Glad it was helpful! It has distinct limitations [screen size and broken colour management on the Mac] but is nonetheless quite capable. However - read my full [written] review for detail - the videos are supplemental to this www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Hi Keith, I just wanted to give you a big thanks for your very educational printer videos, and for your informative written reviews. Different types of paper weren't even something that I had considered when I was first looking at printers, as a lot of other printer reviews don't seem to provide much information outside of the marketed technical specs. I picked up the NZ/AUS based Canon G660 as my first printer recently, and I've been a lot happier with my prints than I had ever expected to be. It has been very interesting for me to experiment with different paper and printer settings without having to worry a great deal about ink costs. I am very glad to have come across your channel, and greatly appeciate your work. Thanks again.
Excellent. If you've not seen it, do have a look at the main [written] review as well - it has generally more detailed info. www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
I bought the Canon G690 (Korean equivalent of the model being discussed in this video). Very grateful for the detailed review (both video and written format) as it helped me understand the purchase better than any salesperson could. I wanted a printer to experiment with and the cheap ink is a key decision factor in there. Print quality maximisation is currently not the main focus as I want to create 5x7 inch prints from family events and revive the tradition of the physical photobook. Thank you for doing this.
I am so grateful for the very few printer experts/enthusiasts that are on TH-cam. Thank you for this review so I don't have to buy multiple printers and go through the whole testing and returning process. This printer is perfect for me. I have 4 printers, the Canon 4100, 1000, 10, and 100. I use them all for different use cases. My 100 just died, and I needed a replacement as a daily driver printer for art prints/postcards that are handed out in high volume, and this seems to fit the bill perfectly. I was wondering about the quality of the prints and you answered the question. Thanks
Simply amazing for my tastes.......high quality prints (I have tried with many brands and coatings, each one with interesting and particular result) , never diappointed in the comparation with monitor. Monochrome (no dominant printing with grey scale setting) and colour, and inexpensive ink consumption.......A pleasure to use it, re-discovering (after many frustrating experiences....) the domestic printing.
Hi, I was looking for a photo printer as my two granddaughters are getting into photography. Years ago, I used to use an old Canon S9000, but that's way past it's use by date. Hunting around I came across your videos and website reviews. So, I've bought a G550. Had it a week now and it's superb! Colour, b&w, lovely. Printing at A4 and 5x7, mix of Kodak and Canon papers. I don't really understand the icc stuff, but really pleased with the results I'm getting (basically assuming that a Canon printer using Canon ink on Canon paper should be fine).. Thanks for so much good advice and for all the work you put in.
Appreciate all your hard work testing this printer Keith. Once my current little Ecotank Epson runs out of ink I'll likely replace it with one of these printers 😊
I rarely comment, but I honestly enjoyed watching this detailed review! Thank you for the work put into this. It contributed to my artistery because now that I am sure about the properties of this machine, I am finally committing on a printer to aid my practice. Cheap startup costs, affordable ink, indeed it's time for experimenting. Lovely video and way of presenting.
Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for taking the time to comment. If you've not seen it there is more info and links to related videos at: www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Thank you, I am looking forwards delving deeper once it arrives! Especially keen to learn about the profiles you mentioned and see what differences they yield
I use a Canon Pixma Pro 100s for last 18 months [Dye Ink] not till i started printed using Canon Print Studio Pro instead of Lightroom etc, set to the Black & White mode iv had no issues and getting fab black & white prints, in case anyone is having an issue with their B/W using this printer. all the best loving your vids.
Nice review, thank you. I have had this printer for 30 days and have printed on Canon Luster letter size paper - all fed nicely and looked wonderful. Using Red River 4x6 paper, the roller feeder stopped feeding after about 15 sheets, fed one at a time. Cleaned via maintenance and manually cleaned the roller, only worked for 2 prints after cleaning. Canon sending a replacement. As a photographer, very happy with the final prints - especially for the price point. I usually print personal cards to send for special occasions.
Thanks a lot for the review! For me, the ink tanks are the selling point. The large volume, independent refill and relatively low cost take away all print-anxiety, so I don't mind to print, experiment, and encourage my family in using it. Worst is if every print feels like one quid or euro or dollar gone. This printer provides probably more than a thousand prints before one of the tanks needs a refill. And that's pretty good for €200. I know Keiths quality standards are much higher but at a budget of €200 for 1000-2000 prints... It's easy to say: spend more money, get better quality. If you have $200 and you want 1000-2000 prints, what are you going to do?
Thanks - glad it was of interest. Of course, it all depends on what you want from the prints - with colour profiles I get lots of good cheaper prints. Without colour management I get prints I probably wouldn't want to hand out to people - as you say YMMV ;-) The printer is certainly good for lots of tiny prints - you are not going to get 1-2000 A4 prints, and your £200 needs to buy paper as well. As to "If you have $200 and you want 1000-2000 prints, what are you going to do?" the answer is to accept lower print quality - you really do often get what you pay for ;-)
Well, just bought one today and found you on You Tube talking about it. I was inclined to buy the Pixma pro 200 instead, but desisted because of ink cost. Glad to know the printer is not so bad. Thanks
Hi, I know this is a year old now, but I am sure people will be looking at these videos for some time regarding the G550/650. Something quirky that happed to me with the printer, firstly the ink usage is amazingly good... certainly stops any ink usage anxiety lol. I have manage to get some ok B&W images from the printer driver and decided to buy some Marrutt papers that I had bought a test pack of. A Matt and a Gloss... I have printed off the ICC profile sheets to send back and get profiled :-) but tried a print on them. The Matt paper when printed in any fashion using the Matt paper setting had a reasonably blue tint to it. I finally used the Gloss Photo paper setting (Standard one) and it printed out pretty close to spot on. Strange how that setting changed the colour tint? Love the videos Keith 🙂
Hello Keith and to begin with, many thanks for taking the time to review the latest printer my company has just provided for hobbiest photographer on an extremely tight budget...well, just kidding about canon being my company... 😲 I have to say, that given the fact that I am an avid fan of your excellent website and youtube channel, I am a little disappointed that you do not have a windows system available to you, in order to test and properly review...well, all the stuff that you actually review! Having said all that, dear Keith, worry not...as soon as I seal the deal and become the newest canon's md; I plan to buy you a state of the art PC!!! :) Seriously though, thanks for your review, I have bought (not received yet) a G550, and that is because I, indeed, am an amatour photographer on an extremely tight budget, that would like to finally see hundreds out of the thousands pictures that I have taken over the years into prints; hopefully, this will be the tool I have been waiting for. As a last request, I actually have a technical-ish question for you...I have come across some "epson archival matte paper"(2 x 50 sheets packs); do you think I can use it by selecting canon fine atr paper?!? PS: after all my rumbling; it should be obvious that I am a PC user and {an Italian (oops), taking advantage of my drunken knowledge of the English language} therefore, should you decide to acquire a pc anytime soon and make a few wibdows profiles for, at least, canon paper; I would be most gratefull!!! Max Take care and keep helping us!!!
Thanks! Ah, I've not used a windows pc this century I'm afraid (by choice I'm afraid ;-) ) - and that's unlikely to change. For every other printer I've looked at for the last decade the profiles I make work just fine on either system. Epson EAM is the same as Canon matte photo paper ...Sorry, but PC icc profiles will have to be made elsewhere Oh, and when you become Canon's MD, I have a big list of requirements regarding printers, cameras and lenses ;-)
Really interesting video Keith - thank you. This is on my shortlist of one at the moment! (In G650 guise) Could I ask, since you made this, is there anything you've seen that I ought to consider at this price point?
Hi. First of all, thanks for your special work in testing printers! I have this question: for printing photos, in your opinion which one is better between Canon g550 (or g650) and Epson et-8550 (or et-8500)? Canon has red ink, Epson has double black ink (pigment and dye) if I understood well. But I am not able to decide and choose one! Thanks in advance.
Glad it's of interest! Ah - a common myth (perpetuated by printer marketing! ;-) ) that you can differentiate printers by counting inks... Yes, it can make a difference, but it is only part of the story. I never do brand comparisons, but these two printers are in a different league all together, so even Canon and Epson would point them towards different market segments. Look at my G550/pro-200 comparison for example. Remember that for photo printing the quality is given partly by the availability of printer profiles. The G550, for example, has broken colour management on Macs - that knocks it out of the competition from my POV, but some people don't care about profiles and the like, so it's more a printer for them ;-) All depends on your own definition of 'good photos' (and budget of course).
I do sometimes, but in the proper written reviews, not in the videos. I'll do a few more if they show anything of interest when I next get a printer to test
It's still crazy that Canon still uses this interface with this display dating from the last century. Their cameras are so modern and their printers so archaic.
Have been looking for a new printer for a couple of weeks, love the tank ones for lower ink vs print cost, have contemplated a better printer but keeps coming down to ongoing cost as will be printing a lot. Nearly went for A3+ printer but don't need it really and have no room for it either, plus again ongoig ink cost could be high. Want something as professional as possible around the £300 mark, but keep finding issues with every printer I research. But didnt realise I could do panaramic with this printer which for me is a massive bonus, but do print black and white so your comments are making me think twice. If you have any suggestions please let me know.
Ah - that well known marketing term 'professional' - it means very little in printers ;-) - at least until you get to something closer in size to an upright piano ;-) The G550 is really a consumer oriented printer - the broken Mac colour management speaks volumes in this respect As to black and white - forget it for any cheap printer if B&W quality is important. Sure you can (with some colour management work) get reasonable B&W on some papers, but not 'out of the box'. I would also suggest reading my actual written printer articles/reviews, since these have rather more content and detail than fits in videos? Basically, no-one makes a great A4 photo printer, so that size limit may need some revisiting ;-) Hope that helps
thanks for doing this review. i'm thinking of picking it up. i'm very new to printing - i don't like the idea of sending to a lab for the bulk of my photos, i'm too new to printing that i need to experiment with how to make them look good. i feel like this will give me the opportunity to do that. if i want something archival printing? i'll go to a lab and pay money for a gliche print! which will hopefully not be as painful as a process after i've got some experience printing with this. i couldn't justify £500+ for a printer!
Glad it's of help BTW 'Giclee' is just a marketing term used to enable people to charge more for prints ;-) [I have a video about this] If you'd like more info on the 550, see my main [written] review www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Hi Keith, thanks for your work on this cheap printer. I have a question: How did you get equal border size on each side of your print? Mine has always a difference of a few millimeters..
Thanks - You'll need to check the main [i.e. written] review and videos to see how I printed, it was quite a while ago, but didn't take any specific measures IIRC www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Thanks - See the main written review for details. www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/ Profiles on request [email] and for non commercial use
I appreciate your very detailed and informative review. If you allow me two questions, please. Is there a risk of the photo fading over the months? Will the quality of this printer be similar to the quality of a standard photo lab?. Thank you so much.
