Inkjet multifunction printers: Canon's 2010/2011 range

Out with the 2009 range, Canon is launching six new multifunction Pixma printers priced from £45 to £325.

Canon has big plans, with as its no. 1 sales argument, the allrounder nature of its products. If you look at the previous ranges (the quality shouldn't really change), Canon multifunctions are good with both office documents and photos. The pros will particularly like the higher end models, which have additional cartridges and smaller drops to give better shading.

From an aesthetic point of view, what the manufacturer calls "the new design" actually looks quite like the old one. In terms of colours, however, they've moved from white to black. The six models resemble each other in terms of their curved, compact finish.

Technologically, the Pixmas are still the same though these new models are supposed to be more intuitive with, notably, the arrival of a new intelligent touch system (only the buttons linked to the required function light up - copying for example) and the possibility of printing from HD (or Full HD) video, from a smartphone or a Playstation 3, without going via the computer.

In detail,  six products make up the multifunction inkjet range:

Canon PIXMA MP280: a basic printer + scanner + copier

Speed: 8.4 ppm b&W, 4.8 ppm colour Ink drop size: 2 pl Colour screen, touch: no/no Wifi, fax, double-sided, Ethernet: no/no/no/no

MARCHANDS €     Misco  40.79  Amazon mark...  65.99  Amazon mark...  73.54  Compare prices

Canon PIXMA MP495: with Wi-Fi

Speed: 8.8 ppm b&W, 5 ppm colour Ink drop size: 2 pl Colour screen, touch: no/no Wifi, fax, double-sided, Ethernet: no/no/no/no

MARCHANDS €     Amazon mark...  48.99  Amazon mark...  49.59  Amazon mark...  109.54  Compare prices

Canon PIXMA MG5150: touch screen + double-sided + separate cartridges but no Wi-Fi

Speed: 9.7 ppm b&W, 6.1 ppm colour Ink drop size: 1 pl Colour screen, touch: yes/no Wifi, fax, double-sided, Ethernet: no/no/yes/no

MARCHANDS €     Amazon mark...  77.14  Compare prices

Canon PIXMA MG5250: double-sided and Wi-Fi

Speed: 11 ppm b&W, 9.3 ppm colour Ink drop size: 1 pl Colour screen, touch: yes/no Wifi, fax, double-sided, Ethernet: yes/no/yes/no

Prices unavailable Recommended alternatives Editor's Choice Canon Pixma MG5350 Touchscreen, Connected Inkjet HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-In-One Affordable Photo Printer Epson Stylus Photo PX730WD

 

Canon PIXMA MG6150: touch screen, double-sided, Wi-Fi and Ethernet

Speed: 12.5 ppm b&W, 9.3 ppm colour Ink drop size: 1 pl Colour screen, touch: yes/yes Wifi, fax, double-sided, Ethernet: yes/no/yes/yes

Prices unavailable Recommended alternatives Editor's Choice Canon Pixma MG5350 Touchscreen, Connected Inkjet HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-In-One Affordable Photo Printer Epson Stylus Photo PX730WD

Canon PIXMA MG8150: a bigger screen and better scanner

Speed: 12.5 ppm b&W, 9.3 ppm colour Ink drop size: 1 pl Colour screen, touch: yes/yes Wifi, fax, double-sided, Ethernet : yes/no/yes/yes

MARCHANDS €     Morecompute...  180.96  Amazon mark...  186.90  Amazon mark...  203.99  Amazon mark...  246.30  Amazon mark...  282.99  Amazon mark...  288.70  Compare prices

The main features

Canon is counting on Wi-Fi for commercial success here, as well as fast access to the most commonly used features, optimisation of print speeds and start-up time, the size of drops (1 pl) and double-sided printing.

The entry-level printers retain the old lower cost cartridges which make Canon's cost per page lower than average. The high and mid-range machine cartridges have changed and we don't yet know their yield and cost per page (Canon will be supplying these stats soon). Nevertheless, the lack of major changes in the range makes us think that we can expect a similar cost per page to the Canon Pixma MP560 and Canon Pixma MP640.

> Reviews: Multifunction Printers


> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products