Printers that Work Well: Canon Pro 200, what's yours?

We see a lot of posts in this forum about problems with various printers. This could be because they're error-prone, or simply because they're popular. But we don't see the un-problematic printers. The ones that just work.

So here's mine: the Canon Pro 200 just works. That's an A3+ 8-ink dye printer. I use Canon's Professional Print & Layout application, and manufacturer-supplied profiles. I print on both glossy paper, and Hahnemühle fine art card stock. Print quality is outstanding, and colors are accurate. As good as any lab print I ever got. In fact, my prints look better than a comparison print I got from a printing workshop on a Pro1000 a while back (but I expect something was wrong with the profiles in the workshop).

The printer runs a cleaning cycle if I don't print at least every two weeks. Inks don't last forever, of course, but easily enough for the relatively low volume of my printing. I've had no issues with clogging or paper jamming or streaking.

Prior to the Canon, I used an Epson XP8500 for many years (not to be confused with the ET8500. Very different beast) . That's an A4 6-ink dye printer. It prints about as well as a cheap Walmart print. At normal viewing distances, prints look very good indeed, but if you look very very closely there's a graininess to it that a better print lacks. And both the printer and the inks are very affordable. I had no issues whatsoever with clogging or paper jamming, even through several moves and over months of disuse.

The only downside is that paper manufacturers don't offer profiles for it. And I noticed that colors fade a bit after a five years in indirect sunlight (on Epson photo paper).

Finally, the Fujifilm INSTAX square printer just works. It connects quickly, prints immediately. Quality is instax standard, don't expect miracles. But you get to hold it in your hands instantly, and it has a certain analog charm to it.

Pro-10 and Pro-100.

Printing via Photoshop with ColorMunki profiles. Both are 12 years old and have been flawless. Will print any paper perfectly, in either slot, no matter how thick or heavy. Print quality is amazing and durability is excellent.

Canon Pro 100!

Mine is 9 years old and never a single problem. And I refill using Precision Color inks. It's one of the last refillable printers available. I can order a complete set of inks for less than $100 (120ml bottles) and they last for years. Compare this to a set of OEM cartridges for $110.00. These printers are still available new and used on Ebay, facebook Marketplace and craigslist.

It prints 13x19 gorgeous photos and is built like a tank.

Pro-100. Canon paper pickup and tracking excellent. Epson eventually got the message and went to center tracking. In olden times, the paper grab would be on the extreme right, looking from the front.

Canon Pro-300. I’ve had 4 years. Works reliably every time; sometimes after being idle for several weeks.

Jack

Canon Pro-10. Bought in 2016, and survived neglect no one would expect an ink jet printer would. The print head is reportedly the same as the pro-300.

Harvey M43 said:

Canon Pro-10. Bought in 2016, and survived neglect no one would expect an ink jet printer would. The print head is reportedly the same as the pro-300.

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I bought my Canon PRO-10 almost new (only 100–150 prints) back in 2019 for €150. It has now printed over 3,200 pages.

I've refilled it using inks from octoinkjet.co.uk, precisioncolors.com, and now from expired PFI Lucia EX cartridges.

I also own a second used unit and have a brand-new QY6-0085-000 printhead in stock.

From what I’ve seen, printhead failures are quite rare with this model.

Issues to expect sooner or later:

• Full waste ink pads – These can be reset, and the purge tube can be redirected to an external container ("potty").
• Empty internal battery – To avoid complications, simply keep the printer plugged in before replacing the battery.

Canon IP8720 -- sort of a baby Canon Pro 200. Had it for years and it has worked well. It is missing some features (and software) from its big brother -- but (if like me) you don't have room for a slightly bigger model, it serves well.

P5000 - now just passing 10 years...

Actually, I think there are very few problems with printers! The Pro-1100 banding issues could be an entire forum, but for the most part these machines tend to be very solid.

That aside: Canon Pro-1000 and Pro-4100. I couldn't be happier with either one.

I used an Epson 3880 for a long time until it gave up. Was happy with that one but it was a struggle to print panos and use canvas. Since spring 2024 I have a Canon 2600 and it solved those issues plus I can now print just about any image on matte paper that has been a challenge for me with the 3880 in the dark or black parts of the matte prints. Was likely my own issue with profiling and being very picky with results...

PRO-100 here. I only use Canon inks, and I might go for weeks or even months without printing. Then I might print a large amount in a day or three. Never had a head or clogging problem, in fact never a problem at all (knocks on wood). I've never seen fading on Red River glossy or matte. Every few years I do a print head alignment, but it never really needs it.

My only complaint is ink usage. I could print 8.5 x 11" prints all day and use almost no ink. OTOH, turning the thing on and off seems to drain cartridges quickly, so intermittent printing is a bad idea. It's probably common knowledge, but 8.5 x 11" glossy photos seem to use surprisingly little ink, but printing on plain paper uses a ton.

I'm loath to refill, though I've saved all my cartridges since forever. The lack of issues with factory inks is what holds me back. Ink is expensive, but in the grand scheme of things photographic, it's minor.

Ruby Rod said:

PRO-100 here. I only use Canon inks, and I might go for weeks or even months without printing.

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My experience, too. I also have a Pro-10, which is comparatively more expensive to operate. It uses more ink and is dog-slow, but the results are unimpeachable.



Aside from the superb Pro-100 image quality, what surprises me most is its bullet-proof paper handling. It feeds anything and everything with zero problems.

Pro 300 here also, except for the wiste ink tank issue, it's been flawless. I have never even had to do a cleaning cycle.

Canon pro1000.

I'm impressed by my Epson ET8550 which replaced a bust Pro 100. The ET8550 produces prints at least as good as the Pro 100, is more versatile, much cheaper for ink costs and I've had no problems like ink clogs.

aVolanche said:

Canon Pro 100!

Mine is 9 years old and never a single problem. And I refill using Precision Color inks. It's one of the last refillable printers available. I can order a complete set of inks for less than $100 (120ml bottles) and they last for years. Compare this to a set of OEM cartridges for $110.00. These printers are still available new and used on Ebay, facebook Marketplace and craigslist.

It prints 13x19 gorgeous photos and is built like a tank.

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Mine bust after 10 years!

Epson ET-8550 is my printer since over three years and it works without any problems. Use it everyday day.

I've owned 15 or more over the last 30 years, and I haven't found a perfect one yet. Most have had good points, some of them lots of good points, but always a flaw.

Of my current trio's weak points:

Epson ET-8550; Sometimes doesn't print completely into the corners on borderless, especially A4. Paper often feeds just fractionally off true from rear tray.

SC-P5000; Needs a print every 3 days, else nozzles begin to block.

AM-C5000; Offset is 2.5mm out when sourcing paper from drawers (but not MP tray), so needs correcting in advanced settings for every print run.