Thank you for a comprehensive interesting review. I only use a printer occasionally including for photos. The G650 is possibly over the top for me so could you suggest a close second - around the same price- possibly with other wider faster attributes although good photos are very important to me. I like the idea of bottles although this may not be possible or 4 bottles instead of 6. I would even consider cartridges. Preferably a white printer although these seem well in the minority -- thanks again.
Sorry, the G550 is as low-end as I go in reviews, since models and prices vary quite often. I'd suggest looking at the main [written] review which may give some better background for you? www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/ and a similar style [but 4 ink and not so good for photos] www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-2850-printer-review/ or this one in white which is excellent forphotos... www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8500-printer-review/
Hi Keith, great substance on the basic usage about the printer. I would like to know the thickness of paper or gsm it can handle with ease without causing any breakdown of parts on the printer. Hope you can advise. Thanks and more power.
See the range of papers in the main [written] review www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/ There are several stiffish cards and art papers
I'm now on my first prints using G650, thanks Keith for your videos how to setup the printer. One question, I'm testing different papers and sizes, I bought A5 paper but on Canon Easy-Photoprint Editor and nor A5 nor 148 x 210 mm sizes are listed. How can I print on A5 with G650?
See the specs and info in the actual review [the written one] A5 is a listed size, the other one isn't - so would be a custom paper size. Note that A5 is not supported borderless, nor are custom sizes www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
@@KeithCooper thnks for your reply. I managed to print outside the Canon software with A5 paper. Other problem I noticed now, in all prints all sizes, I can see lines of dots on the horizontal, kind of marks left by something inside the printer (maybe the part that pushes paper). Ever noticed something like that on your prints?
Yes, look up 'pizza wheel marks' Sometimes just from thick paper - sometimes an issue with the printer [if with a Canon photo paper for example] Didn't see it on the one I tested
Thank you very much,i consider purchasing one, privat use only,get a lot pics on the wall. I'm rather interested in maintenance over the years,it do have a casette with a sponge,changeable, also the printheads can bechanged. What would you recomend against dry out.? One pic a4 per week , 2 or 3 st least? Greetings from Germany again 😊
See here for details www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/ There is a replaceable maintenance cartridge [MC-G02] A nozzle check is fine every couple of weeks - this is a fairly basic consumer level printer, so not needing the regular use of higher end models
@@KeithCooper dear keith, thanks a lot, thanks for the Website, the orp. to print panorama is also a dream option, never did it, maybe there are mechanical feeders, like for presentpaper?... I ll see. I guess it s gonna get my next hobby, beside learning Piano/Keyboard... Need something with sense in my spare time,...and the pics of decades are sleeping on memorycards and harddiscs... Hear you, Ekkard Richter
Thank you for the review. I used to have an Ip7200 series (with 5 inks) and I'm happy with it. Now, I need a replacement for it. If this model can produce the equivalent out put, I would certainly get one. Have you ever print with 7200 sereis? If so, what do you think about there's print quality?
I don't know about a 7200, but this printer can work well BUT do see my main [written] review - my videos are just supplements ;-) www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Thanks for the great review, and the replies to comments... I hope you are still looking at comments! I am considering this printer vs the Canon G3560, which has 4 tanks (CMYK)... my need is home printing for general doc/images/homework, etc, but I also want to print photos for display at home, which is why I'm looking at the G650... what difference can I realistically expect for photo output comparing 4 vs 6 ink home printers? Must I do image processing and use profiles to achieve a difference between these two printers?
Thanks - Just checking, since I published a video a short while ago... The G650 is a 'better' printer than the 4 colour in some respects. It's a non starter for me, because I'm Mac based and Canon have broken colour management - pretty essential for photo printing. So, yes - you probably do have to use profiles and edit images (IMHO). There is no adequate 'shoot and print' system in existence - but I would say that I'm a working photographer ;-) If you've not seen it, see also the main [written] review for a lot more detail (the videos are mainly there to supplement the written stuff)
@@KeithCooper Thanks for the rapid reply! I am on PC... Canon released ICC profiles for my older 6 ink printer (that printer died a long time back), but I'm not sure if they offer profiles for PC for the G650 (I can't find them on the Canon website) - however, I'm not sure this is going to be any better for the G3560 vs G650. I guess I'm mainly looking for some reassurance/confirmation that the difference between a 4 and 6 ink home printer is a real difference and not just marketing. I also considered if the 4 ink printer offers an advantage having a pigment black (I note in your written review that you report the B&W suffering from the dye-based black). Curiously, your written review came across as a more positive opinion of this printer than the YT video :D Of note is your section on starting with a photo taken on a phone and final A4 print.
Thanks - glad it was of help. The videos are shot in one take, unscripted. The written ones are written over a period of days and via lots of drafts/updates. That means if there is any difference in tone, the written article is the 'considered' version ;-) However, not knowing the 4 colour printer you mention, means I can't really offer any specific comparison...
Great review, rarely do you see this level of expertise in a printer review. Looks like a nice machine, unfortunately not available in my country (New Zealand)!
So I just bought this printer, I set it up and I have found that the print quality is slightly blurry, but the bigger problem is it looks so faded. I'm not really sure how to get the colors to print vibrantly.
Sorry, but no, two totally different printers aimed at distinct markets (I never do comparisons anyway, but these are very different - read the actual reviews for more detail) You get what you pay for... ;-)
Hello! First I want to thank you for the nice and informative videos.I purchased the g540 before two weeks and I quiet pleased by the results.I was printing via an the Epson R2400 in the past to dispkay my b&w photos in my home's walls but it failed many y3ars ago.I have a question which is the following: what it revails during printing on this g540 printer the type of paper setting on the printer's menu display or the type of paper on its driver menu ?
Hi Keith, I bod the G650 and yes the black and white prints have an blue kind of color. That’s a bummer. I use Mac too and don’t know how to change or turn of the colors. Could you help me with a profile to give a better black and white print. I use canon pro luster paper
Is there a reason why the Canon printers above this one in the range don't have refillable ink tanks Keith? Do you get to the stage where ink cost becomes less of a consideration? As a novice looking into buying my first decent quality printer I'm attracted by the G650, but worry about wishing I'd gone bigger. Then when I look at the options I'm deterred by having to use cartridges?!
Marketing and profitability would be my slightly more cynical answers ;-) This is why the Epson Et-8550 gets my 'best' listing - especially since the G series tank printers have broken colour management on Macs See the main [written] review for this printer www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
The 100+ are supposed to last longer, but this is not an area I've tested in detail. At the level of a printer like this, not so much that you are going to notice ;-) If you do a search on Canon marketing materials about 100+ you'll find quite a few articles from a few years ago. I've seen nothing in them I'd call out - they seem relatively accurate.
I am first user of canon printer. I just bought Canon G570 printer, but the quality on the plain A4 paper are so low, but for glossy photo paper are so excellent. My question is,do Canon G570 only can print on photo paper only for an excellent printing?
I've no specific testing to go by - There are a limited number of printers I get to test, and I generally avoid the lower end and more business oriented ones. Looking at the specs alone I'd expect much better results from the pro-200. The PRO-100 is discontinued. The G550 is broadly similar to the ones you mention (albeit smaller). One can only hope that the colour management for Mac users is not hamstrung in the same way (we only have Macs here for testing) PS, there is just me here... :-)
Hi Keith! Thank you so much for your review. I have a pro 200, that unfortunately has to go for technical support and it may take a while till I get it back. I’m a digital children illustrator, and sell my artwork mainly wall art, always printing in fine art paper. So I have a photograph printer but I never print photos 😅 but the quality of the prints does matters a lot to me. So I was thinking about buying another printer so it can help me out in this moment while my pro 200 is out, and of course I understand it can not replace it for obvious reasons, but I was wonder if it could make a good job, even after the pro 200 is back, having in consideration the other multi function characteristics and the tank inks. Do you think it would be a good duo? I always see good reviews for glossy paper in this printer and that’s a type of paper I never use :/ and it’s hard to find that specific review. Thank you much in advance if you can give me your opinion 🙏🏻
The canon support also suggested the TS9550, because of the A3 size. But not sure about the reviews from it. Do you have an opinion about that printer? Thank you 🙏🏻
I also make cake toppers and other little stuff where the durability of the print is not an issue, and it is printed on cardstock, not fine art paper. Sorry for all the details separately 😅 Thank you once again 🙏🏻
I'd suggest reading the actual [written] review - far more detail. Also see the discussion about the use of profiles - especially if you use Macs www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Quite a lot - that's all I can say. The sort of varied testing I do gives no useful data for anything precise See the [UK] papers in the main written review - no idea what's available on Amazon though. Fine if you have a PC, but do see the notes for Mac users regarding Canon's lack of driver support for colour management
@@KeithCooper thanks mate, I'm on Windows. Will get mine in a couple of days and I ordered some paper, Koala PPD and Kodak, will start with those to see how the printer behaves.
hi that is a great detailed review. I came on looking to see if this is the printer to replace my Epson L805 for printing colourful vibrant sticker sheets. I see in your review you mentioned "No it doesn’t print vinyl stickers - it needs media designed for aqueous inkjet printing". I am sorry I don't quite understand, do you mean you can't use quality sticker papers with it? Many thanks , from Oman.
Thanks! Stickers will only work if the media is designed for such inks. You need to ask the supplier of the media. Most vinyl sticker material simply won't work with these water based inks. None of my paper suppliers have such media, so I never get to test it
@@KeithCooper Hi, On amazon, some Vynil sticker papers have "Compatible with inkjet printers" written on them. Is this what you mean by " media is designed for such inks"?
Difficult to say, since I'm a Mac user and colour management is broken on the Canon It's obviously cheaper to run being an ink tank printer, but that's irrelevant from my personal POV Under optimum conditions, there's probably not much difference
@@KeithCooper Thank you so much for your kind and fast reply. I am divided between these two printers. The Epson XP-1500 has obviously much higher operating costs but prints larger prints and [potentially?] better quality. The Canon has much better multifunctionality and cheaper operating costs, but prints smaller size and (maybe?) less good picture quality. I am a PC user so they should both work fine for me. But I don't know which one to order so any help will be very appreciated. ;-)
Ah - I'd forgotten the Canon was A4 - the 15000 definitely for me then Have you read my proper [written] reviews? www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-xp-15000-printer-review/ www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Sorry about the ads, but I need the money to support the site. You can close them when reading on a large enough window - Note though that none of my web articles are written for reading on a phone I'm afraid.
