

About

Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions.

The majority of the company’s revenue comes from products, solutions and services that improve the interaction between people and information. Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialized industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability initiatives. Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change. Ricoh helps companies transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of their employees.

For further information, please visit https://ricoh-usa.com/en/About-Us.

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