Canon BJC-8500 Ink Cartridges

One of Canon's earlier photo inkjet printers is the BJC-8500. The BJC-8500 is most appropriate for those looking for a solid photo printer with large format capability. Graphic artists and other professionals who need to print on heavier stock will like this printer or the more professional Xerox 8500 ink printer. The paper cassette has a capacity of 250 sheets and is expandable. The Canon BJC-8500 ink cartridges include six color ink tanks.

The Canon BJC-8500 ink cartridges are capable of producing 1,200-by-1,200-dpi resolution, which results in outstanding print quality. The BJC-8500 can print on paper up to 13 by 19 inches. The Canon BJC-8500 inkjet cartridges include a sixth tank that contains a water-proofer to reduce wicking in paper fibers. Compared to the much cheaper BJC-8200 model, the BJC-8500 offers higher quality printing for use in the commercial market.

Compatible with earlier versions of Windows including 95/98 and 2000, as well as XP 32-bit and Mac, the BJC-8500 offers no ethernet support. The connection to the computer is not as easy as most computers today right out of the box. The BJC-8500 requires an additional accessory from Canon, a USB kit, in order to accommodate this convenient connection. Many users will fret over the limited choice of serial and parallel port options. As a direct competitor in this class, the Epson Stylus Pro 5000 offers USB type B connectivity.

The BJC-8500 inkjet printer lumbers along at a slow half page per minute, although rated by Canon at 4 pages per minute for color. The sluggish print speed may put off many potential buyers. Its connectivity issue would also stop many buyers in their tracks.

Impressive paper handling abilities and its knack to handle heavier media are pluses that will attract pro users to the BJC-8500. This is a workhorse printer that will appeal to professional users not bothered by its slow pace.