Canon PIXMA MP830 All-In-One Printer

Excellent print quality

Posted Aug 29, 2006 - I have been using this printer for the past 6 months or so, and I have mixed feelings. It is easy to set up and install, but it is somewhat slow to boot (the HP this printer replaced was ready in a few seconds -- the MP830 takes about a minute to boot up). Once you get the printer set up and begin printing text and photos, it is easy to see why this printer has been so well reviewed. Text is sharp and photos on Canon's photo paper are virtually perfect. The unit also has duplex copying/scanning/printing. When it comes to features and print quality, this unit is most definitely 5 stars, however there a few issues with this printer that greatly restrict its utility. For one, the unit is equipped with two black cartridges. The black for text is a large cartridge with a deep, black ink. The photo black cartridge is a smaller cartridge that contains an ink that looks more like a very dark gray. When you print a text document in Word, the text black ink is used. If, however, you want to print a document that contains black text and color images, diagrams, charts, etc, but you want those color images in grayscale, the printer will then use the photo black ink for the entire document (text, images, everything). The resulting print therefore appears to have dark gray, washed out text, and printing any significant quantity of grayscale material will quickly deplete the small and more expensive photo black cartridge. There is no way to use only the text black cartridge in the drivers at all. Similarly, if you print any document with automatic OR manual duplex printing, the entire document will be printed using the PHOTO black ink, and not the text black, again resulting in washed out text and a rapidly diminishing photo black cartridge. This strange feature is a huge issue for me and has really tainted my view of this printer. One last issue is that the printer invariably smears all the text in the return address portion of an envelope. I believe this is due to the rapid speed at which envelopes are printed (they are fed quickly, and it seems as though the rollers are smearing the ink before it can dry). Overall, the print quality of this printer is fantastic, and the only real significant problems could probably be fixed with driver updates. I worry, however, that no such updates will be coming, as the photo/text black ink issues are reportedly unresolved in the older MP780 as well. If you are in the market for this printer, just know that you might end up replacing the photo cartridges more often than you might have thought, and the grayscale printing and duplex printing feature are made almost useless by Canon's decision to use the much-lighter (and more expensive) photo black ink.

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Horrible design for black text printing with duplexing

Posted Jul 2, 2006 - This printer is getting rave reviews from both PC Magazine and PC World. That said, there's a big problem with this printer that neither review mentions: namely, duplex black text printing from ALL applications produces inferior results than when duplexing is off--and uses colour ink to produce black text when printing in duplex mode. Consequently, until this issue is addressed, the MP830 is difficult for me to recommend. Why? According to Canon technical support, the design flaw is by choice. But more on that later. If I don't duplex print on fast mode, the text looks very good (the problem is duplex text printing). The print quality when duplex text printing looks dotty and washed out. If you turn duplexing off, the text print quality is vastly superior. I've reproduced this problem on two different systems with two different MP830s. The difference on fast mode when not duplex printing is quite astounding. Simply using duplex printing makes the text quality significantly worse on fast mode. One might be inclined to believe bad quality from fast mode text printing isn't a big deal (except that the MP830 is quite capable of producing very good text quality even at fast mode--except when duplexing), but this problem also extends to standard printing when duplexing is enabled. That said, in standard mode the problem isn't as pronounced. Basically the MP830 is using the colour inks to produce black text instead of the pigment black ink when printing text in duplex mode. I find this to be extremely bothersome. The problem exists when duplexing text in other printing quality modes, but it's most apparent or obvious when duplexing text on fast mode. You won't find this issue listed in professional reviews from PCMagazine or PC World, simply because the reviewers probably didn't bother to check. For whatever reason, missing this issue is pretty sloppy. If you want good text quality when duplex printing, it's best not to use this printer at all: you're using color ink instead of the black pigment ink--and the text looks vastly inferior as a result. This is from Canon technical support: "The unit was designed to print using "composite black" when duplexing. Composite black is created by using color inks. Unfortunately, we do not have answers as to why Canon USA made this decisions, these decisions are determined by the developers at Canon INC." Absolutely brutal. Composite black text print is vastly inferior to the text print produced when using the black ink cartridge. Canon technical support is basically telling me that duplex black text printing on the MP830 is horrible by design. Oh, plus you have the added bonus of wasting color ink when printing inferior black text while duplexing. Inexcusable Upon inquiring further, this is the reason Canon technical support gives for using color ink to produce black text while duplex printing: "Composite black is least likely to show through the other side of the document, which may occur when using black ink and printing on both sides of the paper. " Then why can I print text on one side, flip the page over manually, print text on the other side, and not experience any issue with ink showing through to the other side? The text quality looks vastly superior when I do this instead of duplexing (I do not experience any issues). It shouldn't be that difficult to allow a printer driver option to use the pigmented black ink with a longer drying time (because I've also been told by Canon pigmented black ink may smear when duplex priting) if that's what the customer would prefer, instead of inflicting poor text quality produced by color inks when duplex black text printing. This issue is very easily reproduced: Print text in fast mode with duplexing on. Then print text in fast mode with duplexing off. Night and day It's not just fast mode that's affected either; it's all print quality modes when duplex printing is enabled. More importantly, all customers have the added bonus (in addition to poor black text quality while duplexing) of wasting color ink when printing black text with the duplex printing option enabled. Canon's response to this is that pigmented black ink will smear, bleed, or show through to the other side when duplex printing. Contrary to Canon's claim, I am not experiencing any issues when printing black text in standard mode on one side of cheap Britex Premier Multiusage paper (20 lb 92 bright . . . I paid less than a dollar for 500 sheets on sale), flipping the page over manually, and printing the other side again on standard. Regardless of whether I've tested using tons of different papers (and I admit I haven't), again, it shouldn't be that difficult to allow a printer driver option to use the pigmented black ink with a longer drying time if that's what the customer would prefer, instead of inflicting poor text quality produced by composite black (created by using color inks) when duplexing black text.

