Canon Pixma Pro9000 Professional Large Format Inkjet Printer (9995A001)
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon Pixma Pro9000 Professional Large Format Inkjet Printer (9995A001)
Customer Review: A good printer with a lot of caveats
Summary: 4 Stars
Edit #1 -- After contacting Canon support about the 11x14" issue, they said to use "custom" paper sizing. After a bit of wrestling with the driver UI, I finally got my printing to an acceptable format from Photoshop CS3.
Be warned, though, that you can't do borderless with 11x14" (or maybe any custom size, I'm not sure). I would much prefer 11x14 be listed as some of the available print sizes -- You can't use custom paper printing from within Canon's otherwise very easy-to-use Easy-Photoprint EX.
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I've been using the Canon Pixma 9000 for about 4 months now. It's a pretty good advanced amateur / semi-pro printer offering great print quality and fairly fast printing speeds.
While I'm happy with my printer purchase (especially considering I only paid $[...] after a promotional printer+[...] camera rebate), I'm not too sure I would buy this printer over other brands. There are a lot of caveats that come with using this printer.
1) Canon's printer driver prevents you from printing borderless images on many types of paper. Why? Why can't I get a warning instead of the total inability to do so? You have to search long and hard to find the little fine print detailing this...only certain types of paper support borderless printing.
I'm very glad I bought a Canon 13x19 sample pack for very cheap from my local Best Buy -- I was almost ready to purchase a whole pack of the Museum Etch paper, but I tried it out from the sample pack only to learn that borderless is basically impossible with this paper type (and several others!) This is ridiculous.
2) Canon's ink level monitors drop in 25% segments. This really isn't a huge problem, but I wish the resolution was a bit better -- Meaning, you're going to think "Wow, this printer SIPS ink" until you see this huge drop in an ink tank all of a sudden.
3) Canon's printer driver does not support 11x14" paper sizes. This is absolutely unforgivable. One of the MOST COMMON print sizes known to man, and Canon's printer driver simply doesn't give you the option to print to it. Instead, what do you have to do? You have to print an 11x14 print on 13x19 paper or "fake it" by telling your printing application you're really printing on 11x17" paper, then crop down the picture some.
Coincidentally, Canon doesn't sell Canon-branded 11x14 paper, but they sell all sorts of 13x19 paper. Go figure.
This right here is a major reason I would STRONGLY ADVISE COMPARING COMPATIBLE PAPER SIZES before you buy a printer. For instance, HP's B8550 printer supports 11x14 paper just fine, so does the Epson R1900.
Also, Canon does not support printing longer than 19", unlike the Epson R1900, which can print up to 44" in length. Not a huge concern for me, but some people may expect (since the Canon uses a rear flat-bed feed for the large sizes) that it can print longer than 19" -- Nope.
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All that being said, the printer is a good printer if you know what you're getting into. The quality is great, it's pretty fast, and the printer driver and software is actually pretty darn easy to use, once you figure out what paper size you need to be printing to (there are a lot of confusing options for some paper types).
Do what I should have done - RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH.
Make absolutely sure your paper sizes match up to what you want to print.
DON'T use quoted "Print speeds" thinking that's the paper it supports. Instead, look at "paper sizes" or similar phrasing.
According to Canon's web site, the Pixma 9000 pro supports
Letter, Legal, 4"x 6", 4"x 8", 5"x 7", 8"x 10", 13"x 19", U.S. #10 Envelopes
It's a good (but heavy) printer, but buyer beware -- it may not print the size of paper you want.
Customer Review: Canon Pixma Pro 9000
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an amazing printer. If you are a professional photographer that does printin on your own, a digital artist (computer arts) this is a must for you. Each medium is amazing...results vary on what type of paper you are using. The biggest challenge (as in any printer is moniter calibration between photoshop or some other photo editing software). As we know what you see is not always what you get. The printing is so easy. Works with Windows Vista VERY well. Individual ink tanks are nice. Ink is very cheap it you buy it off of Amazon!!! I love this printer...couldn't live with out it.Customer Review: Canon PRO9000 review
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first Photo quality printer, and is on PC-Photography's best buy list.
