Setting up my new Canon Printer a few months back was surprisingly straightforward, and for a while, I was genuinely pleased with its performance for everyday printing tasks. Initially, everything seemed to function as expected, delivering satisfactory prints for general home use. However, my experience took a slightly frustrating turn when I ventured into more specific printing needs, highlighting both the strengths and minor irritations of this Canon printer.
My first encounter with a slight hiccup occurred when I attempted to print a photograph. Aiming for a specific paper size, I opted to use the rear paper tray instead of the standard front cassette. While the resulting print of my granddaughter was acceptable for a casual snapshot, I struggled to achieve the desired photo dimensions. The automatic cropping feature clipped off her feet in an undesirable way, indicating a lack of precise control over photo sizing when using the rear tray. At the time, I chalked it up to my inexperience and assumed further learning would resolve this.
The real frustration arose when I tried to revert to printing from the front paper cassette tray again. Despite reloading paper and ensuring the printer settings were set to “automatic tray selection,” the Canon printer stubbornly refused to recognize the paper in the front tray. For a frustrating half hour, I troubleshooted the issue. I cycled the power, meticulously reread the user manuals, and repeatedly canceled and restarted print jobs. I even scoured online resources, hoping to find a solution for switching between paper trays, but the manuals offered little guidance on this specific issue.
Finally, in a moment of slight desperation, I resorted to initiating the print command from my iPad in a different location within the house. To my surprise, this unconventional approach worked, and the printer finally started printing from the front tray again. However, even then, it defaulted to single-sided printing, despite my preference for double-sided prints. While the printer was eventually functional again, the entire episode was marked by unnecessary irritation and a distinct lack of clear instructions in the provided manuals regarding paper tray management and print command specificity.
Despite these paper handling frustrations, there’s a significant advantage that keeps me generally positive about this Canon printer: its ink system. The ability to use large, refillable ink bottles is a game-changer. This feature dramatically reduces ink costs and the frequent annoyance of replacing expensive ink cartridges. The bulk ink system alone is a major selling point, offering substantial long-term savings and minimizing waste.
In conclusion, while my experience with this Canon printer hasn’t been entirely seamless, particularly concerning paper tray switching and clear operational instructions, I would still likely repurchase it. For everyday home and even light business use, it performs reliably the vast majority of the time – I’d estimate 98% of the time. The print quality is more than adequate for my needs, and the cost savings from the refillable ink system outweigh the occasional paper handling frustrations. Compared to previous printers I’ve owned, this Canon printer, despite its quirks, stands out as a superior and cost-effective option overall.
