Ricoh SP C242 Toner
Aficio SP C242 Toner Cartridges

Ricoh SP C242 Printer Review

The Ricoh Aficio SP C242 multifunction color laser copier has some of the speed and output quality that have made its larger cousins so appealing, but doesn't take up a lot of desk space, making it very appealing for small offices. It handles scanning, copying, and printing, while the SP C242SF model also includes faxing. Both share the same high-capacity Ricoh SP C242 printer toner supplies, however.

With an automatic document feeder perched on top, the SP C242 is ready for fast-paced scanning, without requiring users to manually feed each page. A flatbed scanning surface is available as well, and the 250-sheet main tray can be augmented, so that the machine can hold up to 750 sheets total. This gives it room to grow to support more users.

Even though it isn't as bulky as a mid-sized office machine, the SP C242 is a little on the large size for a small office unit. It measures 18.7x16.5x19.4 inches, and it weighs 66.2 pounds, although this does include the Aficio SP C242 toner supplies as well.

Reviewers noted that the output quality is fairly average, though color output is a bit disappointing. As a result, it is recommended for internal use, rather than something that would be presented to a client.

The cost of toners may be a problem for the small office. Although the Ricoh SP C242 toner cartridges are available in high capacity versions, they are expensive to replace. Each Aficio SP C242 toner cartridge can provide up to 6,500 pages of output, which does keep the cost per page fairly low.

Overall, the SP C242 is a smart choice for small offices with moderate volumes. Those on a tighter budget may find that they will spend too much on Ricoh SP C242 toner each time they need replaced, however.