Setting up my Canon printer a few months back was surprisingly straightforward, and for a while, I was quite pleased with its performance. My initial prints were satisfactory, and navigating the basic functions seemed intuitive. However, my experience took a turn when I attempted to print a photo using the rear tray instead of the standard front cassette. While the print quality was acceptable for a casual family photo, I encountered frustrating limitations in customizing the photo size, leading to unwanted cropping. I chalked it up to user error and assumed further learning was needed.
The real test came when I tried switching back to printing from the front tray. Suddenly, the printer became stubbornly unresponsive, refusing to recognize the paper I had loaded. Despite ensuring the tray settings were on automatic, cycling the power, and meticulously reviewing both the physical manual and online resources, I spent a frustrating half hour troubleshooting without success. In a moment of desperation, I attempted to print from my iPad in a different location. To my relief, it finally printed, though disappointingly, not double-sided as intended.
While the printer eventually resumed normal operation, this episode highlighted a significant lack of clarity in the user manuals regarding tray switching and print command compatibility. It’s not explicitly stated that certain print commands are tray-specific, leading to unnecessary confusion and wasted time.
Despite these paper handling frustrations, I would still consider purchasing this Canon printer again. The primary reason is the economical and environmentally friendly option of refilling ink using large bottles. This feature significantly reduces both cost and the annoyance of frequent cartridge replacements.
Overall, my experience with this Canon printer has been mostly positive. For everyday home and small business needs, it performs admirably around 98% of the time, delivering print quality that is more than sufficient. While the paper tray and settings complexities caused considerable irritation, the long-term benefits of the refillable ink system and generally reliable performance make it a superior choice compared to other printers I’ve owned.
