Earlier this year I reviewed the Canon Pixma MP530. This printer was very capable and produced great prints and fast scans, but it only worked with one computer at a time. This time around we are looking at the MX700 which has the ability to connect to a network.
Features
- 2 picoliter sized ink droplets
- PictBridge capable
- 2400 x 4800 dpi, with 48-bit color depth
- 30 page automatic document feeder
- USB 2.0 interface
- Plug into a Network: connect to a home or office network
- High resolution: up to 4800 x 1200 color dpi.
- 2 Way Paper feed: Built-in dual paper trays
- High-end faxing: Fax at up to 33.6 Kbps2 in color/B&W
When I reviewed the MP530 my biggest complaint was that I could only use it with one computer at a time. The MX700 adds the ability to connect to a network and use all the features with any computer that is also connected to the network. I would consider this the most significant upgrade.
The scanner is the other upgrade, it is fairly standard and provides scan resolutions of 2400 x 4800 dpi optical and 19,200 x 19,200 dpi interpolated. The MP530 provided scan resolutions of 1200 x 2400. The output for each scan is 48-bit internal/24-bit external. The maximum document size that can be scanned is 8.5″ x 11.7″. The automatic document feeder (ADF) can be used to make scanning easier by letting you load 30 pages to scan and then walk away and come back when it is finished.
Unfortunately, not everything got an upgrade. In fact, some things were downgraded. Specifically, the MX700 uses only four ink cartridges, where the MP530 used five ink cartridges. This is what I would consider the most significant downgrade. The colors that the MX700 uses are: cyan, magenta, yellow,
and a pigment-based black, the color that it is missing is dye-based black. The dye-based black was used for mixing with the other colors so the printer can make new colors. Without this color the printer will have a much harder time printing photos. In addition, the MX700 has 2 picoliter sized ink droplets, and the MP530 has 1 picoliter sized ink droplets. This means the MX700 drops are twice the size as the MP530. One more reason that pictures on the MX700 will not look as good as they did on the MP530.
The cost of photos remains about the same. The pigment-based black cartridge costs $16.25 and the color cartridges are $14.95. One good thing is that the MX700 comes with full ink cartridges, which means you won’t have to buy new cartridges anytime soon. A light mounted on the front of each cartridge slot tells you when your cartridge is empty. Because the MX700 uses the same cartridges as the MP530 and they cost the same, I assume they have the same yield. Because of this the price per print of a 4″ x 6″ photo quality picture is about 15 cents and for a full sized page of mixed text and color is about 9 cents.
The fax uses a built-in 33.6 Kbps (Super G3 color fax) modem, this is the same as the MP530. Even though it is a slower modem you will probably not max it out because most public telephone lines limit you to 28.8 Kbps or lower, depending on telephone line conditions. With this modem you can transmit in Color and Black and White. It takes about 3 seconds per page to send a Black and White page and about 1 minute 20 seconds per page for color documents. Make sure the other end also has a color fax, Otherwise you are wasting your time. With the included internal memory the fax can also store 40 speed-dial codes, and receive 100 incoming pages.
Fax Speed Dial
The copier offers a lot of useful features. It is able to copy in color and in black and white. Color is copied at about 3.2 seconds per page and Black and White is copied about 2.1 seconds per page. There are also many other features that you can use when you copy like: Auto Magnification, AE (Auto Exposure), Borderless, Auto Duplex, Fit-to-Page, 4 on 1, 2 on 1, Image Repeat, Sort Copy, Continuous Copy: 1-99 Pages, Dual Color Gamut Processing Technology. The copier also allows you to reduce and enlarge from 25% to 400%.
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While at CES 2008 I stopped by the Canon booth and talked to them about their printers. I asked them specifically why they had reduced the print quality of the MX700. The representative at the booth said he did not know the specific reason, but guessed that they were trying to keep the printer at a certain price point. The addition of networking raised the cost so they had to lower it somewhere else. Since this is an office printer they figured they could sacrifice in print quality. I was told that if I wanted good photo prints I should buy one of their photo printers. I asked if they offered a photo printer with a fax and scanner and they said no, they only have a scanner.
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I have never owned a printer/fax machine and am having trouble finding where you plug the phone lines. The picture diagram doesn’t help.
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It is a little confusing at first. I included an image of the connectors in the review. In the image you can see two phone line connectors. The top one that has an icon of a phone is the line out to a telephone, the second one down that has an L next to it is the line in from the wall.
Hope this helps.
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I can’t get my scanner to scan in Color. only black adn white. How do i get it to copy in color
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The color settings are in your scanning software.
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How do you change the ink cartridges on the Canon MX700? I don’t have the instruction manual, so I don’t even know where to start!
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You can download the manual from the Canon website.
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