Printer is everything it's supposed to be: reliable and great prints (I'm a photographer, so I'm pretty picky). It's reasonably fast and the wireless functions work great. No issues, it's a solid large-format printer as it should be from Canon. HOWEVER, I did want to note that I bought this with the "ink kit" option that included a set of extra ink cartridges for an additional $55. DON'T DO THIS. While the "extra" ink kit does indeed fit the 8720m it is MISSING two inks: the small black and the grey. It's my bad, really, I didn't look closely enough at the box listed on the page but sure enough, what you see is what you get: four and not six ink carts. I have notified Amazon that kit does not include the full correct set of carts (again, the ones included do work fine), so we'll see if they change it up. Just order the printer WITHOUT that kit until they get it figured out. The printer does come with a complete set of ink carts in the box so it was good to go as purchased and now I have a few spares, but not one of each as it were...
UPDATE 12/22/18: Printer finally died - yet still HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! We printed a TON - thousands - of 4x6's, many hundred 13x19, and thousands more 5x7 to 11x14's. Qty 139, 251XL cartridges over the life of the printer with zero issues. The print head failed, which is replaceable, but we decided to purchase another IP 8270 system due to volume on our original. We also have a Pro-100, but after owning the 8720 for almost 4 years, save your money...there is no discernible quality difference and the 8270 takes up far less space and doesn't weight a ton.
UPDATE 2/14/16: We've printed nearly 1200 images since purchasing the printer in Feb 2014 (majority 11x14 & 13x19) and have worked out the cost per sq inch to $0.007 to $0.009. Therefore, ink cost (purchasing 251 XL ink solely from Amazon) per 13x19 is $1.79 to $2.21. Canon Luster paper has averaged $0.69 per 13x19 sheet, for a total ink & paper cost of $2.48 to $2.90 per 13x19. Add another dollar to that for equipment wear and tear and a 13x19 is, worst-case, under $4.00. For every 1 PGBK cartridge, we go through: 3 BK, 8 GY, 6 C, 7 M, and 12 Y.
Pros : Excellent print quality, Affordable, Color Management, Easy to Use, Large-format, Low Cost Per Square Inch, Speed Average To Fast, Color ink water resistant on Canon photo papers.
Cons: Plastic Paper Guides/Flaps.
Best Uses: Prosumer AND Professional Prints
Describe Yourself : Semi-pro Photographer
Was this a gift? No (Purchased from B&H; Ink & Paper from Amazon)
PRINTER PURPOSE: Showcase amateur nature & landscape photography in our own home, and sell prints in limited quantities locally.
CAMERAS: Canon T1i; T5i; 70D, 7D MkII
LENSES: Canon 100-400 II, 200 f/2.8 IS II, 10-22 & 17-85 EF-S, 50mm 1.4 & 1.8, 85mm 1.8, 400 f/2.8 Mk I.
REVIEW:
Overall, we're very satisfied with this printer. We are a prosumer customer having owned numerous photo-quality HP printers/MFP's over the past 13 years.
Speed is average to fast. Quality is excellent - although I suspect high-quality papers contribute a lot (the Canon photo papers mentioned below have been excellent). Ink droplets are very minute, the smallest I've seen in any system I've owned. Color blending is also excellent - see the example Bluebird picture. Grayscale images are also excellent - much better than HP systems only utilizing a single black cartridge. Interestingly enough, we ran water over the alignment page, where the black bled slightly; blue did not. We then ran water over both a full-color and grayscale image and neither bled at all, nor were streaks/issues apparent after the print dried.
We did notice the images printed a bit warm; again, see the example photos. Although this is nice in many photos, it posed a problem when we tried to print pictures of fall foliage - easy to correct in Photoshop, however.
B&W images printed slightly dark - but not so dark that detail was lost like other systems I've owned.
Two thoughts - One, the wireless was a bit of a hassle, but due to our set-up and print volume, we ultimately settled for USB connectivity. Second, lots of plastic like most products these days, which I'm not opposed to if done appropriately. The chassis is strong and built well, but the extendable paper guides/flaps for holding sheets as they are fed and exit could be built better. With dust concerns and opening/closing the system, I wonder how long they'll last. UPDATE 2/14/16: After two years, no issues.
