SuperPrinter

It’s only been 10 years since the first Epson 6-color inkjet printers turned heads with their improved photo-quality prints. But they were relatively expensive and slow. These days, you can pick up a 6-color model for under $100 that makes decent 8x10 photo prints in under three minutes. So why would anyone pay $460 (street) for Canon’s new i9900 printer?

There are several compelling reasons: its output size, print quality, speed, versatility, and quiet operation. The i9900 can make prints ranging from 4x6 snapshots all the way up to 13x19-inch borderless enlargements. And it does so at unbelievably fast speeds—only 3 min 45 sec for a borderless 13x19, or 1 min 33 sec for a borderless 8.5x11. Some credit for its speed can be given to the printer’s Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port. (If you don’t have USB 2.0 on your computer, there’s also a separate USB 1.1 jack and a high-speed FireWire connector for Macs.) In front, the i9900 also has a USB connector that hooks to Canon digital cameras, DV camcorders, and all PictBridge-enabled cameras.

The i9900 is a cinch to set up and comes with several useful Canon software programs (such as PhotoStitch 3.0) and utilities for keeping track of your images. It works with Mac and PC computers and is one of the quietest printers we’ve used—another plus for those of us who listen to our favorite tunes while getting creative.

In the image-quality arena, the i9900 does incredibly well, thanks to its new 8-color ChromaPLUS ink system and MicroFine 2-picoliter droplets. Two new inks—red and green—join the same CMYK, Photo Cyan, and Photo Magenta inks found in Canon’s 6-color printers, and improve the
accuracy and vibrancy of red and green objects. As a result, prints made on Canon’s Photo Paper Pro (using color profiles and printer drivers supplied by Canon) earned an excellent image quality rating. Skin tones were very accurate, shadows and highlight areas showed great details, and highly saturated colors didn’t blow out or block up. The prints also had a great feel to them and a high-gloss surface.

According to accelerated test data supplied by Canon, prints made on Photo Paper Pro will last for more than 35 years under normal display conditions (framed behind glass). That’s not as long as dye-based prints from the newest Epson and HP models (estimated 60–70 years), but it’s respectable.

If you’re looking for a larger-format printer that’s fast, easy to use, and produces gorgeous prints, the i9900 is a great choice.

What's Hot
Blazing speed. Up to 13x19 borderless prints. Easy to operate.

What's Not
8-color inks add to startup cost. No USB cable. No memory-card slot.

Download our Certified Test Results: Canon i9900
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