Hello Keith, I’m a Windows and Mac user. Based on your comments it seems i would be better off printing from my windows pc, has that changed at all since you have made this review? Also does the color management issue effect airprint?
It all depends on just what you're printing and whether you have profiles - we are talking relatively low end printing, so I can see why Canon has done this on Macs, even if I think it is a shot in the foot ;-) Airprint is effectively useless for better quality printing [as implemented with these printers] It's why printing from iPads and the like is always problematic if quality and colour is important.
Hi, thanks for your videos which helped me to choose a printer. I just ordered a G650 and I was wondering about the quality I should use when printing taking into account the difference of ink quantity it needs for each quality... Canon claims 3800 A6 prints with a set of ink bottles. I guess this is for standard quality. What about high quality ? Does it consumes the double of ink for instance ? I have a Colorchecker studio so I can make my own profiles and I'm wondering if I go for standard quality or high quality (eventhough I can make both but since I have lot of different papers it will take more time).
It uses more ink, but those number are 'optimistic' ;-) Look at the quality differences vs print time on one good paper and decide on what works best for the rest?
I bought the G620, USA model, and am very happy with it. Is it the best photo printer in the world?, absolutely not. I had a very good idea what I was getting when I bought it, a printer that produces nice, not great, images for a very low cost per print. I knew it was slow but I am not in a hurry. When I need great quality prints I send the files out.
There is no direct equivalent - perhaps the et-8500 See the actual reviews to see the specs/differences www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/ www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8500-printer-review/
I read some comments from buyers stating that this G650/G550 or its variations in model number are noisy when printing. Do you think the printer you review in this video is too loud when printing compared to some alternatives?
No - noise was not a problem, then again I look at relatively few more basic printers like this. See some of my related G550 reviews and turn up the volume ;-) I personally regard comments from buyers with an element of suspicion - buying a product does not make you a good reviewer ;-)
@@KeithCooper Thank you. For speed and monochrome text printing I have an old, reliable, small HP laserjet. My beloved Canon i950 died a few years ago. Prints I made with it are still perfect after more than 15 years (inside an album). It seems that the G550 (G510 here in Brazil) is a good replacement under my budget for 6-color photo prints. I will definitely come back for your videos to learn more!
Sorry - I don't actually know what a 'photo zine' is? what paper sizes? how many pages? what paper type It's not a quick printer, and colour management could be an issue
@@KeithCooper Oh ok, a zine is a self publish magazine, a photo zine is that, with mostly photographs. It would be A4, 120 gsm, double sided ( and folded in half) and around 15 sheets of them. I guess it doesn't really need to be the most accurate colors. I'd use this printer for zines and test prints. Thank you for your quick answer :)
how does this Canon G620 compare to the HP smart tank 7001 printer in term of photo quality and durability? Even at only 4 color ink, The HP 7001 cost a lot more at $400 vs this Canon G620 at $250. Thank you.
The ink dots are rather large - given the lack of colour management on the Mac, it's for me not a printer I'd use. However this is a question much better asked on an alternative process discussion list, since it's not something I test for...
Is there a need to print something at least once a week to stop the print heads drying up & clogging? I've come across reviews of the similar Epson EcoTank where people have commented that is the case. I would only use the printer intermittently so thinking of getting the All In One G650 an upgrade from the Epson XP 8600 because it's ink cartridges are £100+ & don't last long, plus the Epson Print app is buggy on my Android tablet. I'm just a novice & not a pro so im looking for something reliable & easy to maintain.
With any printer I'd ideally want to use at least every couple of weeks, but these printers are generally OK. 2-3 months is asking for trouble though, with any printer ;-) See the main [written] review for more www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Great video Keith, very thorough. If you use matching manufacturer paper (Canon in a Canon, HP in a HP etc), is profiling still important? Thanks a lot
Absolutely - just you use a Canon or HP profile (if available) Printing colour without profiles (or other colour management) is hit and miss, and a great way never to get optimal results. This is one of the main reasons I rarely look at basic printers like this - they are just not (usually) capable of the level of print quality I require. I know many are happy with the results, but that's not what I'm looking for ;-)
Keith, I want to print on A4 300gsm sometimes. I have noticed with my partners printer that does not have a back entrance the paper can get stuck? So if I want to print on this type of card paper (Yes proper printer paper/card) do I need a rear loader which is straighter? If so what under 200 pound printer do you suggest ink price verses quality?
Unfortunately I keep no track of printer prices so I've no idea what fits that range - also I test very few lower end printers, so I don't have a good knowledge of what's currently available
@@KeithCooper in the past I had a canon pro 10s and it allowed me with the print studio pro software to create contact sheets with an automatic variation of brightness and contrast to see which variations gave the best result. I realize that this is an amateur, non-professional product but I wanted to know if there was a print driver that would still allow me to have advanced adjustments and this possibility of the contact sheet. let's say that I mistakenly call them contact sheets, but I meant the same photo printed small many times on the same sheet with small automatic adjustments. Thank you
Thanks - the Canon software you mention still works fine on larger printers. but not consumer level ones like the G550 [AFAIK - not tested, we use Macs*] It's what I use in many of my demos of the likes of the PRO-200/300 *For me as a Mac user, colour management is effectively broken on the G550
@@KeithCooper Canon reserves that software for pro versions only. I was wondering if there was something similar, I saw the Qimage One software, are you familiar with it? Can you tell me if it's a good product? Thanks again
Never used it - we use Macs here and the Mac version was always lagging behind the PC version. It has lots of fans - just take care to look carefully at what it does and make your own mind up... Printfab might be worth a look [not tested this] - it has proper colour management, which is always preferable to just printing and guessing ;-) There is a 30 day demo www.printfab.net
It might be nice to see a review of some of Paper Spectrum's cheaper papers with these ink tank printers. I'm guessing an A4 print on their value range of paper costs about 60p including paper and ink.That makes for a very nice learning tool. I've bought a box of the value matte, luster, and gloss but I'm still learning to print again. The cheaper printing these printers provide may lead to better printing for beginners like me as we can practice more.Especially when paired with decent cheap paper to burn through.
Ah, I'm afraid this runs as cheap as I'm going ;-) The lack of colour management on the Mac means I simply can't get acceptable results without making profiles. I don't have a win pc in the house, so that route isn't available. Those PS papers will work perfectly well - with appropriate profiles. I should also note that this is also the only A4 paper I've got - I got it specially for this review. All my paper stock is A3+/A3/A2 or rolls
Hey Keith, How are you ? I need a printer to make some magazine handmade. It's for A4 and A5 pages sized. I'll put some photos in. For you, what's the best option with a budget of 200-400€ without counting papier ? I also think of getting more praticity with double faces printed automatically for exemple. Thanks !
Duplexing is largely an office printer function - not associated with any print quality for photos. It's usually good for plain paper and very thin photo paper. The difficulty is finding paper thin enough, which is also coated for inkjet use. This printer is cheap, with bulk inks, but is going to take a lot of effort in paper handling and feeding. Can't help with suggestions though... I don't sell printers, so I don't keep track of prices at all, yet alone in overseas markets...
I don't - I only ever test OEM inks It's a thermal inkjet printhead and they are much more prone to clogging/damage with the wrong inks. Not something I'd try on a printer of mine ;-)
This is not something I really test unless a paper seems excessively fragile. Finger marks are not good if you want a print to last though. If you want to hand prints round, print them on cheap paper and keep the files, so as to be able to print again later ;-)
Hi Keith, I just want a good photo that’s isn’t too dark for references for my art I do. I have an I pad and windows 10 pc will this be good enough please? Not sure I understand the profiles your saying. 😀
Maybe - profiles are used for accuracy and quality, when printing from photoshop and other better editing apps. iPads are generally pretty poor at this, but you can tweak brightness contrast. It's all about the quality level you want - the G550 is a fairly basic printer, but can make passable prints with a bit of effort.
Hi Keith was looking at this printer could you suggest a printer that will do decent photos as I have joined a photo club and will be entering mounted photos into local competitions. I have a budget of around £200 for a printer was looking at the canon ix6850 and to use refillable ink carts with it. However a did see a HP 555 smart tank on sale with removable print heads so could you shed some light on what would be best , will be printing A4 most but A3 nice option but not needed
I'm afraid I don't know prices or models very well at this level of printer. However, I'd not touch any 'smart ink' scheme with a barge pole... replaceable heads means nothing ;-) The models change so fast that I don't often get them to review BUT If you are entering stuff for competitions then the quality requirements put many of these small printers out of contention, and third party inks are an additional lottery... Cheap ink is cheap is so many ways... ;-) Colour management is key - see my main written review for more [take note too if you are Mac based] www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
I tried researching this idea and found very little information on this topic. Is there a way to hack these printers by repeating the printing process on the same page, instead of a single run? I assume getting the paper perfectly aligned for the additional runs would be where the challenge lies. In that case, couldn’t this be easily solved by having a smarter mechanism in place which would allow one to adjust this via software and some kind of simple scanning or alignment mechanism? I don’t know if this question makes any sense. The key thing that prompted this idea of mine were the discussions I found online about digital negatives , where people indicated that one of the shortcomings of digital negatives requiring an enlargement (eg medium format or 4x5 sized digital negatives), and not a direct contact print was the limited density . I suspect the features I’m envisioning are something solely implemented in higher end printers. I find it fascinating that the quality of darkroom printing, and the key mechanics behind it, hasn’t been found or implemented in smaller and affordable printers. I’m totally oversimplifying, but I can’t for the life of me understand why we can’t have the best of both worlds considering the sophistication found in even budget laser printers and 3D printers. This entire domain of photo printers feels like such an opaque, and seemingly illogical black box. Thanks for adding some semblance of sanity to this domain. Is it a stretch to suspect that Canon and the like cripple their printers in the same way they do their video cameras (all-i vs IPB vs raw) ?
I know what you mean, but no printer I've ever looked at [at any level] properly supports this in any way. My suspicion is that other types of ink and substrate may be needed - not an area I cover (it's commercial print) On of the issues with digital negatives is ink loading for the film - even if you could print twice, the density is dependent on the inks and capacity of the media. It is such a niche use that none of the big printer makers will have any interest in supporting it. "A smarter mechanism" - sounds like R&D money for me that is very tightly apportioned ;-)
@@KeithCooper I suspected my too-good-to-be-true peasant-budget Rolex killer was but a pipe dream! I wonder how far off we are from DIY/open-sourced/modular printers. How hard can this really be? I jest - partially... If we can print guns with a sub-1000 dollar printer I'd like to believe I can print deep blacks and creamy whites for a little less. My analogy game is weak today. Have a great day and thanks again for taking the time to clarify.