PAPER TYPES TESTED: Canon Pro Platinum 8.5x11, Luster 13x19, Plus Gloss II 4x6. UPDATE 2/14/16: Just tried the Moab Slickrock 300 Metallic paper, and wow - it's just like ordering Metallic prints from a photo lab. The paper is very, very sensitive and chips/scratches easily, but the quality is tremendous for DIY at home. Put the print behind glass after it has a day or two to breathe to protect it.
2018 Update - we've also put a few rolls of Epson canvas through the printer (then stretched the canvas ourselves) TIP - make sure the canvas is perfectly flat, no roll, at the edges or the print head rubs. But, if done carefully, it works, and the results are excellent! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MT0RKS/
COMPUTER & POST-PROCESSING: Windows 7/8.1 (now Win 10) systems using USB, printing from both Photoshop & Lightroom CC.
TESTING SCENARIO
In general, we post-process lightly, attempting to retain a realistic photo and HDR only when required. After the Canon iP8720 arrived from B&H in Feb 2014, we printed a wide variety of color and grayscale shots that had been post-processed, on three types of Canon paper.
PRODUCT PHOTOS were shot with a T1i, 10-22, no post-processing (see picture gallery/product photos gallery for our photos, located at top-most left side of page).
PRINTED PHOTOS used to test the product were lightning in Florida (B&W); Flowers from Iowa; Badlands National Park, Fall colors from Iowa/Wisconsin, and mountain bluebird from Yellowstone National Park. Additional photos for testing, not shown, include Yosemite National Park, Death Valley National Park, and Grand Teton National Park.
I am a hobiest photographer and I also enjoy scrapbooking. I got tired of waiting for my pictures from various printing companies and decided it was time to bite the bullet and buy my own printer. I did my due diligence & research, finally deciding on the Pixma iP8720. I am so glad I did. The quality is fantastic, setup was easy, and connecting to my WiFi was simple. I do suggest that you go ahead and purchase photo paper when you buy the printer, because it only comes with a few sheets. Be sure to practice on regular copy paper first, it's cheaper. I also bought extra ink from Amazon so I wouldn't be caught off guard if I ran out. It's cheaper on here too. I researched that as well. Make sure you have plenty room for the printer, as it isn't small. I've had it 3 days and have printed 8x10, 5x7, 4x6 in color and B&W. It can run dark unless you check your settings. It just takes some fine tuning like any other photography software. I hope you love it as much as I do! Happy shooting!!
WiFi setup was easy with WPS button on router. Never needed to use a USB cable. Just followed the quick start guide. Ink is super easy to install. You get 6 inks including grey. Printed three 8x10 using the included software and printer paper. Using the auto correct button on my photos brightened them and made the colors richer (gama). Canon glossy photo paper has the same feel of darkroom paper. The print even has that same heavy feel to it. The colors have that rich darkroom dye transfer process look. I guess in a sense it is a dye transfer. I've had three other photo quality ($300-$600) printers since 1995 and was never satisfied with the results. I'm glad the technology has finally caught up to the darkroom process. Never did like washing and drying prints anyway.
I've owned this printer for a couple of months now. Once the color settings are dialed in (decent printer software), photos are excellent. I'm a retired advertising creative director. For display prints, a step up in price/resolution would be a waste in my opinion. Printing on Canon Luster Paper, which is surprisingly affordable on Amazon.
On my Mac, the auto OFF/ON does not function. Not a big deal.
It loses its connection to my computer sometimes, an easy push-button fix.
Also, one must download the drivers and instructions. The packaged manual seems to have been designed for children.
Decent customer support.
It's large format. Measure your desk to make sure it fits.
Photo is comparison to small Canon scanner and compact HP Laserjet.
Feature Product
- Don't get stuck in an 8" x 10" world! Print your favorite photos up to 13" x 19"
- With a 6-color ink system including gray ink and 9600 x 2400 maximum color dpi, the results are incredible quality and amazing detail in your black & white and color photos
- Print wirelessly from any Wi-Fi enabled computer around the house. Ink droplet size: 1, 2 and 5
Description
Showcase Your Memories in a Big Way
Take your cherished memories to the next level with the PIXMA iP8720 Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer. The PIXMA iP8720 allows you to print stunning borderless photos up to 13” x 19”! With a 6-color ink system, including gray ink, and 9600 x 2400 maximum dpi color dpi, the detail is amazing. Whether you frame your photos or collect them in a scrapbook, you’ll be able to relive those special moments exactly as you remember them.
Conveniently print your creative images with the PIXMA iP8720, thanks to its many features like AirPrint, Google Cloud Print and PIXMA Printing Solutions (PPS). With PPS you can print photos and documents from your compatible mobile device.
