How to find and trust iP4500 X replacement print head

[stratman]

I suppose you have the setup carts

Have you read that the Maxify setup cartridges are underfilled?

From my research, my print volume for the cartridges appear to be in line with Canon's 700 page yields for the PGI-2200 non-XL cartridges. After printing ~200 pages both Yellow and Black are down 1/3 volume per the ink monitoring display. Here is a PDF example of what most of my printing has been.

 

[palombian]

Have you read that the Maxify setup cartridges are underfilled?

From my research, my print volume for the cartridges appear to be in line with Canon's 700 page yields for the PGI-2200 non-XL cartridges. After printing ~200 pages both Yellow and Black are down 1/3 volume per the ink monitoring display. Here is a PDF example of what most of my printing has been.

At least here in Europe you can't buy non-XL carts, standard is XL.
So read this as "Setup carts are underfilled compared to XL carts".
But most probably it are the same carts internally.

 

[stratman]

At least here in Europe you can't buy non-XL carts

In USA you can purchase both the PGI-2200 and the PGI-2200XL.

I believe my setup cartridges are the standard PGI-2200.

 

[KasperDM]

A word of caution. [...]
Based on this, I would not have high expectations of acquiring a good long term CLI-8 machine and would tend to move towards Hat suggestions of the Maxify. One needs to understand the role of the Maxify, which is not really exactly replacing something like an iP4500. The CLI-8 machines would have to be literally a near giveaway.

The field of printers which are desirable to own are quickly dwindling and there is not much choice remaining.

Thank you Mikling for your honest and thorough advice, which also touches on some of the reasons why as an artist I choose to work with printers, a technological path in human evolution that seems to have hit a dead end when it comes to quality. It is a tendency we see in many other fields as well.

Having said that, I have looked at the Maxify range which seems very interesting and promising, though on first sight hardly a replacement for the kind of machine an iP4500 was supposed to be. Do I see that wrong? And would you be so kind as to recommend one or two of the Maxify models? My professional interest in acquiring one lies being able to print and experiment with my photographic material. I'm not looking for museum-like quality, if such a thing would interest me, I would go to a professional lab. But I do care about quality.

Thanks again,
Kasper

 

[mikling]

The MG series is the direct replacement for the iP4500 line but with a scanner. It is meant for office work and light photo printing to a high standard. This series started with the 250/251 and then the chips evolved to 270/271 to the current 280/281. There are no ARC chips for the 280/281 series. This has been the case for the last two years if my memory serves me still. The remaining 270/271 series printers appear to be out of the distribution system by now. There still remains a 250/251 series MX922 still sold because it kept the legacy FAX feature.
The 270/271 is a sweet spot because you could reset the chip with a reinsertion between the blinking low and empty level. The 250/251 must reach the empty level prior to reset. The TS5020 with the 270/271 would be the latest replacement for the iP4500.

As best I can tell the 1200 and 2200 contain the same ink inside the tanks.

 

[stratman]

A best I can tell the 1200 and 2200 contain the same ink inside the tanks.

Thanks for your thoughts.

The performance of the print heads between those two cartridge types is slightly different, but, I suspected Canon used the same ink for all Maxify models. Fiscally it makes sense.

 

[KasperDM]

The 270/271 is a sweet spot because you could reset the chip with a reinsertion between the blinking low and empty level. The 250/251 must reach the empty level prior to reset. The TS5020 with the 270/271 would be the latest replacement for the iP4500.

Thanks for your great insights. Would the European version of the TS5020 be the TS5050?

have a nice day!

 

[PeterBJ]

...Would the European version of the TS5020 be the TS5050?...

Yes, the last "5" in the type number TS5050 indicates the printer is intended for the European region. The "2" in the type TS5020 indicates the printer is intended for the North American region = USA and Canada. The "2" in the cartridge numbers PGI-270/CLI-271 indicate the cartridges are for use in the North American region. The cartridges for the European version of the printer are PGI-570/CLI-571 where the "5" indicates the cartridges are for the European region.

The printers and cartridges mentioned are identical except for different regional coding. An American printer cannot work with European cartridges and vice versa.

 

[mikling]

I have 1-used 4500 as well as 2-new TS5020 waiting as well. I bet I will make at least 100% return on the TS5020 if I sold it next year. Better than equities...but strictly on a percentage basis. Would take a warehouse full to fund retirement. I also stored away 2-MX870s. These machines are excellent but slow. Ideal for the casual user. My sister was given a used one for 5 years now and I have not had to help her at all. That says a lot. The MX870 does not conform to all the new wireless standards so I had to install an older router as a switch to allow Wifi connection. That was the reason the seller sold it, he had wireless issues but did not know why.

 

[TGWOH]

Link?

I went back to the links. Looking at their photos and packaging, Canon was not on anything. My wife said the writing was in Chinese not Japanese.
My trust that the heads are Canon OEM or new is shakened. My bad.