Canon Pixma PRO 9000 MkII Inkjet Photo Printer

I’m an amateur photographer, and this is my first large-format printer, so I’m aiming this at people in a similar spot. Other reviews delve into the more esoteric topics such pigment vs dye ink, but for people trying to decide if a printer like this is worth it? Yes definitely! This is the first time I’ve been able to generate prints that actually do justice to what my dSLR produces. This is the first time that the prints look as good or better on paper as they do on my PVA LCDs.

Gorgeous color reproduction, fast printing, no visible flaws even in 13×19 prints. Just make sure you use quality paper (and images w/ enough detail), and that you have space to set up this huge machine.

Fully extended, the printer covers nearly half of an IKEA desktop, about 33″ at its maximum size (plus extra clearance) with the back feed opened up, or 27″ normally. Fortunately, most paper can be fed from the top feed at the smaller 27″ configuration (no added clearance needed), and the trays all fold into the unit for storage– useful since the trays would probably break if one of my household felines sat on them.

Prints will only be as good as the paper you use. I’ve tried and been very pleased with 3rd-party Kodak Glossy Premium Photo Paper (use the paper setting Kodak specifies on the package) and also Canon Photo Paper Plus Semi-Gloss, 13 x 19 Inches. Vendors claim the best print longevity is when you use their papers and inks (for the latter paper, that’s 25 years under glass, 100 years in storage). Regardless, definitely use quality paper to get results worthy of this printer’s abilities.

Software installs and runs without issue on Windows XP. The straight-forward bundled Easy-PhotoPrint EX is very similar to the Easy-PhotoPrint that ships with smaller Canon printers.

My only real hesitation is the price and longevity of the supplies (eg, ink). There’s a large number of smallish ink tanks (8), but they can be individually replaced. My primary complaint here is that the software only specifies that the ink level is “adequate”. So after doing a 13×19 print, and 4 8.5×11′s, I don’t know how many more I have until I have to buy more ink. It seems a percentage-remaining wouldn’t be that hard to do.

Highly recommended.