Thanks a lot for the good advices in this video and your website. I just purchased this printer and I would be interested to print color landscapes onto Hahmemulhe Photo Rag 308 paper as I used to do via photo labs. I have a question about color profile (I am on PC), I found a few websites for calibration service, going from £15 (permajet) to 50€, the one I contacted told me that calibration sheets with less than 2000 patches is more for office work than for photography. Do you agree with that or do you think I would not see a difference with permajet(1000 patches) and the one at 50€ (which has 2500 patches with a special grayscale section of 650) and this is a waste of money with this entry level printer? Thank you for your experience.
There is utter hokum talked by some people trying to sell you their services ;-) I'm minded to think that the 50E one is verging on dishonest IHMO - 2500 patches will make precious little difference with a printer like the 650 and they well know it! I guess I should start charging for my ~3000 patch profiles - oh, sorry, I give them away for free (for non commercial use) ;-) You can make perfectly good profiles for printers like this with far fewer patches (the ccProfiler/i1Studio for example). The 650 is simply not a printer that's made for high end printing - If you buy some paper from PermaJet (and several other suppliers in the UK) they will make the profile for free. You can profile as much as you like, but for greyscale neutrality, you are fighting against the spectral characteristics of the dyes used here... Thanks for asking - as you might have guessed, this is something that has annoyed me for years ;-)
@@KeithCooper Thank you Keith for this long answer. In fact the price include 5 b&w b&w profiles in addition to the color profil... but I prefer to avoid to pay more if I can't see a difference. I'll probably try permajet as they also do calibration service for third party papers... I will get my papers this weekend, and will already try the tests you did with your test images, uncalibrated and calibrated. That will give me an idea of the difference with a photo printed by a professional lab and pigment inks. Thanks again!
Is it suitable for a small business that would use it to print photographs for customers? I run a small Etsy shop that specialises in instant film but I'm often asked if I can print photographs onto paper/card to resemble a Polaroid instead of using genuine Polaroid film which is a lot more expensive for the customer. I've seen other sellers do this with printers like a HP Envy, but I don't mind spending a little more if the photograph print quality is better. I appreciate this isn't a pro level machine and that if I wanted a fine art printer, I'd need to spend at least £650. With that in mind, what sort of printer would you also recommend for actual art prints like posters and artwork? EDIT: I'd also like to know if this prints on A4 only or if I can print A5 and A6.
From my own POV, this printer is not really up to serious commercial use. That said, anyone wanting a polaroid is hardly searching for high quality reproduction, so if you can find a suitable media, it might well do ;-) As to 'better' - I never do recommendations, since the answer is always 'it depends' ;-) The most significant factors are more often connected to the business side of things - I've quite a few videos looking at business aspects, for many of the printers I've looked at.
There are windows drivers, so I don't see why there should be any problems. I have however not used a windows machine for over 20 years, so it's not included in any of my testing. I would only suggest it as an option for pictures if you had printer ICC profiles - these are an integral part of getting any print quality. A low end printer like this is not aimed at the quality photo printing market. It can be wrangled to give reasonable prints, but it takes some effort. It is however relatively cheap, so that matters more for some users... So, probably and 'it depends' ;-)
Both are 'tank' printers so no difference there. A3+ is a vast difference from my own POV The real difference comes in the ink set - the 550 uses the old chromalife100 inks - distinctly weaker in some respects to the Epson set which includes a pigment black (can make all sorts of differences, which I've discusses in articles and videos) Personally, as a Mac user, Canon also shoots themselves in the foot, with the choice of the AirPrint driver for the G550. To be fair, Canon and Epson would agree that these are printers aimed at different markets. The 8550 I'd happily make use of (much like the Canon PRO-200) - the G550 distinctly less so. A lot comes down to user requirements and expertise - as I said, different market objectives ;-)
@@KeithCooper Hi Keith, thank you for your comprehensive reply. I realise that I wasn't at all clear in what I asked. I meant the G550 vs the Canon iP8750 - both consumer models around £200. I know you haven't reviewed that one and it's totally understandable to assume that I was referring to your Epsom 8550 review :-)
OK- then the differences are not so great ;-) The 550 is about as low level as I really want to go, and reviewed it partly to see if it was possible to get usable print quality from it. ...Yes, but it relied on me already having colour management kit and software many times the price of the printer :-) :-)
Buongiorno, scusi se parlo in italiano, spero riesce a capirmi.ho una canon g550, supporta 275gr di carta, se usassi una carta telata di 345 gr,secondo lei si rompe la stampante? Grazie per la risposta. Complimenti per il canale youtube. Lei è molto bravo e preparato.
Good morning, I have a canon g550, it supports 275gr of paper, if I used a 345 gr canvas paper, do you think the printer would break? Thanks for the answer. Congratulations for the youtube channel. You are very good and prepared.
Very slow printing full colour photos on A5 and A4. This is due to the small print head that delivers the ink to the page. You’d think they’d have adopted to fast print full colour grass of the iP4950 which is years old but delivers far superior print quality on full colour very quickly. The slow colour print for photos let’s this printer down. Ink now at £70 full set. Additionally, this printer does a lot of ‘cleaning’ which wastes a lot of ink.
Worthwhile points... Ink costs are relative (with the quantity in the bottles) and it's a cheap printer aimed at a particular market. Remember I only really look at printers from a usability and print quality POV - this is at the very lower end of what I tend to cover. For myself it's the broken colour management on Macs which is my biggest disappointment...
Hello Keith, thank you for the video. I live in Accra Ghana, I run a Photo studio and a copy and print shop. I mostly get customers printing personal 5x7 prints and A3 photo prints for their front page of architectural (plans) drawings that will be presented for approval at the Ghana planning office, so I need a photo printer that can do the prints at lowest cost possible but that which will give me best quality acceptable for commercial. I have the Canon G550 and Epson EcoTank ET-8550 Printer (L8180) in mind, but I will need another A3 printer as an option too. Thank you in advance, I know you will respond or someone here will respond. ---Just a heads up, the market here in Ghana is such that, they always want the cheapest prints possible because the economy is very bad in Ghana.
Ah, I steer well away from cost aspects of printing, but the 8550 is more solidly built and has a waste tank. When it fills, you replace it, when the G550 pads fill, you buy another printer...
Fine if you can make your own icc printer profiles - otherwise it's just 'cheap' Like all these things it depends on what matters in terms of print quality to the user...
@@KeithCooper If you have a flatbed scanner you can use it to create an ICC profile (e.g scan2ICC and there are many more programs). I used to make them when I was running this setup myself. Every time I replaced the supplier of the ink I did another profile.. So what. Not an issue.
@@KeithCooper I have to add one other thing - and this is the sponge getting full issue. Sure, with a smaller printer you can expect it to happen after around 3 years of use or even less. But then again, with a smaller printer all it takes to reset the chip is a factory reset.. So you dismantle the cover, take out the sponge, soak it in a bucket of water for a couple of hours, then you dry it in the sun for a day and put it back, do a factory reset and you're golden. I did it twice and never had to order a spare sponge from Ali (though they do sell them, if you don't want to mess with all the ink).
If scanner based profiles are good enough for you, then fair enough. I've not seen a scanner based system capable of giving good profiles on a range of papers - as ever YMMV
Yes - there are many ways of saving money if you really want to... Some people are happy with all this faffing about, others might not be Al this comes down to acceptable print quality, effort and cheapness - different people have different criteria.
Thank you! You are currently one of only two good reviews for this printer. Very helpful indeed!
Glad it was helpful!
It has distinct limitations [screen size and broken colour management on the Mac] but is nonetheless quite capable.
However - read my full [written] review for detail - the videos are supplemental to this
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Hi Keith, I just wanted to give you a big thanks for your very educational printer videos, and for your informative written reviews. Different types of paper weren't even something that I had considered when I was first looking at printers, as a lot of other printer reviews don't seem to provide much information outside of the marketed technical specs. I picked up the NZ/AUS based Canon G660 as my first printer recently, and I've been a lot happier with my prints than I had ever expected to be. It has been very interesting for me to experiment with different paper and printer settings without having to worry a great deal about ink costs. I am very glad to have come across your channel, and greatly appeciate your work. Thanks again.
Excellent.
If you've not seen it, do have a look at the main [written] review as well - it has generally more detailed info.
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
I bought the Canon G690 (Korean equivalent of the model being discussed in this video). Very grateful for the detailed review (both video and written format) as it helped me understand the purchase better than any salesperson could. I wanted a printer to experiment with and the cheap ink is a key decision factor in there. Print quality maximisation is currently not the main focus as I want to create 5x7 inch prints from family events and revive the tradition of the physical photobook. Thank you for doing this.
Thanks - glad it was of help!
I am so grateful for the very few printer experts/enthusiasts that are on TH-cam. Thank you for this review so I don't have to buy multiple printers and go through the whole testing and returning process.
This printer is perfect for me. I have 4 printers, the Canon 4100, 1000, 10, and 100. I use them all for different use cases.
My 100 just died, and I needed a replacement as a daily driver printer for art prints/postcards that are handed out in high volume, and this seems to fit the bill perfectly. I was wondering about the quality of the prints and you answered the question. Thanks
Glad to help - there is more detail in the main [written] review if you've not seen it
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Simply amazing for my tastes.......high quality prints (I have tried with many brands and coatings, each one with interesting and particular result) , never diappointed in the comparation with monitor. Monochrome (no dominant printing with grey scale setting) and colour, and inexpensive ink consumption.......A pleasure to use it, re-discovering (after many frustrating experiences....) the domestic printing.
Glad it's working well for you!
Hi, I was looking for a photo printer as my two granddaughters are getting into photography. Years ago, I used to use an old Canon S9000, but that's way past it's use by date. Hunting around I came across your videos and website reviews. So, I've bought a G550. Had it a week now and it's superb! Colour, b&w, lovely. Printing at A4 and 5x7, mix of Kodak and Canon papers. I don't really understand the icc stuff, but really pleased with the results I'm getting (basically assuming that a Canon printer using Canon ink on Canon paper should be fine).. Thanks for so much good advice and for all the work you put in.
Glad it was of help!
Appreciate all your hard work testing this printer Keith. Once my current little Ecotank Epson runs out of ink I'll likely replace it with one of these printers 😊
Thanks - I was pleased with how good you could get it to work
I rarely comment, but I honestly enjoyed watching this detailed review! Thank you for the work put into this. It contributed to my artistery because now that I am sure about the properties of this machine, I am finally committing on a printer to aid my practice. Cheap startup costs, affordable ink, indeed it's time for experimenting. Lovely video and way of presenting.
Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for taking the time to comment.
