Canon iP8720 Ink
PIXMA iP8720 Ink Cartridges

Canon iP8720 Printer Review

The Canon PIXMA iP8720 is a color inkjet photo printer, but its high-quality output is more in line with professional models, despite a fairly affordable price. It uses 6 colors of PIXMA iP8720 printer ink for improved color accuracy, includes mobile printing support, and it can output up to 14.5 images per minute.

The design of the iP8720 is quite compact, measuring 6.3 inches tall, with a footprint of 23.3x13.1 inches. The lack of an LCD screen is a little disappointing, but the included software makes up for it somewhat. Users also have the option of printing from several types of mobile devices. The unit supports Google Cloud Print, Apple AirPrint, and Canon's own PIXMA Printing Solutions app, which is cross-platform.

The machine comes with Wi-Fi support, though a USB port is available for a direct connection as well. It also supports the Wireless PictBridge protocol for digital cameras that support this feature, printing directly from a camera without the need for yet another cord. CD and DVD printing is an option, and users can even print a freeze frame from an HD movie or video file. This could be particularly useful for lectures and presentations.

Separate colors of Canon iP8720 printer ink help to reduce waste, but replacing all six can start to add up. In addition to the standard size, users can also purchase high capacity versions of PIXMA iP8720 ink cartridges, with larger page yields. Each "XL" color Canon iP8720 ink cartridge can provide around 665 pages of output, while the two black supplies can provide 500 for pigment black and 4,425 pages for standard black.

The iP8720 is best thought of as a "prosumer" device, as it straddles the line between a consumer inkjet printer and a professional model. Its output quality is impressive, its design is compact, and the cost of Canon iP8720 ink is very affordable, making this one of the better values in its class.