11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Exceptional Printer - Even More So When Price Considered
Date of Review: Aug 29, 2005
The Bottom Line: This is the best all-around printer I've ever used. Speed, quality, versatility are exceptional. Photo printing is excellent.
As an amateur photographer, I had been thinking for a while of getting a photo inkjet printer. The question became whether to get a general purpose printer with photo printing features, or a good text printer (perhaps a cheap laser printer) and a photo inkjet (the Epson PictureMate Deluxe as an example). Because I live in an apartment and do not have a lot of desktop space to devote to printers, I decided to go the general purpose route.
I've gotten tired of multiple color ink cartridges (such as you find in HP and Lexmark printers). As with many consumers, I don't like the idea of replacing three colors when only one has run out. Having said that, I looked at the Canon and Epson lines of printers, and read a number of reviews (including those on Epinions). Problems with clogging and slow printing reports on the Epson line of printers steered me towards Canon, which released several new upgrades to its PIXMA line this summer (and will be releasing more models in September, according to the Canon website). I settled on the PIXMA iP 4200.
The iP4200 replaces both the iP3000 and iP4000 models and is essentially an upgrade. The iP4200 continues the use of Canon's FINE (Full photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) system, which utilizes separate ink tanks and a separate, replaceable printhead. The iP4200's printhead contains 1842 nozzles, capable of producing 9600 X 2400 dpi resolution in color. (the iP5200, just released, contains 3584 nozzles, although Canon claims the same 9600 X 2400 dpi resolution). Canon claims the ink droplets are "as small as 1 picoliter".
The iP4200 can be used with either Mac or Windows operating systems.
The iP 4200 uses Canon's new ChromaLife 100 inks (5 cartridges: 3 colors plus a dye-based black for photography and a pigment based black for text).
Canon states that ChromaLife 100 inks will last up to 100 years if printed on Canon paper and properly stored, and 10 years under exposure to "mixed gases". The ink tanks each contain an LED which serves the dual-purpose of telling you immediately if the tank is correctly seated, and advising you when the tank is approaching empty (the LED flashes). There is also a warning signal provided in the printer software when ink is low.
The iP4200 is not a compact printer (16.5" W X 11.8"D). While the exterior is all plastic, it has a substantial feel to it that other printers don't seem to project.
Supplied with the printer are 5 ink tanks (magenta, cyan, yellow, photo-black and text black), the replaceable printhead, a comprehensive manual, a CD with drivers and Canon's Easy Photo Print, Easy Web Print, and Photo Record applications (Photo Record and Easy Web Print are Windows applications). A USB cable is not supplied.
Setup was a breeze. Canon provides clear, step-by-step directions which worked first time out.
One of my concerns was that the iP4200 utilizes USB 2.0.
My computer, which is 3 years old, has only USB 1.1 ports, and I was not certain that it would be backwards compatible. Although the installation directions warned that I might encounter problems during installation, it went smoothly (the printer will function best under USB 2.0).
Text is extraordinarily crisp, rivaling a laser printer. Graphics are sharp, with good color contrast. The few photos I've printed so far rival what I've seen from Snapfish, Ofoto. etc.
Printing a text, or text and graphics, document on both sides of the paper is easy as auto-duplexing works quickly and well. The printer has two paper paths: a paper tray underneath and a gravity feed from the top. This allows you to store two different formats in the printer at one time. 8.5" X 14" paper can be used in the top paper path.
One minor complaint: my older HP printer could print 4 pages of text (in its original format) on a single side of a sheet of paper (obviously in a small font). Canon approaches this issue by creating multiple columns and 'flowing' the text. The results are similar, but I prefer maintaining the original format.
I was unable to find any third-party providers for ink for the new PIXMA printers; I suspect they'll become available within the next few months.
The iP4200 is PictBridge compatible, and will print from any digital camera or camcorder which is PictBridge enabled.
Canon is also releasing the iP 6220D and iP6600D printers (updates of the iP6000D) for those who want to print directly from memory cards.
All in all, for a price of $117 (delivered), this printer is an excellent buy. If 6 ink colors are required and/or the ability to edit photos in the printer, consider one of the other Canon models. For the rest of us casual photographers, this is an amazing machine.
(updated 9/15): Last night, I printed 15 4 X 6 pictures using the standard (not highest photo quality) setting. The pictures took an average of 45 seconds each to print, and were on a par with pictures I recently received from Snapfish. This printer continues to amaze!
