Canon MP390 Ink
MultiPASS MP390 Ink Cartridges

Canon MP390 Printer Review

The Canon Multipass MP390 is the updated version of the MP370 with faxing capabilities. Unlike previous models, the MP390 is suitable for small businesses. However, it can also serve multiple purposes for home users. What used to take up an entire table—a scanner, copier, printer and fax machine—now are all in one compact inkjet unit. The Canon MP390 is not at the top of the speed list, printing only 18 pages per minute in black Multipass MP370 ink and 12 pages per minute in color printer ink, but it makes up for it in quality.

The Canon Multipass MP390 prints at a resolution of 600x600dpi in black Canon MP390 ink and 4800x1200 in color printer ink. The copy resolution is similar, at 600x600dpi and 1200x1200dpi. The scanner uses a 48-bit color depth that mixes with a resolution of 1200x2400dpi, or 9600x9600dpi interpolated, and creates professional and clear scans. The faxing feature operates with a 33.6k modem speed and can send faxes in as little as 3 seconds per page.

There are two Canon MP390 ink cartridges found in this inkjet unit, black and color. In newer models, there are usually at least 4 for more precise and accurate color. However, in the early 2000s, the MP390 was ahead of the game with the innovative MicroFine Droplet Technology. This system uses hundreds of nozzles to eject Canon MP390 ink in small drops per inch (dpi).

The Canon Multipass MP390 is only compatible with Windows and sits at 17.9x21.5x11.3 inches with attachments. It weighs 15-20 pounds and can be purchased for $100-$150. Experts and consumers love the software that helps color photo printing by automatically reducing red eye and enhancing brightness. They also enjoy the direct connection for memory cards and digital cameras to reduce the need for a PC. However, the lack of an automatic document feeder really lowers the volume of usage, and the undersized Canon MP390 ink cartridges require multiple replacements.