Canon iP1200 Ink
PIXMA iP1200 Ink Cartridges

Canon iP1200 Printer Review

The Canon PIXMA IP1200 is an ultra-compact inkjet photo printer, nearly to the point of being portable, so it could be a good solution in extremely tight spaces. Its print speeds of up to 11 pages per minute are merely adequate, however, and print quality suffers from the fact that it uses only three colors of Canon IP1200 printer ink, with black as an optional add-on.

The unit's small size is certain to be a major appealing factor for some buyers, as it measures just 6.5x17.1x9.8 inches, and it weighs only 6.4 pounds even with the PIXMA IP1200 printer ink installed. It supports both Mac and Windows computers, and connects via USB. Given its small size, the 100-sheet paper capacity is somewhat impressive, but there is not output tray. Instead, pages just slide out onto whatever surface the unit is perched on.

Although the IP1200 has a maximum print resolution of up to 4800x1200 dpi, but users will need to add the optional black Canon IP1200 ink for best results, and reviewers noted lackluster output even under the best test circumstances. Borderless printing is supported, and it does a fair job with photos, but text documents look somewhat gray and faded.

The 3-color Canon IP1200 ink cartridge included with the unit can provide up to 100 pages, and is not exactly inexpensive. The optional black PIXMA IP1200 ink cartridge provides up to 195 pages. This puts the cost per page fairly high, even for a compact inkjet model.

The limitations of the IP1200 start to add up, from lackluster output quality to average speeds, making it less appealing than many competing units. Though it has a few highlights, such as borderless printing, only buyers who desire a very compact machine will likely find it very appealing, especially considering the high cost of consumables.