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INK HOG!!!!

Posted Jun 5, 2007 - I have had mine for a few weeks now. I'm just an ordinary guy-no business printing, no pictures. I have printed ONLY in black so far-no duplex printing. Recently the thing started warning me that my blue in was getting low. I thought it must be a mistake. Then the yellow started a warning! I called tech and thay said this thing uses "a small amount of every color even when printing only black and even if the driver is in grayscale mode." Then he proceeded to tell me that if I let the ink run out, the printer will stop working at all!!! It seems the printhead needs ink all the time in every port! This is a blood-sucking vampire!!! Stay away!!!!

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Quality Printer..

Posted May 3, 2006 - I bought this All-In-One (AIO) multifunction as a step up from my Epson RX620, primarily because the RX620 prints SLOW, and it does not have an automatic document feeder (ADF). Wow, I love the faster printing on this item and the ADF! Whatsmore, it has a high speed 33.6 fax as well! (just no phone handset for fax). I have never seen an AIO with a phone handset, that would be cool! I already have a Brother fax, but again, I bought this item for faster printing primarily and so I would not have to hand-place every copy job. Print quality is great. User controls are easy to use. I almost chose the Canon Pixma MP780 instead, but this machine has better DPI and faster printing and a color (& bigger) LCD screen. ;) This item has a scanner, fax, printer, and copier. I highly reccommend this item.

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Comparison of the

Posted Jul 22, 2006 - I compared quiet a few multi-function printers before buying the MP830. The following were my comparison models. Hewlett Packard OfficeJet 6210 Hewlett Packard OfficeJet 7410 Canon MP500 All-in-one First my pet peeve : None of the printers listed above came even close to the advertised print speed (pages per minute). So I will not use the advertised print speed for my comparison. It would be based on actual print speeds that I can see. The Canon MP830 was comparable to the MP500. It too had FANTASTIC picture quality. Text quality was excellent too. I could have picked either one of these printers - But the MP830 also had the fax capabilities. It could even fax a document in color (again not one of my original criteria) . It has 5 separate ink cartridges, more than all the other printers I had seen. It also allows to simultaneously select different pictures from a memory card, and print using select different layouts and combination – all of this using the LCD screen only ie. without connecting to a computer! The MP830 has 2 scanners, one flat bed - used to scan high quality prints one by one. and the second scanner is built into the document feeder on top of the machine - use this for unattended scan (or fax) of multiple documents. So I finally opted for the Canon MP830 all in one, it gave me all of the the features I needed and then some. Summary of features of the Canon MP830 - Color Printer - Scanner (from flat bed OR adutomatic document feeder) - Copier with enlarge/reduce - Fax - Photo printing (without PC) - Separate ink tanks for each color - Duplex printing - Memory card slot - Direct printing from memory card - Preview camera pictures on LCD screen - Change layout of photos directly onthe printer (without PC) The only negatives I could find was: - color duplex printing is somewhat slow. - Canon does not include a USB cable in the box - so if you dont already have a pile of usb cables, you will have to go to the store to get one. - Leo Patterson

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MP830

Posted Oct 8, 2006 - The best printer I've ever had. Got rid of all the HP drivers and software, and now my computer has not had any kernel panics. The support software is perfect.

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Poor experience: Had to return twice..