What's in the Box
- iP8720 Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer
- Power Cord
- Setup Ink Tanks
- Setup CD-ROM
- Disc tray
- Manuals and other documents
OS Compatibilty
- Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows 7 SP1, Windows Vista SP1, Vista SP2, Windows XP SP3 32-bit
- Mac OS X v10.6.8 – v10.9
- Mobile Operating Systems: iOS, Android, Windows RT
Speed & Quality
Superior Resolution: 9600 x 2400 maximum color dpi produces incredible quality and detail in both your business documents and photos.1
FINE: Features Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering (FINE) with a patented print head firing ink droplets as small as 1pl.
Six Individual Ink Tank System: This high performance 6-color ink system includes gray ink for amazing detail in your black & white and color photos. A pigment-based black ink produces exceptionally crisp text.
Borderless Photos Fast: Print a beautiful, borderless 4" x 6" photo in approximately 36 seconds.5,13
Print Documents and Web Pages Fast: Print documents and web pages with fast speeds of 14.5 images per minute (ipm) for black and 10.4 images per minute (ipm) for color.6
ChromaLife100+: This system combines enhanced FINE print head technology with select genuine Canon photo papers and inks for beautiful borderless photos that will last up to 300 years when stored in an archival-quality photo album.7
Ease of Use
Auto Power On: This convenient feature automatically powers up the printer whenever you send a photo or document to be printed.
CD/DVD Printing: Enjoy the ability to print on CDs and DVDs.
Full HD Movie Print: Full HD Movie Print software turns your favorite HD movie clips captured with select Canon EOS Digital SLRs, PowerShot digital cameras and VIXIA camcorders into beautiful prints.9
My Image Garden: My Image Garden software makes organizing and printing your photos fun and easy with great facial recognition, Special Filters, Calendar Organization, Automatic Layout Suggestions and so much more!8
Creative Park Premium: An exclusive service for users of genuine Canon inks, offering access to photos, templates and more.10
Quiet Mode: This considerate feature lets you print anytime without worrying about disturbing those around you.
Connectivity
Built-In Wireless: Print wirelessly from any Wi-Fi enabled computer around the house.2
PIXMA Printing Solutions (PPS):PIXMA Printing Solutions (PPS) lets you print photos or documents from your mobile device using the free PPS app.11
AirPrint: Print wirelessly and effortlessly from your compatible iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch – no drivers needed!3
Google Cloud Print: Allows users to print from Gmail and Google Docs on a mobile device, and from Google Chrome browser for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chrome devices. With Google Cloud Print, you can print from wherever you are, from applications you use every day. You can even share your home and work printers with anyone you choose.4
Wireless PictBridge: Allows you to send photos directly from your wireless PictBridge (DPS over IP) compatible camera to the printer without the use of a computer.12
Hi-Speed USB: Plug the cable into your PC for a super-fast connection for your data transfers.
Disclaimers
- Resolution may vary based on printer driver setting. Color ink droplets can be placed with a horizontal pitch of 1/9600 inch at minimum.
- Wireless printing requires a working network with wireless 802.11b/g or n capability. Wireless performance may vary based on terrain and distance between the printer and wireless network clients.
- AirPrint functionality requires an iPad, iPhone 3GS or later, or iPod touch 3rd generation or later device running iOS 4.2 or later, and an AirPrint-enabled printer connected to the same network as your iOS device. A printer connected to the USB port of your Mac, PC, AirPort Base station, or Time Capsule is not supported.
- Requires an Internet connection and Google account. Subject to Google Terms of Service. Certain exceptions may apply.
- Photo print speeds are based on the standard mode driver setting using photo test pattern(s) and select Canon Photo Paper. Print speed is measured as soon as first page begins to feed into printer and will vary depending on system configuration, interface, software, document complexity, print mode, types of paper used, and page coverage.
- ISO/IEC 24734, 24735 define the default print and copy speed measurement methods. Print speeds are the averages of ESAT in Office Category Test for the default simplex mode, ISO/IEC 24734, excluding time to print the first set. Copy speed is the average of FCOT, ISO/IEC 24735 Annex D. ADF copy speed is the average of ESAT in General Performance Test for the default simplex mode, ISO/IEC 24735, excluding time to copy the first set.
