Which Inkjet Printer

[BIGEYE]

I currently use a Canon MP640 inkjet printer for my photos & docs, and also for scanning. It is now time to replace the cartridges (again), so considering replacing the printer as I've had this one for some time now. I have been a Canon user for many years now and found them better than Epson & HP. However, I would not discount returning to these. Obviously I'd like an A3 printer, but just don't have the space, so will stick with A4 for now. Question is which printer should I go for? I know that everyone has their favourites, so the printer I am looking for also needs to scan and have wireless capability. I don't do a lot of printing, so recommendations please based on

1. Photo print quality
2. Inkjet nozzles not prone to clogging up (experienced this problem with Epson printers)
3. Needs to scan and have wireless
4. Duplex (two sided) a necessity for docs.

Or am I better just sticking with my trusty old Canon MP640?

 

[Ivor]

I currently use a Canon MP640 inkjet printer for my photos & docs, and also for scanning. It is now time to replace the cartridges (again), so considering replacing the printer as I've had this one for some time now. I have been a Canon user for many years now and found them better than Epson & HP. However, I would not discount returning to these. Obviously I'd like an A3 printer, but just don't have the space, so will stick with A4 for now. Question is which printer should I go for? I know that everyone has their favourites, so the printer I am looking for also needs to scan and have wireless capability. I don't do a lot of printing, so recommendations please based on

1. Photo print quality
2. Print economy (don't want to be replacing cartridges every couple of weeks)
3. Inkjet nozzles not prone to clogging up (experienced this problem with Epson printers)
4. Needs to scan and have wireless

Or am I better just sticking with my trusty old Canon MP640?

Unfortunately, 1 and 2 are not compatible.

The way inkjet printers work is that they sell them at cost or a loss and make the money back on the inks, which have a big mark-up. Cartridges are small and cost a lot, so if you do a lot of printing you will get through the ink and spend a lot of money. Printing documents on an inkjet is an especially expensive way of doing it if you print a lot of them. I use a laser jet printer for documents and a Canon inkjet for my photos. I think investing that bit of extra money in producing good quality prints is worth the investment. This might not be an option for you if you do not have the space for a second printer.

As an aside, cheap inks aren't as good quality; they fade. Canon ink doesn't. I cannot speak for other makes but I bet Epson ink prints have good longevity. So to my mind there is no way around printing everything inexpensively.

I have heard some good things about the Kodak printers that you might want to look at that might go some way to achieving your aims.

My inkjet only clogs if I don't use it. I don't follow the cleaning instructions, I take out the print head and run it under the tap and it works perfectly every time. :O

All the best,

Ivor

 

[BIGEYE]

Thanks, I know about quality/economy, and have taken the economy out, but cost of original cartridges v's number of pages will still be in my mind. For example a £10 Canon cartridge might produce 200 pages, whereas an original Epson may cost £10 and only produce 180 pages at the same print quality.

 

[Dryce]

Or am I better just sticking with my trusty old Canon MP640?

Probably

I don't think the lower end of the printer market has advanced much in terms of quality.

The lower end Canon printers with scanners haven't (IMO) opinion improved much over the last 5 years. I upgraded from a MP620 that was beginning to get a bit tired to a MG6350 and really there isn't (IMO) a noticable improvement - anybody looking at the wall where I put up my favourites really wouldn't tell whether they are from the older or newer printers. Most of the current Canon range are still 5 ink setups and the cheaper 6 ink (using the grey cartridge) versions have been squeezed to the top of the low end. The newer all-in-one printers also don't seem to have manual feed trays at the back which knocks out the A4+ panorama capability - and for A4 they seem quite bulky.

I also don't think there's much to choose between Epson and Canon in this sector apart from size and personal preference these days. Epson seem to be focusing on trying to make their printers smaller. If you want A3 plus scanner then the Epson XP950 is a compact option to check.