🖼️ Review: The Canon PIXMA iP8720 Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer – A Home Studio Powerhouse
The Canon PIXMA iP8720 Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer, with its sleek black finish and powerful capabilities, stands out as an exceptional choice for photo enthusiasts and small art businesses looking to create high-quality, large-format prints at home without the professional price tag. More than just a standard home printer, the iP8720 is a dedicated photo device designed to elevate your printed images.
 |
| Review: The Canon PIXMA iP8720 Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer – A Home Studio Powerhouse |
Key Specifications at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
| Printer Type | Wireless Photo Inkjet Printer |
| Ink System | 6-Color (Dye-based Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Photo Black, and Gray) |
| Max Print Resolution | 9600 x 2400 dpi |
| Maximum Paper Size | 13" x 19" (A3+) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (Wireless), AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, USB |
| Special Features | ChromaLife100+ System, Direct Disc Printing |
The Heart of the Machine: Superior Photo Quality
The Canon PIXMA iP8720's most compelling feature is its unmatched photo print quality at its price point. It utilizes a sophisticated 6-color ink system, which includes an extra Photo Black and, crucially, a Gray ink cartridge.
Vibrant Colors and Fine Detail: The combination of dye-based inks and a high maximum resolution of $9600 \times 2400$ dpi ensures that color photos are rendered with vibrant accuracy and smooth tonal gradations. The result is prints that often surpass those from typical drugstore services, displaying deep saturation and crisp detail.
Enhanced Black and White: The inclusion of Gray ink is a significant advantage, particularly for enthusiasts of black and white photography. It allows the printer to achieve smoother, more neutral gray tones, drastically reducing the chance of unwelcome color casts (such as magenta or blue) that can plague monochrome prints from standard 4-color printers.
Large Format Capability (13" x 19" A3+): This printer's ability to handle paper sizes up to 13" x 19" is a game-changer for home users. This large format opens up opportunities for printing stunning enlargements, art prints, and high-impact posters, making it a favorite for artists and photographers selling their work.
Wireless Connectivity and Ease of Use
As the name suggests, the iP8720 is built for modern wireless workflow. Its connectivity options are plentiful and user-friendly, catering to various devices:
Wi-Fi and AirPrint: Setting up the printer on a home network allows for printing from anywhere in the house. The inclusion of Apple AirPrint means iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can print directly and effortlessly without needing to install specific drivers.
Cloud Compatibility: Support for Google Cloud Print and Canon's own PIXMA Printing Solutions (PPS) app provides a simple way to print documents and photos remotely or directly from cloud services.
Setup Nuances: While the day-to-day operation is simple, some users have noted that the initial wireless setup can be slightly cumbersome and may require downloading drivers from Canon's website or following a specific WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) method carefully. However, once connected, the printer remains a reliable workhorse.
Versatility and Productivity
While primarily a photo printer, the iP8720 offers notable versatility:
Media Handling: It features a rear paper tray, which is preferable for thicker photo papers and art stock, allowing for a straighter paper path that minimizes curling. It handles a wide range of paper types, from glossy to luster to fine art media.
Direct Disc Printing: A unique and highly useful feature is the ability to print directly onto compatible printable CD, DVD, and Blu-ray discs, adding a professional touch to media projects.
Print Speed: With speeds of approximately 14.5 images per minute (ipm) for black and 10.4 ipm for color, it is reasonably quick for a photo printer, though not a speed demon for high-volume text documents.
Potential Drawbacks to Consider
No product is without its compromises, and the iP8720 has a few that potential buyers should be aware of:
Ink Cost: The 6-cartridge system, while responsible for the excellent quality, can lead to higher running costs than a standard 4-color printer. Ink consumption, especially of the photo-specific colors, can be noticeable with heavy use. However, the cost per square inch of print remains competitive for its quality class.
No LCD Screen: The printer lacks a dedicated LCD or touchscreen display, relying on status lights and a few buttons. This can make advanced menu navigation or troubleshooting slightly less intuitive than on models with a visual interface.
Document Printing: While it can print text documents, it's not optimized for this. The text quality, while acceptable for most casual use, is not as sharp as what a dedicated laser or even a 5-color printer (with pigment black ink) can achieve for fine-line business documents.
Conclusion: Is the Canon PIXMA iP8720 Right for You?
The Canon PIXMA iP8720 is a specialized tool that performs its primary job—printing beautiful, large-format photographs—exceptionally well for its accessible price.
For who it is best suited:
Serious Photo Amateurs: Those who frequently print their photos and want quality beyond the standard 4x6.
Small Art Businesses: Artists or photographers looking for a cost-effective way to print and sell $13 \times 19$ prints, greeting cards, or other printed merchandise.
Users needing B&W prints: The Gray ink makes it a standout choice for monochrome work.
If your main requirement is high-volume text printing, scanning, or copying, a different all-in-one printer would be a better choice. But if you value outstanding photo quality, large format capability, and easy wireless connectivity for your creative projects, the Canon PIXMA iP8720 stands as a formidable and highly recommended powerhouse in the consumer-level photo printer market.