If you’re currently in the market for a printer then you should seriously consider going with Canon. While there are a ton of companies selling printers these days, only a few have been around for decades and have maintained an excellent reputation. Canon has long been a market leader, and they are well known for their innovation and have a solid reputation.
On top of that, it’s also a publicly traded company and has been so for many years. That alone should let you know you’re getting superior quality. In this case, we will be reviewing the Canon PIXMA mp500.
The Canon PIXMA mp500 is no longer sold by Canon who has upgraded the PIXMA MP series a few times since. The MP500 is best suited for those who are looking for all-in-one capability and relatively high quality photo prints and scans.
When it comes to speed, a 4 x 6 borderless photo will take around 51 seconds. Scan quality is high, with resolution up to 1200 dpi and 48-bit color depth. When it comes to photo prints, you will be getting resolution up to 9600 x 2400 color dpi.
Canon’s FINE technology has long been one of the reasons that Canon is a market leader which in this model’s case refers to 1,856-nozzle print head. Each of these nozzles will eject ink droplets as small as one picoliter. Based on these stats, photo print quality will be above average. The MP500 also offers a ContrastPLUS 5-color ink system, with 4 dye-based inks and 1 pigment-based ink.
One of the best features about the mp500 is the 2.5-inch color LCD display. If you slide a memory card into a built-in slot, you will be able to view and enhance images prior to printing. If you don’t want to take that route, you will still be getting Auto Exposure technology, which means all copies, will be optimized on their own.
However it does not seem too relevant to discuss the merits of this model as it is difficult to obtain a new model. On Amazon there are sometimes used units available but as if often the case the depleted discontinued models are more expensive than the newer upgraded versions.
It is unnecessary to throw good money away on a model that has more advanced models from canon on the market Canon PIXMA MP500 All-In-One Photo Printer, Copier, and Scanner sells for around $99 and that’s used. The brand new more updated all in one models in the Canon series sell for only a little more so it seems futile pursuing one.
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The Upgrades
The MP series has been upgraded many times since this MP500 became extinct. They all retail at around the $150 price range and the latest edition is the Canon PIXMA MP990 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-In-One Printer can be found online for around $165.
There are some technical enhancements from the MP500 as the MP990 now uses a Six individual ink system which features gray ink for professional-looking black & white photos. It weighs around 30 lbs. and has dimensions of 18.5 x 15.2 x 7.9 inches.
Performance
Canon has made some measurable improvements over the MP500. You can now print a borderless 4’’ x 6’’ photo in 20 seconds, quite a step up from the MP500 which took 51 seconds. The extra print head is another obvious improvement improving the quality of black and white pictures.
Canon use their ChromaLife100+ which if stored correctly, a photograph claim canon will last 300 years. I will inform you in 300 years time as to whether this claim is true. The MP 990 uses 6,144 nozzles again a significant improvement and maintains the impressive print resolution of 9600 x 2400 maximum color dpi. The new technology gives you incredibly clear and detailed pictures.
It can auto duplex on print and copies, and the Auto Fix 2 categorizes your pictures into 5 types: Portrait, Scenery, Night Scenery, Snapshot with Scenery, and Snapshot with Night Scenery. Any under exposed areas on the photo will automatically brighten and will give you accurate skin tones.
It comes with built in wireless allowing you to print or scan from another room from a Wi-Fi enabled computer. It also has a built in Ethernet as well as USB Flash Memory/Memory Cards / PictBridge/ IrDA and Optional Bluetooth if you purchase the BU-30 wireless Bluetooth unit for around $50.
The copier uses Dual Color Gamut Technology which is a built in technology that automatically helps your copies stay true to the original. The startup is just seconds another advancement on the older models.
You don’t need a computer to view and select images as it has a 3.8″ LCD Screen erasing the need to download, you simply select and print.
Why Go Backwards
Canon has made much advancement since the MP500 and tracking down an outdated model that is hard to find and not much cheaper even used would be pointless when the newer versions are so much improved.
For all the glories of the older MP500 the MP990 is a much better route to take and like the MP500 the MP990 would be best loved by photo enthusiasts with its easy to use features and high quality print. A superb all in one printer by any standards.
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