If you've not seen it there is more info and links to related videos at:
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Thank you, I am looking forwards delving deeper once it arrives! Especially keen to learn about the profiles you mentioned and see what differences they yield
The profiles are available on request [email]
I use a Canon Pixma Pro 100s for last 18 months [Dye Ink] not till i started printed using Canon Print Studio Pro instead of Lightroom etc, set to the Black & White mode iv had no issues and getting fab black & white prints, in case anyone is having an issue with their B/W using this printer. all the best loving your vids.
Thanks!
Nice review, thank you. I have had this printer for 30 days and have printed on Canon Luster letter size paper - all fed nicely and looked wonderful. Using Red River 4x6 paper, the roller feeder stopped feeding after about 15 sheets, fed one at a time. Cleaned via maintenance and manually cleaned the roller, only worked for 2 prints after cleaning. Canon sending a replacement. As a photographer, very happy with the final prints - especially for the price point. I usually print personal cards to send for special occasions.
Thanks - glad it was of interest!
Thanks a lot for the review! For me, the ink tanks are the selling point. The large volume, independent refill and relatively low cost take away all print-anxiety, so I don't mind to print, experiment, and encourage my family in using it. Worst is if every print feels like one quid or euro or dollar gone.
This printer provides probably more than a thousand prints before one of the tanks needs a refill. And that's pretty good for €200.
I know Keiths quality standards are much higher but at a budget of €200 for 1000-2000 prints... It's easy to say: spend more money, get better quality. If you have $200 and you want 1000-2000 prints, what are you going to do?
Thanks - glad it was of interest.
Of course, it all depends on what you want from the prints - with colour profiles I get lots of good cheaper prints. Without colour management I get prints I probably wouldn't want to hand out to people - as you say YMMV ;-)
The printer is certainly good for lots of tiny prints - you are not going to get 1-2000 A4 prints, and your £200 needs to buy paper as well.
As to "If you have $200 and you want 1000-2000 prints, what are you going to do?" the answer is to accept lower print quality - you really do often get what you pay for ;-)
I just got this printer for about 100€ on a sale. I got it to learn more about printing and better my photography in the process. I'm enjoying it
Excellent!
@@KeithCooper Thank you for the profiles!
Well, just bought one today and found you on You Tube talking about it. I was inclined to buy the Pixma pro 200 instead, but desisted because of ink cost. Glad to know the printer is not so bad. Thanks
Yes - capable, if you allow for its foibles
See the main [written] review for more detail
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Thank you for these very thorough videos on the Canon G550 printer. Excellent videos!
Thanks - glad you like them!
Thanks, Keith. Such a great review, good enough to make me buy one.
Thanks - If you've not seen it, there is more detail in the main [written] review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
@@KeithCooper Thanks, you're a legend. 👍
Hi, I know this is a year old now, but I am sure people will be looking at these videos for some time regarding the G550/650. Something quirky that happed to me with the printer, firstly the ink usage is amazingly good... certainly stops any ink usage anxiety lol. I have manage to get some ok B&W images from the printer driver and decided to buy some Marrutt papers that I had bought a test pack of. A Matt and a Gloss... I have printed off the ICC profile sheets to send back and get profiled :-) but tried a print on them. The Matt paper when printed in any fashion using the Matt paper setting had a reasonably blue tint to it. I finally used the Gloss Photo paper setting (Standard one) and it printed out pretty close to spot on. Strange how that setting changed the colour tint? Love the videos Keith 🙂
Thanks - profiling can definitely help with this printer [notwithstanding the airprint problem on Macs]
Hello Keith and to begin with, many thanks for taking the time to review the latest printer my company has just provided for hobbiest photographer on an extremely tight budget...well, just kidding about canon being my company... 😲
I have to say, that given the fact that I am an avid fan of your excellent website and youtube channel, I am a little disappointed that you do not have a windows system available to you, in order to test and properly review...well, all the stuff that you actually review!
Having said all that, dear Keith, worry not...as soon as I seal the deal and become the newest canon's md; I plan to buy you a state of the art PC!!!
:)
Seriously though, thanks for your review, I have bought (not received yet) a G550, and that is because I, indeed, am an amatour photographer on an extremely tight budget, that would like to finally see hundreds out of the thousands pictures that I have taken over the years into prints; hopefully, this will be the tool I have been waiting for.
As a last request, I actually have a technical-ish question for you...I have come across some "epson archival matte paper"(2 x 50 sheets packs); do you think I can use it by selecting canon fine atr paper?!?
PS: after all my rumbling; it should be obvious that I am a PC user and {an Italian (oops), taking advantage of my drunken knowledge of the English language} therefore, should you decide to acquire a pc anytime soon and make a few wibdows profiles for, at least, canon paper; I would be most gratefull!!!
Max
Take care and keep helping us!!!
Thanks!
Ah, I've not used a windows pc this century I'm afraid (by choice I'm afraid ;-) ) - and that's unlikely to change. For every other printer I've looked at for the last decade the profiles I make work just fine on either system.
Epson EAM is the same as Canon matte photo paper
...Sorry, but PC icc profiles will have to be made elsewhere
Oh, and when you become Canon's MD, I have a big list of requirements regarding printers, cameras and lenses ;-)
Really interesting video Keith - thank you. This is on my shortlist of one at the moment! (In G650 guise) Could I ask, since you made this, is there anything you've seen that I ought to consider at this price point?
Ah, can't help there - I don't track prices at all
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Hi. First of all, thanks for your special work in testing printers! I have this question: for printing photos, in your opinion which one is better between Canon g550 (or g650) and Epson et-8550 (or et-8500)? Canon has red ink, Epson has double black ink (pigment and dye) if I understood well. But I am not able to decide and choose one! Thanks in advance.
Glad it's of interest!
Ah - a common myth (perpetuated by printer marketing! ;-) ) that you can differentiate printers by counting inks...
Yes, it can make a difference, but it is only part of the story.
I never do brand comparisons, but these two printers are in a different league all together, so even Canon and Epson would point them towards different market segments.
Look at my G550/pro-200 comparison for example.
Remember that for photo printing the quality is given partly by the availability of printer profiles.
The G550, for example, has broken colour management on Macs - that knocks it out of the competition from my POV, but some people don't care about profiles and the like, so it's more a printer for them ;-) All depends on your own definition of 'good photos' (and budget of course).
Would you consider giving close ups or scans of the printed images?
I do sometimes, but in the proper written reviews, not in the videos.
I'll do a few more if they show anything of interest when I next get a printer to test
It's still crazy that Canon still uses this interface with this display dating from the last century. Their cameras are so modern and their printers so archaic.
Yes, almost like they have a warehouse of old displays which have to be used up before anything 'modern' is allowed... ;-)
Have been looking for a new printer for a couple of weeks, love the tank ones for lower ink vs print cost, have contemplated a better printer but keeps coming down to ongoing cost as will be printing a lot. Nearly went for A3+ printer but don't need it really and have no room for it either, plus again ongoig ink cost could be high. Want something as professional as possible around the £300 mark, but keep finding issues with every printer I research. But didnt realise I could do panaramic with this printer which for me is a massive bonus, but do print black and white so your comments are making me think twice. If you have any suggestions please let me know.
Ah - that well known marketing term 'professional' - it means very little in printers ;-) - at least until you get to something closer in size to an upright piano ;-)
The G550 is really a consumer oriented printer - the broken Mac colour management speaks volumes in this respect
As to black and white - forget it for any cheap printer if B&W quality is important.
Sure you can (with some colour management work) get reasonable B&W on some papers, but not 'out of the box'.
I would also suggest reading my actual written printer articles/reviews, since these have rather more content and detail than fits in videos?
Basically, no-one makes a great A4 photo printer, so that size limit may need some revisiting ;-)
Hope that helps
Thanks for this review! I had bought this printer. Please, where I could found some ICC profile?
See the main written review [in notes] for profiling aspects and source of profiles
thanks for doing this review.
i'm thinking of picking it up. i'm very new to printing - i don't like the idea of sending to a lab for the bulk of my photos, i'm too new to printing that i need to experiment with how to make them look good. i feel like this will give me the opportunity to do that. if i want something archival printing? i'll go to a lab and pay money for a gliche print! which will hopefully not be as painful as a process after i've got some experience printing with this. i couldn't justify £500+ for a printer!
Glad it's of help
BTW 'Giclee' is just a marketing term used to enable people to charge more for prints ;-) [I have a video about this]
If you'd like more info on the 550, see my main [written] review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Hi Keith, thanks for your work on this cheap printer. I have a question:
How did you get equal border size on each side of your print? Mine has always a difference of a few millimeters..
Thanks - You'll need to check the main [i.e. written] review and videos to see how I printed, it was quite a while ago, but didn't take any specific measures IIRC
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Great review, thank you. Do you let people have your Mac colour profiles?
Thanks - See the main written review for details.
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Profiles on request [email] and for non commercial use
@@KeithCooper Thank you
I appreciate your very detailed and informative review. If you allow me two questions, please. Is there a risk of the photo fading over the months?
Will the quality of this printer be similar to the quality of a standard photo lab?. Thank you so much.
Thanks - The inks for these are relatively lightfast. Not archival quality, but definitely on a par with many 'lab prints'
@@KeithCooperThank you very much for your prompt response, it was very useful to me.
Thank you for a comprehensive interesting review. I only use a printer occasionally including for photos. The G650 is possibly over the top for me so could you suggest a close second - around the same price- possibly with other wider faster attributes although good photos are very important to me. I like the idea of bottles although this may not be possible or 4 bottles instead of 6. I would even consider cartridges. Preferably a white printer although these seem well in the minority -- thanks again.
Sorry, the G550 is as low-end as I go in reviews, since models and prices vary quite often.
I'd suggest looking at the main [written] review which may give some better background for you?
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
and a similar style [but 4 ink and not so good for photos]
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-2850-printer-review/
or this one in white which is excellent forphotos...
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8500-printer-review/
Hi Keith, great substance on the basic usage about the printer. I would like to know the thickness of paper or gsm it can handle with ease without causing any breakdown of parts on the printer. Hope you can advise. Thanks and more power.
See the range of papers in the main [written] review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
There are several stiffish cards and art papers
I'm now on my first prints using G650, thanks Keith for your videos how to setup the printer. One question, I'm testing different papers and sizes, I bought A5 paper but on Canon Easy-Photoprint Editor and nor A5 nor 148 x 210 mm sizes are listed. How can I print on A5 with G650?
See the specs and info in the actual review [the written one] A5 is a listed size, the other one isn't - so would be a custom paper size. Note that A5 is not supported borderless, nor are custom sizes
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
@@KeithCooper thnks for your reply. I managed to print outside the Canon software with A5 paper. Other problem I noticed now, in all prints all sizes, I can see lines of dots on the horizontal, kind of marks left by something inside the printer (maybe the part that pushes paper). Ever noticed something like that on your prints?