- Based on accelerated testing by Canon in dark storage under controlled temperature, humidity and gas conditions, simulating storage in an album with plastic sleeves. Canon cannot guarantee the longevity of prints; results may vary depending on printed image, drying time, display/storage conditions, and environmental factors.
- To install using Windows OS, .NET Framework 4 is required. Compatible still image formats are PDF (created using Canon PDF Creator only), JPEG (Exif), TIFF, and PNG. Compatible video formats are MOV (from select Canon digital cameras only) and MP4 (from select Canon digital camcorders only).
- “Full HD Movie Print” is available from “MOV” and “MP4” movie files created by select Canon EOS Digital SLRs, PowerShot, and VIXIA digital cameras and camcorders. Requires PC or Mac with Intel processor and Canon ZoomBrowser EX 6.5 or later or Canon ImageBrowser 6.5 or later for “MOV” files, or Canon ImageBrowser EX 1.0 or later for “MOV” or “MP4” files. Print quality is determined by the video resolution. Function does not upscale video resolution.
- Creative Park Premium is a premium content service available exclusively to users only when all of the colors of genuine Canon inks and all of the software that came with the printer are properly installed.
- Requires an Internet connection and the PIXMA Printing Solutions (“PPS”) app, available for free on the App Store and at Google Play. Your device must be connected to the same working network with wireless 802.11 b/g/n capability as your printer. For users of compatible Apple mobile devices, document printing requires Apple AirPrint, which requires an AirPrint-enabled printer connected to the same network as your iOS device. A printer connected to the USB port of your Mac, PC, AirPort Base station, or Time Capsule is not supported.
- DPS over IP compatible device required.
- Envelopes and High Resolution Paper are NOT supported for borderless printing.
I purchased this printer on January 8th and have been trying to get it wireless ever since. I had an old canon printer that was connected via usb, so I had a cord to tether it. I have another canon printer that works wirelessly. I have never had a problem connecting anything else to my network. My router is older ( yet still free) from Verizon fios. There is no mechanical button to push to match hardware. It requires an encryption code to add on which quite frankly I like. But there is no way to input an encryption code here. So I hooked it up via usb.
I emailed my self pictures from my kindle and got them to print. Oddly enough the kindle acknowledges my other canon printer (mg8120) which is inferior to this product in printing quality.
I printed on both the 8120 and the 8720. The difference is quite noticeable. Much more streaking on the old printer but the photo is borderless. The 8720 photos are going to have to be cropped with a program because they print with borders and email data in the border. But the photo quality is much better. After some extra work I will have photos I would be proud to hang on my wall.
I purchased this specifically because I wanted to be able to wirelessly print pictures from my laptop and kindle. I cannot do that. I couldn't down load a driver from canon because it is only available from google play and therefore I cannot download it to my kindle. Maybe to my laptop I haven't tried. I also haven't called customer support but will in the future . If something changes I will update my review. Do not buy this expecting to just print wirelessly with all your smart gear, it may not work. Really disappointed and pondering a return.
Jan 23 update: So I said I would update and therefore I am. It seems the 10th time is the charm. I went to canon's website and downloaded the software , yet again, from the website. Lo and behold I finally got a page that allowed me to input my WEP password. So my advice to anyone having the same problem I did, run the download from the website NOT the disc. First download for a wireless set up, when it says can't find wirelessly, stay on THAT page and click on set up via usb box ON THAT PAGE. Do not back up and start from scratch via usb as I did many times. The screen will tell you to plug in the cable, it will do some searching then ask for your router info and you can input your password. After hooking up to your network it will ask you to UNPLUG USB. You are in! I just printed a BEAUTIFUL picture directly from my kindle in 8x10, and I am happy as a clam.