Posted Jan 21, 2007 - I understand my review won't get too many "Helpful" reviews, but I just wanted to give you a person's poor experience with the MP830. I originally purchased nearly a year ago, hoping to solve my problems with an all-in-one (I have purchased an HP all-in-one, an older Canon all-in-one, and epson) purchases. For the first 8 months, I was very satisfied with the product. The prints were fairly quick and the ink usage was my only negative concern. However, one random day the thing was shutdown. Then I turned it back on, assuming I could get my photo prints printing. Then I find out that there is NO "4x6" printing page option. I informed Canon and they were willing to help me out. The process was fairly quick, within 5 days of the last email (with about 8 emails between both me and customer support, in about 20 days). I thought that my problems were over, but 2 months later the thing malfunctioned again. The firmware reset (again) and I informed customer support. After a couple of emails, they again are willing to exchange it (but only because it's been within a year of the purchase). I am on my 3rd (not by choice) machine now.. A lil input on the other things aside from my anecdotal account. The LCD (or whatever it is) screen is TERRIBLE for viewing photos. I didn't expect the quality to be great (hell, even good), but at least viewable. There is probably NO resolution on the screen, because there is always a bunch of scratches on each picture. You pretty much have to have it connected to the computer (via USB) and look at the pictures you want to print out and MEMORIZE the numbers/name of the picture (eg, DSC-3482). Then you go to the printer's terrible screen and select the # of prints you want. Also, the quality when printing photos from the computer (via USB) is worse than from the built-in adapter (which is bad because you have to deal with the annoying screen quality). I'd suggest you steer away from this product. If you are willing to lose the printing photos option on this thing (at least on 4x6 paper size), and need just the other functions, by all means go for it. I am tired of how crappy all-in-ones are.

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Great output, but interface need some work.

Posted Jul 6, 2006 - Beside the interface and setup everything else about the printer is great. The printing, scanning and copying quality is great. Also each color have their own separate ink cartridge which will cut down on the cost in the long-run. I just wish Cannon had a printer with these features that you can also connect to a network.

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Canon-MP830

Posted Jun 27, 2006 - I bought this printer based on my experience that I have had with a MP730 that I've been using for the past two years. For the price these machines are tough to beat, they offer a lot of features, (copying, scanning and faxing) and do them all very well. I'm especially impressed with the quality of photo printing.

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SEVERAL HUGE PROBLEMS WITH THE MP830-SMELL, POOR COLOR, COMPLICATED

Posted Oct 24, 2006 - First of all the pictures are nowhere as good as my HP 2170 or my HP 8400. The reds are dark. I had to set it on settings that made colors artificial. Poor colors. Second, it stinks up the room. And all that smell means dry cartridges...I wonder if on purpose. The paper path is counter intuitive. I returned it. It is fast and very quiet.

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CANON PIXMA MP830 ALL-IN-ONE

Posted Jul 18, 2006 - ONE OF THE FEW HIGH QUALITY 4-IN-ONE (PRINT, COPY, SCAN & FAX) MACHINES THAT ALSO HAS DOCUMENT FEEDER. HAS SEPARATE INK TANKS FOR MORE ECONOMICAL REPLACEMENT (THEORETICALLY). EMAIL CUSTOMER SERVICE AT LEAST TRIES TO RESPOND IN TIMELY FASHION, THOUGH OFTEN NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO EXACT QUESTION. LOTS OF EXTRA SOFTWARE I FOUND CONFUSING AND UNNECESSARY. OVERALL A GOOD BUY FOR THE FEATURES AND QUALITY.

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Very good printer for such price. It has all func ...

Posted Jul 12, 2006 - Very good printer for such price. It has all functions for small office operation, except networking. I'd say this is a best printer I've ever had.

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Canon MP830 - Good Chance it will fail

Posted Aug 19, 2007 - The product itself is a very feature rich multi-function printer. Print outs are solid quality and with good printing speed, even if the print cartridges are expensive. The cartridge "chip" feature makes using remanufactured ones much more difficult. The fax features are a little complicated to set up, but work well when established. HOWEVER, The MP830 failed completely only 3 months after purchase. Canon reps told me, based on the error code, the main circuit board had completely failed and needed replacement. Rather than accept the refurbished product Canon offered (after only 3 months) I had it repaired at a local warranty service company. Almost exactly 12.5 months after purchase, the MP830 circuit board failed again. This time the warranty had just expired. I now have a beautiful $280 Canon multi-function boat anchor in my home office that would cost more to repair than to replace as new. Be very wary of puchasing this product.

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Printer jams up!!!

Posted Oct 22, 2006 - Just bougth this to replace a mp730 which NEVER jammed Had this ting 1 week and already the paper wont feed.Checked all the drives, doors, wheels, tracks etc. still jams, Don't buy this thing it's cheap.

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I love this printer.

Posted Jul 16, 2006 - Wonderful printer at a great price. The photo print quality is amazing, the ADF is a must for scanning multi-page doucuments. The Cannon software is so easy to use and makes the scanning process almost effortless. I use the MP830 mostly with my MAC but also use it to scan many documents to my PC for my PC based business. My rating is A+ for this printer.

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