Yes, look up 'pizza wheel marks'
Sometimes just from thick paper - sometimes an issue with the printer [if with a Canon photo paper for example]
Didn't see it on the one I tested
Thank you very much,i consider purchasing one, privat use only,get a lot pics on the wall. I'm rather interested in maintenance over the years,it do have a casette with a sponge,changeable, also the printheads can bechanged. What would you recomend against dry out.? One pic a4 per week , 2 or 3 st least? Greetings from Germany again 😊
See here for details
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
There is a replaceable maintenance cartridge [MC-G02]
A nozzle check is fine every couple of weeks - this is a fairly basic consumer level printer, so not needing the regular use of higher end models
@@KeithCooper dear keith, thanks a lot, thanks for the Website, the orp. to print panorama is also a dream option, never did it, maybe there are mechanical feeders, like for presentpaper?... I ll see. I guess it s gonna get my next hobby, beside learning Piano/Keyboard... Need something with sense in my spare time,...and the pics of decades are sleeping on memorycards and harddiscs... Hear you, Ekkard Richter
Great review Keith. Thanks.
Thanks - glad it was of interest
Thank you for the review. I used to have an Ip7200 series (with 5 inks) and I'm happy with it. Now, I need a replacement for it. If this model can produce the equivalent out put, I would certainly get one. Have you ever print with 7200 sereis? If so, what do you think about there's print quality?
I don't know about a 7200, but this printer can work well
BUT do see my main [written] review - my videos are just supplements ;-)
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Ok, thanks!@@KeithCooper
Thanks for the great review, and the replies to comments... I hope you are still looking at comments! I am considering this printer vs the Canon G3560, which has 4 tanks (CMYK)... my need is home printing for general doc/images/homework, etc, but I also want to print photos for display at home, which is why I'm looking at the G650... what difference can I realistically expect for photo output comparing 4 vs 6 ink home printers? Must I do image processing and use profiles to achieve a difference between these two printers?
Thanks - Just checking, since I published a video a short while ago...
The G650 is a 'better' printer than the 4 colour in some respects. It's a non starter for me, because I'm Mac based and Canon have broken colour management - pretty essential for photo printing.
So, yes - you probably do have to use profiles and edit images (IMHO). There is no adequate 'shoot and print' system in existence - but I would say that I'm a working photographer ;-)
If you've not seen it, see also the main [written] review for a lot more detail (the videos are mainly there to supplement the written stuff)
@@KeithCooper Thanks for the rapid reply! I am on PC... Canon released ICC profiles for my older 6 ink printer (that printer died a long time back), but I'm not sure if they offer profiles for PC for the G650 (I can't find them on the Canon website) - however, I'm not sure this is going to be any better for the G3560 vs G650. I guess I'm mainly looking for some reassurance/confirmation that the difference between a 4 and 6 ink home printer is a real difference and not just marketing. I also considered if the 4 ink printer offers an advantage having a pigment black (I note in your written review that you report the B&W suffering from the dye-based black). Curiously, your written review came across as a more positive opinion of this printer than the YT video :D Of note is your section on starting with a photo taken on a phone and final A4 print.
Thanks - glad it was of help.
The videos are shot in one take, unscripted. The written ones are written over a period of days and via lots of drafts/updates. That means if there is any difference in tone, the written article is the 'considered' version ;-)
However, not knowing the 4 colour printer you mention, means I can't really offer any specific comparison...
Great review, rarely do you see this level of expertise in a printer review. Looks like a nice machine, unfortunately not available in my country (New Zealand)!
Thanks
Does it have a different model number? I know it varies between UK and US
@@KeithCooper I've scoured the Canon NZ website and there doesn't appear to be any 6 tank models, no inks available at our usual outlets either.
@@brendangully That's a nuisance - I can never figure out what drives some of the Canon local businesses
In New Zealand it looks like the model is Canon G600. I could be wrong tho.
@@SuperNipoon Yeah looks like they have finally released it here, after I buy the 4 tank version of course...
So I just bought this printer, I set it up and I have found that the print quality is slightly blurry, but the bigger problem is it looks so faded. I'm not really sure how to get the colors to print vibrantly.
Could be the media you are using - see the main [written] review for more about this
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
good canon G550 review, like and stay connected
Thanks
can you please compare epson et8550 vs canon g550
Sorry, but no, two totally different printers aimed at distinct markets (I never do comparisons anyway, but these are very different - read the actual reviews for more detail)
You get what you pay for... ;-)
Hello! First I want to thank you for the nice and informative videos.I purchased the g540 before two weeks and I quiet pleased by the results.I was printing via an the Epson R2400 in the past to dispkay my b&w photos in my home's walls but it failed many y3ars ago.I have a question which is the following: what it revails during printing on this g540 printer the type of paper setting on the printer's menu display or the type of paper on its driver menu ?
The G550 is perhaps not a printer I'd pick for B&W
See here for more:
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Hi Keith, I bod the G650 and yes the black and white prints have an blue kind of color. That’s a bummer. I use Mac too and don’t know how to change or turn of the colors. Could you help me with a profile to give a better black and white print. I use canon pro luster paper
Check the main [written] review for profiles I have produced - if there is one - email me
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Is there a reason why the Canon printers above this one in the range don't have refillable ink tanks Keith? Do you get to the stage where ink cost becomes less of a consideration? As a novice looking into buying my first decent quality printer I'm attracted by the G650, but worry about wishing I'd gone bigger. Then when I look at the options I'm deterred by having to use cartridges?!
Marketing and profitability would be my slightly more cynical answers ;-)
This is why the Epson Et-8550 gets my 'best' listing - especially since the G series tank printers have broken colour management on Macs
See the main [written] review for this printer
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
I just watched your "ink jet ink scam" video Keith, which further addresses my question. Thanks again for this brilliant channel.
This is another great review! Is there much of a difference between Chromalife 100 and Chromalife 100+?
The 100+ are supposed to last longer, but this is not an area I've tested in detail.
At the level of a printer like this, not so much that you are going to notice ;-)
If you do a search on Canon marketing materials about 100+ you'll find quite a few articles from a few years ago. I've seen nothing in them I'd call out - they seem relatively accurate.
@@KeithCooper Thanks Keith, I'll take a look.
I am first user of canon printer. I just bought Canon G570 printer, but the quality on the plain A4 paper are so low, but for glossy photo paper are so excellent. My question is,do Canon G570 only can print on photo paper only for an excellent printing?
This depends on the type of plain paper and media settings.
See the very similar
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Thanks so much for this indeep review
Thanks
Thank you
Thanks
Brilliant!
Thanks
this vs the ix6840/ix6820 what do u guys think ? i saw alot of photos of the ix6820 and i must say they look as good as the pro 100
my only concern is the ink consumption of the ix6820 ,obviously the g550 ink will last longer
I've no specific testing to go by - There are a limited number of printers I get to test, and I generally avoid the lower end and more business oriented ones.
Looking at the specs alone I'd expect much better results from the pro-200. The PRO-100 is discontinued.
The G550 is broadly similar to the ones you mention (albeit smaller). One can only hope that the colour management for Mac users is not hamstrung in the same way (we only have Macs here for testing)
PS, there is just me here... :-)
@@KeithCooper ah i understand thank you for the quick answer keith !
Hi Keith! Thank you so much for your review.
I have a pro 200, that unfortunately has to go for technical support and it may take a while till I get it back. I’m a digital children illustrator, and sell my artwork mainly wall art, always printing in fine art paper. So I have a photograph printer but I never print photos 😅 but the quality of the prints does matters a lot to me. So I was thinking about buying another printer so it can help me out in this moment while my pro 200 is out, and of course I understand it can not replace it for obvious reasons, but I was wonder if it could make a good job, even after the pro 200 is back, having in consideration the other multi function characteristics and the tank inks. Do you think it would be a good duo?
I always see good reviews for glossy paper in this printer and that’s a type of paper I never use :/ and it’s hard to find that specific review.
Thank you much in advance if you can give me your opinion 🙏🏻
The canon support also suggested the TS9550, because of the A3 size. But not sure about the reviews from it. Do you have an opinion about that printer? Thank you 🙏🏻
I also make cake toppers and other little stuff where the durability of the print is not an issue, and it is printed on cardstock, not fine art paper.
Sorry for all the details separately 😅
Thank you once again
🙏🏻
I'd suggest reading the actual [written] review - far more detail.
Also see the discussion about the use of profiles - especially if you use Macs
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Not one I've seen
On Canon website, it states that off brand paper should be exactly 200g so it dont get stuck, have anyone tried different papers other than 200g?
Nonsense I'm afraid ;-)
See the range of papers tested in my review [the main written one]
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
@@KeithCooper Thanks for your reply Keith!
@@KeithCooper How many 4x6 inch photos will one set of ink print in average? And what paper brands you recommend that can be found on amazon?
Quite a lot - that's all I can say. The sort of varied testing I do gives no useful data for anything precise
See the [UK] papers in the main written review - no idea what's available on Amazon though.
Fine if you have a PC, but do see the notes for Mac users regarding Canon's lack of driver support for colour management
@@KeithCooper thanks mate, I'm on Windows. Will get mine in a couple of days and I ordered some paper, Koala PPD and Kodak, will start with those to see how the printer behaves.
hi that is a great detailed review. I came on looking to see if this is the printer to replace my Epson L805 for printing colourful vibrant sticker sheets. I see in your review you mentioned "No it doesn’t print vinyl stickers - it needs media designed for aqueous inkjet printing". I am sorry I don't quite understand, do you mean you can't use quality sticker papers with it? Many thanks , from Oman.
Thanks!
Stickers will only work if the media is designed for such inks. You need to ask the supplier of the media.
Most vinyl sticker material simply won't work with these water based inks.
None of my paper suppliers have such media, so I never get to test it
@@KeithCooper Hi, On amazon, some Vynil sticker papers have "Compatible with inkjet printers" written on them. Is this what you mean by " media is designed for such inks"?
Thank you !🥰
You’re welcome 😊
If you've not seen it, there is more info in the main written review at:
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
How does it compare with the Epson XP-15000 in terms of printing quality?