Make no mistake about it, This is a photo printer. I purchased this printer becuase I am a very amateur photographer and wanted to display my work in my mancave. i recently purchased a cheap epson to replace and older HP as i needed an everyday printer (ebay labels, recipes, etc) this printer claimed to print photos, which it does, albeit very poorly. They were not worth framing, or the paper they were printed on. Since I started shooting again, I thought I would look for a photo printer. I started doing some research and came across this printer. With the specs and reviews, i thought Id give it a shot. right out the box, this thing is pretty big considering it has no scanner, or even an lcd screen, it barely fit on my shelf. TKeep in mind this thing prints up to 13x19. which is pretty awesome. It Took a little long to hook up, and wouldnt connect to the network without a usb cable. But once it was all said and done, within 30 minutes i printed my first photo. At first print, i was a little underwhelemed.... .that is until i busted out some older photos printed on a "higher end" HP, and of course the epson i have hoooked up as well. The first thing that stood out was the accuracy of the colors. Even my wife said, "wow, what a difference". as a i started to print more and more photos i started analyzing each print. What was so amazing is how bright and glossy the ink was, compared the epson on its highest setting on the same paper. It actually looks like its printed on different paper. The fact it has 6 inks helps, and it is a dedicated photo printer, doesn't make it a fair comparison. While i'm very happy with the cheap epson i purchased, which is very feature rich for the price, this is my photo printer now. Which will save me ink on my epson. At the end of the day This printer is designed for one thing, PRINTING PHOTOS. (and maybe high quality media such as flyers, etc) Yes you can use it for color printing, and basic printing, but without a scanner or an LCD screen, it makes this thing pretty cumbersome for an everyday printer if you don't plan on using it for larger format media or photo printing. Its definitely best suited for high quality color prints and photos. There are some things to point out. First off, if you have any photo imaging software knowledge, you can print any size photo on any size paper. 2nd, since there's no LCD screen so setup sucks. Just keep a full-size USB cable handy, and you'll be fine. This printer is for people who have a little technological known how, definitely not a newb.
I have a small business that needs to print ANSI B (11x17 in) drawings - Local printing prices have gone up by 50% over the last 2 years. I purchased this printer as a 'possible option' for printing those ANSI B drawings. Not many printers can handle the wide format. For $200 or so, this printer looked worth trying. Well? I printed 2 sets of drawings (70 sheets) this weekend and wow! The print quality was absolutely laser quality! I used the same printer to print color cover sheets for the drawings and again ... wow! Suddenly my drawing sets have a much more professional touch! My reason for the 4-star instead of a 5-star rating is because this printer is an INK-JET printer with too many inkjet cartridges (5 or 6, can't remember) - While that is great for quality, and this printer definitely delivers quality, this is terrible for cost of printing. Time tells all on how long the cartridges will last, I'm quite certain that replacing a set of these will be a very significant cost ... Perhaps Canon will notice my complaint and produce an economically-priced laser printer that can handle 11x17 paper. Regardless, this ink-jet printer will cut my printing costs by half, at least, and that's important to me so that I can offer a competitively-priced product.
I’ve had several “prosumer” photo printers. A Pixma 9000, Canon Selphy, various HP photo printers. For the most part, they’ve always worked good, but have been a pain in terms of set up and software support, especially for a Mac.
After my Pixma 9000 died I stopped printing for a long time. But lately I wanted to print some 8 x 10 and or larger photos. At just over $200 this printer was hard to resist.
I received it yesterday and have only put a few prints thru it so this wont be an exhastive review. Print quality and cost per print are covered well in many of the other Amazon reviews here.
I found this printer extremely easy to set up and start printing with. Maybe 30 minutes to open the box and get it set up with ink cartridges. I was able to hook the printer up to my Mac via WiFi using the Canon set up assistant in less than 10 minutes. After a test page or two, I was printing 8 X 10s. The photos look very good. I’m pleased with the tone and colors. I think with some finagling and experimenting with different papers (I used Canon Photgloss II paper) I’ll get even better results. This was probably the easiest printer I’ve set up
I love this printer. Using either Canon or HP Premiere glossy papers I've been getting outstanding results. I have some Ilford Galerie Prestige paper arriving soon, we'll see how it does with a thicker, more fiber-like paper. The gray ink tank made a major difference in my B&W print output, I have little to no color cast common on printers with color + black ink cartridges.
Setup took less than 40 minutes, though I did run into a snag. The included driver isn't Windows10 compatible so it took an added 5 minutes to visit the Canon site and download the most current software and driver package. That wasn't my snag though. I have another 8X11 Canon printer that I want to keep online and available. The new iP8720 installation tried to overwrite the previously installed 8X11 printer. It took a few minutes of clicking and trying, but in the end both printers are online and available.
I didn't read closely enough, this isn't a tray-feed printer. It has a top-feed feature that handles all paper sizes. Not a deal breaker for me, but be aware that you will need more space between this printer and your wall than a tray-feed system requires. This printer uses the same color and black cartridges used in my 8X11 printer which to me was a plus. I've used professional lab 13X19 printers and roll printers up to 60" for years, and I find this Canon iP8720 a satisfying printer for hobbyist use.
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