Canon Vs Compatible

[bainbrig]

This is a follow-up to an earlier discussion, mainly with woofgang, regarding inks for a Canon Pixma printer.

I followed woofgang's implied suggestion, and bought a set of Canon inks for my MG7751. Didn't pay full whack as I found a geezer on ebay who was selling 'set-up' cartridges (still genuine Canon), allegedly the same as the full-price ones.

Using my partner (Mrs B's) excellent colour vision, I ran out a set of the same pics on compatible, then on Canon inks, and so far the results have been inconclusive. Sometimes she'll say one is 'deeper' than the other, sometimes she'll choose Canon, then compatible.

Are there any colour ranges that you particularly think are better using Canon inks? I must say that unless there is a MASSIVE difference, I'm being swayed by me wallet, as compatibles are so much cheaper!

BB

[ericsavory]

I have a Canon Pixma MG2950,and I bought a compatible colour cartridge from a well known large store. I was very disappointed with the results as the colours were way out, so it's genuine only for me now. Hope this helps. Eric.

[JimF]

Depends how much your printer costs, I suppose, as most will suppliers not honour a warranty if non-genuine inks have been used. And they can tell very easily.

I don't have an inkjet, but always use genuine HP toner in my LaserJet.

[Buenchico]

You've not mentioned the i]paper[i] that you're printing onto, which is usually FAR more important than the brand of ink you use. I've just printed out a portrait photo on my new Canon MG5750 printer, using the Canon inks that came with it, and compared the result to that which I got from the same photo a few weeks ago on my old MG5350, when I was using inks from Inkredible. (They were both printed onto HP Everyday Photo Paper). They look identical to me.

However I've learned over the years that cheap photo papers simply aren't worth buying. Irrespective of whether they're used with 'original' inks or 'compatible' ones, the results are always vastly inferior to those obtained by using a good quality photo paper. (Morrison's own brand photo paper is appalling, as is the stuff sold in Poundland and similar discount stores. Many other cheap papers aren't worth bothering with either). HP Everday Photo Paper is what I use for day-to-day photo printing, with Kodak Ultra Premium being used when, say, I want to frame a photo as a gift for a friend.

Similarly, when printing text documents, if you pay two or three quid for a ream of paper you'll never get proper 'office quality' from it. However using something like HP Bright White (90gsm) paper will always produce 'professional' results.

When the Canon inks that came with my new printer run out (which they'll do very soon, because I've printed quite a few photos recently), I've got some compatible inks (from Inkredible) already lined up for use. At £12.41 for a full set of five cartridges (with discounts available for bulk buying), I'm saving 80% on the £63.24 I'd have to pay for Canon's own inks. As I wrote above, I can't see any difference between the results I get with decent 'compatible' inks and those I get from 'originals' (as long as I use decent paper to print onto).

I note, Bainbrig, that your printer uses the same inks as mine does, so the prices I've quoted above will apply if you also decide to order from Inkredible. (I've been using their inks for years and I can thoroughly recommend them):
https://www.inkredible.co.uk/canon-pixma-mg7751-ink-cartridges
(I note though that there's also a sixth, grey, cartridge available for your printer. I've not encountered that before!).

[gingejbee]

Just to add to Chris's answer, August Which? has a "Test Lab" on printer inks...and Inkredible does indeed do very well with an 89% customer score for service, range and value for money.

[fbg40]

B
I have to concur with Chris - I use compatible inks from Inkredible and have tried printing photos on a "cheap" photo paper and on HP paper - the results are quite different. The HP paper gives far better prints.
FBG40

[woofgang]

agreement from here too. Excellent paper is worth paying for.

[TonyV]

With regards to previous answers paper makes all the difference IMO. I use Canon paper for letters and Wilco paper if I'm just printing something offline for reference e.g. Insurance documents. Also do the same with inks exchanging between OEM and compatible, they seem to keep ok if wrapped in cling film.

[bainbrig]

Thanks all (but rule out the paper - I use Canon 201!),

Being of a scientific bent, I see this:

I have a well-thought-of Canon PIXMA printer, CMYK plus grey, plus black extra for text only.

I use Canon PP201 paper.

I’ve tried a set of Canon inks (not cheap!)

I’ve tried a set of Cartridge People’s compatible inks.

I’ve run out the same set of colour images both on A4 and 5x7” Canon paper.

There is no discernible difference in the colours. (Maybe in the longer term the Canon ones won’t fade, but...)

A full set of Canon inks is an eye-watering £66. The top-end compatibles are less than £20 a set.

Fellow followers of the scientific method, which inks would YOU buy?

[Buenchico]

^^^ I'd buy compatibles but, if "less than £20" means "£19-something", I'd be looking for a cheaper supplier! (See my link above).

[bainbrig]

Buenchico: as soon as I get through these Canons, I’ll try inkredible - they do look good.

BB