Difficult to say, since I'm a Mac user and colour management is broken on the Canon
It's obviously cheaper to run being an ink tank printer, but that's irrelevant from my personal POV
Under optimum conditions, there's probably not much difference
@@KeithCooper Thank you so much for your kind and fast reply. I am divided between these two printers. The Epson XP-1500 has obviously much higher operating costs but prints larger prints and [potentially?] better quality. The Canon has much better multifunctionality and cheaper operating costs, but prints smaller size and (maybe?) less good picture quality. I am a PC user so they should both work fine for me. But I don't know which one to order so any help will be very appreciated. ;-)
Ah - I'd forgotten the Canon was A4 - the 15000 definitely for me then
Have you read my proper [written] reviews?
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-xp-15000-printer-review/
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
@@KeithCooper No, I haven't. Lovely, detailed work. Though those ads drive me nuts, so it is hard to concentrate anything else.
Sorry about the ads, but I need the money to support the site.
You can close them when reading on a large enough window - Note though that none of my web articles are written for reading on a phone I'm afraid.
G550? In my region they called G570. I have this one
Yes model numbers vary round the world - too much for me to track! :-)
Hello Keith, I’m a Windows and Mac user. Based on your comments it seems i would be better off printing from my windows pc, has that changed at all since you have made this review?
Also does the color management issue effect airprint?
It all depends on just what you're printing and whether you have profiles - we are talking relatively low end printing, so I can see why Canon has done this on Macs, even if I think it is a shot in the foot ;-)
Airprint is effectively useless for better quality printing [as implemented with these printers]
It's why printing from iPads and the like is always problematic if quality and colour is important.
Hi, thanks for your videos which helped me to choose a printer. I just ordered a G650 and I was wondering about the quality I should use when printing taking into account the difference of ink quantity it needs for each quality... Canon claims 3800 A6 prints with a set of ink bottles. I guess this is for standard quality. What about high quality ? Does it consumes the double of ink for instance ? I have a Colorchecker studio so I can make my own profiles and I'm wondering if I go for standard quality or high quality (eventhough I can make both but since I have lot of different papers it will take more time).
It uses more ink, but those number are 'optimistic' ;-)
Look at the quality differences vs print time on one good paper and decide on what works best for the rest?
I bought the G620, USA model, and am very happy with it. Is it the best photo printer in the world?, absolutely not. I had a very good idea what I was getting when I bought it, a printer that produces nice, not great, images for a very low cost per print. I knew it was slow but I am not in a hurry. When I need great quality prints I send the files out.
Yes - if I had a need for lots of small prints I'd happily use it.
hello! what will be the equivalent of epson ecotank printer model to this? thx!
There is no direct equivalent - perhaps the et-8500
See the actual reviews to see the specs/differences
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8500-printer-review/
I read some comments from buyers stating that this G650/G550 or its variations in model number are noisy when printing. Do you think the printer you review in this video is too loud when printing compared to some alternatives?
No - noise was not a problem, then again I look at relatively few more basic printers like this. See some of my related G550 reviews and turn up the volume ;-)
I personally regard comments from buyers with an element of suspicion - buying a product does not make you a good reviewer ;-)
@@KeithCooper Thank you. For speed and monochrome text printing I have an old, reliable, small HP laserjet. My beloved Canon i950 died a few years ago. Prints I made with it are still perfect after more than 15 years (inside an album). It seems that the G550 (G510 here in Brazil) is a good replacement under my budget for 6-color photo prints. I will definitely come back for your videos to learn more!
Thanks - but do check the main written review as well - the videos are there to supplement it ;-)
Hi ! Tanks for this review. Do you think this printer would be suitable to print photo zines in small quantities ? Won't it be too slow ?
Thanks.
Sorry - I don't actually know what a 'photo zine' is?
what paper sizes? how many pages? what paper type
It's not a quick printer, and colour management could be an issue
@@KeithCooper Oh ok, a zine is a self publish magazine, a photo zine is that, with mostly photographs.
It would be A4, 120 gsm, double sided ( and folded in half) and around 15 sheets of them.
I guess it doesn't really need to be the most accurate colors.
I'd use this printer for zines and test prints.
Thank you for your quick answer :)
how does this Canon G620 compare to the HP smart tank 7001 printer in term of photo quality and durability? Even at only 4 color ink, The HP 7001 cost a lot more at $400 vs this Canon G620 at $250. Thank you.
Sorry, I can't really say, since I've not tested any HP kit for several years
Good morning, do you think the Canon G550 is suitable for printing on transparent sheet to obtain a digital negative? Thank you
The ink dots are rather large - given the lack of colour management on the Mac, it's for me not a printer I'd use.
However this is a question much better asked on an alternative process discussion list, since it's not something I test for...
Is there a need to print something at least once a week to stop the print heads drying up & clogging? I've come across reviews of the similar Epson EcoTank where people have commented that is the case. I would only use the printer intermittently so thinking of getting the All In One G650 an upgrade from the Epson XP 8600 because it's ink cartridges are £100+ & don't last long, plus the Epson Print app is buggy on my Android tablet. I'm just a novice & not a pro so im looking for something reliable & easy to maintain.
With any printer I'd ideally want to use at least every couple of weeks, but these printers are generally OK.
2-3 months is asking for trouble though, with any printer ;-)
See the main [written] review for more
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Great video Keith, very thorough.
If you use matching manufacturer paper (Canon in a Canon, HP in a HP etc), is profiling still important?
Thanks a lot
Absolutely - just you use a Canon or HP profile (if available)
Printing colour without profiles (or other colour management) is hit and miss, and a great way never to get optimal results.
This is one of the main reasons I rarely look at basic printers like this - they are just not (usually) capable of the level of print quality I require.
I know many are happy with the results, but that's not what I'm looking for ;-)
hii keth i am in canada do you know which tray model this is to print id cards ?? i see so much of deferent one on amazon and i am confursed
Sorry - no idea. See your local Canon site, ignore Amazon until you know what model you need...
Keith, I want to print on A4 300gsm sometimes. I have noticed with my partners printer that does not have a back entrance the paper can get stuck? So if I want to print on this type of card paper (Yes proper printer paper/card) do I need a rear loader which is straighter? If so what under 200 pound printer do you suggest ink price verses quality?
Unfortunately I keep no track of printer prices so I've no idea what fits that range - also I test very few lower end printers, so I don't have a good knowledge of what's currently available
@@KeithCooper OK no problems. Keith could you please address the 300gsm problem?
What 300gsm problem ? I used card in the G550 heavier than that IIRC
hi, does it support papers with weight up to 310g? Also, is there a print driver that can be used to also make contact sheets? Thank you
Paper yes
What do you mean by contact sheets in this context?
@@KeithCooper in the past I had a canon pro 10s and it allowed me with the print studio pro software to create contact sheets with an automatic variation of brightness and contrast to see which variations gave the best result. I realize that this is an amateur, non-professional product but I wanted to know if there was a print driver that would still allow me to have advanced adjustments and this possibility of the contact sheet. let's say that I mistakenly call them contact sheets, but I meant the same photo printed small many times on the same sheet with small automatic adjustments. Thank you
Thanks - the Canon software you mention still works fine on larger printers. but not consumer level ones like the G550 [AFAIK - not tested, we use Macs*]
It's what I use in many of my demos of the likes of the PRO-200/300
*For me as a Mac user, colour management is effectively broken on the G550
@@KeithCooper Canon reserves that software for pro versions only. I was wondering if there was something similar, I saw the Qimage One software, are you familiar with it? Can you tell me if it's a good product? Thanks again
Never used it - we use Macs here and the Mac version was always lagging behind the PC version.
It has lots of fans - just take care to look carefully at what it does and make your own mind up...
Printfab might be worth a look [not tested this] - it has proper colour management, which is always preferable to just printing and guessing ;-) There is a 30 day demo
www.printfab.net
It might be nice to see a review of some of Paper Spectrum's cheaper papers with these ink tank printers. I'm guessing an A4 print on their value range of paper costs about 60p including paper and ink.That makes for a very nice learning tool. I've bought a box of the value matte, luster, and gloss but I'm still learning to print again.
The cheaper printing these printers provide may lead to better printing for beginners like me as we can practice more.Especially when paired with decent cheap paper to burn through.
Ah, I'm afraid this runs as cheap as I'm going ;-)
The lack of colour management on the Mac means I simply can't get acceptable results without making profiles. I don't have a win pc in the house, so that route isn't available.
Those PS papers will work perfectly well - with appropriate profiles.
I should also note that this is also the only A4 paper I've got - I got it specially for this review. All my paper stock is A3+/A3/A2 or rolls
Hey Keith, How are you ?
I need a printer to make some magazine handmade.
It's for A4 and A5 pages sized. I'll put some photos in.
For you, what's the best option with a budget of 200-400€ without counting papier ?
I also think of getting more praticity with double faces printed automatically for exemple.
Thanks !
Duplexing is largely an office printer function - not associated with any print quality for photos. It's usually good for plain paper and very thin photo paper. The difficulty is finding paper thin enough, which is also coated for inkjet use.
This printer is cheap, with bulk inks, but is going to take a lot of effort in paper handling and feeding.
Can't help with suggestions though... I don't sell printers, so I don't keep track of prices at all, yet alone in overseas markets...
@@KeithCooper And what can i get if I want to print on a specific paper like munken lynx 120g/m².
All printers can print it ?
Who knows? - never heard of that paper I'm afraid...
Hi Keith, do you know if it can use third party pigment inks instead of its dye inks?
I don't - I only ever test OEM inks
It's a thermal inkjet printhead and they are much more prone to clogging/damage with the wrong inks. Not something I'd try on a printer of mine ;-)
@@KeithCooper Thank you for your fast reply Keith. I love your videos they are very informative!
Hi Keith, how about the durability of the prints on photo paper, especially if accidentally hit by a finger, will it fade or be damaged? thank you
This is not something I really test unless a paper seems excessively fragile.
Finger marks are not good if you want a print to last though.
If you want to hand prints round, print them on cheap paper and keep the files, so as to be able to print again later ;-)
@@KeithCooper thank you keith, i think this printer is worth it especially for the production cost which is quite low *_^
Hi Keith, I just want a good photo that’s isn’t too dark for references for my art I do. I have an I pad and windows 10 pc will this be good enough please? Not sure I understand the profiles your saying.
😀
Maybe - profiles are used for accuracy and quality, when printing from photoshop and other better editing apps.
iPads are generally pretty poor at this, but you can tweak brightness contrast.
It's all about the quality level you want - the G550 is a fairly basic printer, but can make passable prints with a bit of effort.
Hi Keith was looking at this printer could you suggest a printer that will do decent photos as I have joined a photo club and will be entering mounted photos into local competitions. I have a budget of around £200 for a printer was looking at the canon ix6850 and to use refillable ink carts with it. However a did see a HP 555 smart tank on sale with removable print heads so could you shed some light on what would be best , will be printing A4 most but A3 nice option but not needed
I'm afraid I don't know prices or models very well at this level of printer.
