Review of the new Canon Pixma MG6350

[PeterBJ]

I found this review of the Canon Pixma MG6350 with the new PGI-550/CLI-551 cartridges: http://www.digitalversus.com/printer/canon-pixma-mg6350-p14466/test.html

It is hard to determine the dimensions of the cartridges as they are photographed from an angle, but to me it looks like they are shorter and wider than the previous cartridge series. So probably no chip swapping to the windowed PGI-x20/CLI-x21 cartridges?

I wonder if the too saturated colors are caused by some default "vivid color" setting that can be turned off?

 

[inkoholic]

How did they make the machine so flat? My MP610 looks a lot more bulky.

 

[barfl2]

I found this review of the Canon Pixma MG6350 with the new PGI-550/CLI-551 cartridges: http://www.digitalversus.com/printer/canon-pixma-mg6350-p14466/test.html

It is hard to determine the dimensions of the cartridges as they are photographed from an angle, but to me it looks like they are shorter and wider than the previous cartridge series. So probably no chip swapping to the windowed PGI-x20/CLI-x21 cartridges?

I wonder if the too saturated colors are caused by some default "vivid color" setting that can be turned off?

The Carts certainly look wider. I noted a reference to XL extra large like HP364XL ?

The paper capacity looks a lot less than my MP620 which might trim the height a bit.

 

[PeterBJ]

barfl2 wrote:

The Carts certainly look wider. I noted a reference to XL extra large like HP364XL ?

Yes Canon has now also started using the concept of Standard and XL cartridges. See this: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8120 and: http://www.druckerchannel.de/artikel.php?ID=3260&t=news_canon_pixma_ip7250_mg5450_und_mg6350 or in "Englisch" : http://translate.google.dk/translat...0&t=news_canon_pixma_ip7250_mg5450_und_mg6350 .

Note the "QR" codes on the cartridges. They are normally square, but look compressed in height. That is due to the cartridges being photographed at an angle, and maybe the focal length also plays a role? A long focal length causes a compressed perspective. So I find it impossible to estimate the cartridge dimensions from the photo. I am no expert photographer, but maybe others are able to calculate the cartridge dimensions from the photo? It would be nice if the windowed PGI-x20/CLI-x21 could be used with the new chip attached.

Inkoholic wrote:

How did they make the machine so flat? My MP610 looks a lot more bulky.

From the Canon site I found the dimensions (WxDxH in millimetres) MP 610: 450 x 389 x 188 and MG 6350: 466 x 369 x 148 so the new printer is 40 mm lower than the old. The PGI-525/CLI-526 cartridges are 10 mm lower than the PGI-5/CLI-8 cartridges. Maybe the the new PGI-550/CLI-551 cartridges are same height as the PGI-525/CLI-526 cartridges? Maybe the paper cassette is also 10 mm lower than that used in the older printer? So only 20 mm had to be won by redesigning the printer and scanner mechanics?

Also note the sloping sides of the top part of the MG 6350, maybe this creates an optical illusion, making the printer look lower than it actually is?

 

[The Hat]

Looking at the cartridges in the print head cradle they dont look any bigger than the normal 520/521s
There is one thing that is visible in the Picture (Courtesy of Digitalversus) and that is the word (Setup)
on these cartridges, so they only have a small amount of ink inside of them.

We could be just looking at this the wrong way maybe the cartridges are the same size
but the XL cartridges are just filled that bit more.

I think it would be safe to assume the 521s will fit and we are just speculating that they wont
but we wont know for sure till someone gets one and reports back on their findings..:/

 

[Tudor]

http://brain.pan.e-merchant.com/2/3/19279932/u_19279932.jpg

They look different. Notice the little hole on the side and the configuration of the bottom.

 

[inkoholic]

I wonder if the cartridge still follows the basic layout, i.e. 2 compartments. One with the sponge, one with the ink.

 

[PeterBJ]

Thanks to Tudor's Image, I got the idea to do a Google picture search for "PGI-550 bk" I found a very detailed description with pictures here: http://www.octopus-office.de/en/inf...anon-cli-551/canon-pgi-550-und-canon-cli-551/ or a Google translation: http://translate.google.dk/translat...anon-cli-551/canon-pgi-550-und-canon-cli-551/

These new cartridges are entirely different from the previous generations of cartridges, so using the windowed PGI-520/CLI-521 cartridges with the new chip attached is ruled out. It does however seem that these cartridges are refillable, but as they are opaque and no resetter or ARC-chips are available yet, you will have to monitor ink level by weighing. I'm sure removing the cartridges for weighing and reinstalling them triggers a prime cycle which uses up a lot of ink.

If one wishes to buy a new printer, maybe it is a good idea to get a printer which uses PGI-x25/CLI-x26 cartridges, while they last. These opaque cartridges can be refilled by weight, or they can be replaced with the more easily refilled Windowed PGI-x20/CLI-x21 cartridges with the PGI-x25/CLI-x26 chips attached.

I had hoped The Hat was right about the new cartridges, but sadly Canon made a smart move.

 

[The Hat]

http://brain.pan.e-merchant.com/2/3/19279932/u_19279932.jpg

They look different. Notice the little hole on the side and the configuration of the bottom.

I think you might be on to something because I spotted five potential differences with the BK cartridge you posted.
There is a new piece on the back and another extra nob bit on the side.

Then there is the hole and revised bottom as you pointed out plus I think the chip position has also moved slightly..

 

[The Hat]

Thanks PeterBJ for the latest on these new cartridges and it looks like a host of new anti refilling traps await the unwary I reckon.

Even if you managed to drill a hole over the XL part of the cartridge and use a tooth pick for ink levels,
I wonder if the light prism will kill the chip if it detects no ink left inside rendering the cartridge useless,
the chip does looks very high tech.
So much for thinking that Canon wouldnt redesign the cartridge for such a low end printer..