Canon PIXMA iP4500 Ink Cartridges

Canon iP4500 Printer Review

With the speed of an entry-level laser machine and the quality of a high-end photo printer, the Canon PIXMA iP4500 is an affordable inkjet model that could perform sufficiently in a home or small office. This machine can generate up to 31 black-and-white prints per minute and about 24 pages per minute in full color. Printing a standard 4x6 inch color image will take less than 30 seconds and will be comparable in quality to a photo lab image.

Approximately 4,600 nozzles are present inside the machine. These are used to eject small droplets of Canon iP4500 printer ink, ranging from 1-5 picoliters in size. Using only black PIXMA iP4500 ink, the highest quality resolution is 600x600 dpi while color output can reach a maximum resolution of 9600x2400 dpi.

The iP4500 does have some unique qualities that are not particularly common. It can print directly on printable CDs and DVDs, it supports printing from infrared-enabled camera phones, and it offers two paper trays. One tray folds out from the back while the other is a cassette that pulls out from the bottom, allowing users to stock standard paper and specialty media simultaneously.

Another feature that makes this inkjet printer slightly different from others in its class is the 5-ink system. Where most printers only offer four colors of printer ink, this machine holds five Canon iP4500 ink cartridges. There are two types of black Canon iP4500 ink: the pigment-based supply, which is used for text documents, and the dye-based that is used for graphics and images. Compatible versions of the PIXMA iP4500 ink cartridges are available from third-party vendors, and will cost less than half as much as the OEM options and still provide the same quality.

The iP4500 is equipped with a duplexer, Easy PhotoPrint features to automatically enhance images, and a PictBridge port for direct connection to digital cameras. However, there is no LCD screen to preview the photos, so that must be done on the camera's menu. A USB port is also available to connect to external devices, but no memory card slots are provided.

Designed with a focus on quality and speed, the iP4500 is a good fit for a variety of users, including photographers, college students, or small office workgroups. It is reliable, compact and affordable, which makes it an excellent value.