However, I'd not touch any 'smart ink' scheme with a barge pole... replaceable heads means nothing ;-)
The models change so fast that I don't often get them to review
BUT If you are entering stuff for competitions then the quality requirements put many of these small printers out of contention, and third party inks are an additional lottery... Cheap ink is cheap is so many ways... ;-)
Colour management is key - see my main written review for more [take note too if you are Mac based]
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
I tried researching this idea and found very little information on this topic. Is there a way to hack these printers by repeating the printing process on the same page, instead of a single run? I assume getting the paper perfectly aligned for the additional runs would be where the challenge lies. In that case, couldn’t this be easily solved by having a smarter mechanism in place which would allow one to adjust this via software and some kind of simple scanning or alignment mechanism? I don’t know if this question makes any sense. The key thing that prompted this idea of mine were the discussions I found online about digital negatives , where people indicated that one of the shortcomings of digital negatives requiring an enlargement (eg medium format or 4x5 sized digital negatives), and not a direct contact print was the limited density . I suspect the features I’m envisioning are something solely implemented in higher end printers. I find it fascinating that the quality of darkroom printing, and the key mechanics behind it, hasn’t been found or implemented in smaller and affordable printers. I’m totally oversimplifying, but I can’t for the life of me understand why we can’t have the best of both worlds considering the sophistication found in even budget laser printers and 3D printers. This entire domain of photo printers feels like such an opaque, and seemingly illogical black box. Thanks for adding some semblance of sanity to this domain. Is it a stretch to suspect that Canon and the like cripple their printers in the same way they do their video cameras (all-i vs IPB vs raw) ?
I know what you mean, but no printer I've ever looked at [at any level] properly supports this in any way. My suspicion is that other types of ink and substrate may be needed - not an area I cover (it's commercial print)
On of the issues with digital negatives is ink loading for the film - even if you could print twice, the density is dependent on the inks and capacity of the media.
It is such a niche use that none of the big printer makers will have any interest in supporting it. "A smarter mechanism" - sounds like R&D money for me that is very tightly apportioned ;-)
@@KeithCooper I suspected my too-good-to-be-true peasant-budget Rolex killer was but a pipe dream! I wonder how far off we are from DIY/open-sourced/modular printers. How hard can this really be? I jest - partially... If we can print guns with a sub-1000 dollar printer I'd like to believe I can print deep blacks and creamy whites for a little less. My analogy game is weak today. Have a great day and thanks again for taking the time to clarify.
Thanks a lot for the good advices in this video and your website. I just purchased this printer and I would be interested to print color landscapes onto Hahmemulhe Photo Rag 308 paper as I used to do via photo labs. I have a question about color profile (I am on PC), I found a few websites for calibration service, going from £15 (permajet) to 50€, the one I contacted told me that calibration sheets with less than 2000 patches is more for office work than for photography. Do you agree with that or do you think I would not see a difference with permajet(1000 patches) and the one at 50€ (which has 2500 patches with a special grayscale section of 650) and this is a waste of money with this entry level printer? Thank you for your experience.
There is utter hokum talked by some people trying to sell you their services ;-)
I'm minded to think that the 50E one is verging on dishonest IHMO - 2500 patches will make precious little difference with a printer like the 650 and they well know it!
I guess I should start charging for my ~3000 patch profiles - oh, sorry, I give them away for free (for non commercial use) ;-)
You can make perfectly good profiles for printers like this with far fewer patches (the ccProfiler/i1Studio for example).
The 650 is simply not a printer that's made for high end printing - If you buy some paper from PermaJet (and several other suppliers in the UK) they will make the profile for free. You can profile as much as you like, but for greyscale neutrality, you are fighting against the spectral characteristics of the dyes used here...
Thanks for asking - as you might have guessed, this is something that has annoyed me for years ;-)
@@KeithCooper Thank you Keith for this long answer. In fact the price include 5 b&w b&w profiles in addition to the color profil... but I prefer to avoid to pay more if I can't see a difference. I'll probably try permajet as they also do calibration service for third party papers... I will get my papers this weekend, and will already try the tests you did with your test images, uncalibrated and calibrated. That will give me an idea of the difference with a photo printed by a professional lab and pigment inks. Thanks again!
Is it suitable for a small business that would use it to print photographs for customers? I run a small Etsy shop that specialises in instant film but I'm often asked if I can print photographs onto paper/card to resemble a Polaroid instead of using genuine Polaroid film which is a lot more expensive for the customer. I've seen other sellers do this with printers like a HP Envy, but I don't mind spending a little more if the photograph print quality is better. I appreciate this isn't a pro level machine and that if I wanted a fine art printer, I'd need to spend at least £650.
With that in mind, what sort of printer would you also recommend for actual art prints like posters and artwork?
EDIT: I'd also like to know if this prints on A4 only or if I can print A5 and A6.
From my own POV, this printer is not really up to serious commercial use.
That said, anyone wanting a polaroid is hardly searching for high quality reproduction, so if you can find a suitable media, it might well do ;-)
As to 'better' - I never do recommendations, since the answer is always 'it depends' ;-)
The most significant factors are more often connected to the business side of things - I've quite a few videos looking at business aspects, for many of the printers I've looked at.
do you know if your printer is compatable with hp laptops and would you recommend it just for pictures
There are windows drivers, so I don't see why there should be any problems. I have however not used a windows machine for over 20 years, so it's not included in any of my testing.
I would only suggest it as an option for pictures if you had printer ICC profiles - these are an integral part of getting any print quality.
A low end printer like this is not aimed at the quality photo printing market. It can be wrangled to give reasonable prints, but it takes some effort.
It is however relatively cheap, so that matters more for some users...
So, probably and 'it depends' ;-)
Why would I choose this printer vs the 8750? It seems like it's just a choice between megatank and a3+ - is that right?
Both are 'tank' printers so no difference there.
A3+ is a vast difference from my own POV
The real difference comes in the ink set - the 550 uses the old chromalife100 inks - distinctly weaker in some respects to the Epson set which includes a pigment black (can make all sorts of differences, which I've discusses in articles and videos)
Personally, as a Mac user, Canon also shoots themselves in the foot, with the choice of the AirPrint driver for the G550.
To be fair, Canon and Epson would agree that these are printers aimed at different markets. The 8550 I'd happily make use of (much like the Canon PRO-200) - the G550 distinctly less so.
A lot comes down to user requirements and expertise - as I said, different market objectives ;-)
@@KeithCooper Hi Keith, thank you for your comprehensive reply. I realise that I wasn't at all clear in what I asked. I meant the G550 vs the Canon iP8750 - both consumer models around £200. I know you haven't reviewed that one and it's totally understandable to assume that I was referring to your Epsom 8550 review :-)
OK- then the differences are not so great ;-)
The 550 is about as low level as I really want to go, and reviewed it partly to see if it was possible to get usable print quality from it.
...Yes, but it relied on me already having colour management kit and software many times the price of the printer :-) :-)
Buongiorno, scusi se parlo in italiano, spero riesce a capirmi.ho una canon g550, supporta 275gr di carta, se usassi una carta telata di 345 gr,secondo lei si rompe la stampante? Grazie per la risposta. Complimenti per il canale youtube. Lei è molto bravo e preparato.
no translation here
Good morning, I have a canon g550, it supports 275gr of paper, if I used a 345 gr canvas paper, do you think the printer would break? Thanks for the answer. Congratulations for the youtube channel. You are very good and prepared.
Yes - likely it will work.
See the range of media I tested, in the main written review:
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-g550-printer-review/
Thank you.
Very slow printing full colour photos on A5 and A4. This is due to the small print head that delivers the ink to the page. You’d think they’d have adopted to fast print full colour grass of the iP4950 which is years old but delivers far superior print quality on full colour very quickly. The slow colour print for photos let’s this printer down. Ink now at £70 full set. Additionally, this printer does a lot of ‘cleaning’ which wastes a lot of ink.
Worthwhile points...
Ink costs are relative (with the quantity in the bottles) and it's a cheap printer aimed at a particular market.
Remember I only really look at printers from a usability and print quality POV - this is at the very lower end of what I tend to cover.
For myself it's the broken colour management on Macs which is my biggest disappointment...
Hello Keith, thank you for the video. I live in Accra Ghana, I run a Photo studio and a copy and print shop. I mostly get customers printing personal 5x7 prints and A3 photo prints for their front page of architectural (plans) drawings that will be presented for approval at the Ghana planning office, so I need a photo printer that can do the prints at lowest cost possible but that which will give me best quality acceptable for commercial. I have the Canon G550 and Epson EcoTank ET-8550 Printer (L8180) in mind, but I will need another A3 printer as an option too. Thank you in advance, I know you will respond or someone here will respond. ---Just a heads up, the market here in Ghana is such that, they always want the cheapest prints possible because the economy is very bad in Ghana.
Ah, I steer well away from cost aspects of printing, but the 8550 is more solidly built and has a waste tank. When it fills, you replace it, when the G550 pads fill, you buy another printer...
@@KeithCooper thank u very much
@@KeithCooperI see on the G650: there is a maintenance cartridge, is that not the waste tank?
@@17cream I believe so - do note that the only one I tested is the 550
8:12 watching
Yes, cheap card, rubbish prints...
Let us see the colored nice photos
You see nothing extra in a video, they show no meaningful detail. Read the written review as well?
Why no one does a review about the PIXMA ip7250 with a CISS? Oops. Actually they do and it's great 😃 and cheap.
Fine if you can make your own icc printer profiles - otherwise it's just 'cheap'
Like all these things it depends on what matters in terms of print quality to the user...
@@KeithCooper If you have a flatbed scanner you can use it to create an ICC profile (e.g scan2ICC and there are many more programs). I used to make them when I was running this setup myself. Every time I replaced the supplier of the ink I did another profile.. So what. Not an issue.
@@KeithCooper I have to add one other thing - and this is the sponge getting full issue. Sure, with a smaller printer you can expect it to happen after around 3 years of use or even less. But then again, with a smaller printer all it takes to reset the chip is a factory reset.. So you dismantle the cover, take out the sponge, soak it in a bucket of water for a couple of hours, then you dry it in the sun for a day and put it back, do a factory reset and you're golden. I did it twice and never had to order a spare sponge from Ali (though they do sell them, if you don't want to mess with all the ink).
If scanner based profiles are good enough for you, then fair enough.
I've not seen a scanner based system capable of giving good profiles on a range of papers - as ever YMMV
Yes - there are many ways of saving money if you really want to...
Some people are happy with all this faffing about, others might not be
Al this comes down to acceptable print quality, effort and cheapness - different people have different criteria.