Things you'll need to know.
It's big! make sure you have the desk space, you're going to need it.
If you already have a canon printer, which I did, when you attempt to load the software for the new printer it may stop at 35%. Don't be alarmed, it's finished because you're system is able to use the existing canon files. Just close it out and print away.
Set-up and Printing is easy. I decided to use Kodak Ultra paper for my first attempts instead of spending extra $$ on higher priced paper and it works well with standard JPEG format. IF you plan on converting RAW files or you're shooting a higher JPEG format I'd suggest looking into a better grade paper, but for day to day use the Kodak works fine.
Note: it's tuff finding frames for paper sizes 8-1/2x11 and 11x17 prints most are 8x10 and 11x14.
Print Quality is outstanding! Colors are sharp and Canon allows you to pick several different settings to enhance the print, from the type of paper to white balance adjustments. It's easy to do if you decide to use the print preview and is a nice touch!
Overall- Plug and Play! Five Stars!
Customer Review: Very pleased with the purchase.
Summary: 5 Stars
I carefully read every review I could find on this printer. For the most part I found the bad reviews more revealing than the good ones. Almost every problem in the complaints that were not Canon customer service related were about printing issues that aren't really related to the printer itself. Most of the reviews complaining about quality or ease of use were people who really did not understand how to use it. I found it very simple to use but this is something I am very familiar with.
Installation was pretty easy. Standard software first kinda thing. I aligned the printer head as part of the automated install and immediately turned out a very high quality 13X19 photo print. This is less than 10 minutes after opening the box.
I read the specs but you still don't realize how big this thing is until you see it. IT HAS WHEELS!....well two anyway. They are handy to move the printer forward from a storage position on your desk. I really like how the entire printer closes up to a sealed unit to cut down on dust in the printer.
This is my third Canon printer and I am used to the ink cartridge system. The software keeps track of ink levels and starts nagging you a while before each cartridge runs completely out. Which from experience is often if you print lots of photos. Canon ink is expensive but you get exactly what you pay for. Refill ink is simply not going to work for photos. Be prepared to shell out full pop $80 for ink at least once a year.
As others have complained about, no USB cord. Well I needed a really long one anyway. I am not to concerned about it. I would like to have seen some sample large format paper in there but none of that either :)
This is a very heavy printer. Be sure you examine it carefully for shipping damage. I found the Styrofoam showing signs of extreme impact. Thankfully the printer is well packed but be sure!
I wish all my recent purchases were as pleasing as this one. If you have been holding off, quit living without it. Get it.
Customer Review: Very nice prints but lots of ink
Summary: 4 Stars
I really like Canon printers and the only reason I was in search of a new Canon to replace my i9900 was because of the ink reservoir warning. To replace that reservoir would have cost more than the printer was worth. Hence, the move to the Pixma Pro9000.
First set of ink tanks that came with this printer lasted so long, I was amazed and pretty stoked because the ink is more expensive for the Pro9000 than for the i9900. The subsequent replacement ink tanks are not lasting as long so I have to wonder if those first ink tanks had more ink in them. I am using Canon ink and not generic so it has nothing to do with the "brand".
First PC ink tank, the one that came with the printer, got over 80 prints. Second, third, fourth, fifth ink tanks are now averaging between 50-65. A big drop. First PC ink tank, one that came with the printer, got an astounding 123 prints; second, third, fourth, fifth... now averaging around 80ish.
I'm considering a continuous ink system for this printer. Meanwhile, the printer is sucking up ink (which is around $13 a cartridge for OEM) but the prints are excellent. Until I can find a printer that provides the quality of Canon (printer and ink) I'll continue to use Canon and this particular printer certainly does do a nice job.