Canon Ink Cartridges | Frequently Asked Questions

Canon Ink Cartridges | A Comprehensive FAQ Guide

Canon ink cartridges are renowned for their exceptional print quality and reliability, providing vibrant colours and sharp text, making them an ideal choice for both professional and home printing needs. These cartridges are designed to work seamlessly with Canon printers, ensuring consistent performance and long-lasting results.

Let me address all your questions about Canon ink cartridges , making IJT Direct your ultimate destination for all your printing needs!

Q. Do Canon compatible ink cartridges work?

A. Compatible and recycled Canon ink cartridges are just as reliable as the genuine original alternatives. Recycled cartridges more so than compatible because they are made from empty original cartridges. Make sure you shop with a reputable seller and you can make massive savings as well as doing your bit to save the environment.

Q. Why are Canon ink cartridges so expensive?

A. The simple answer is that Canon wants to maximise their profits!

That isn’t to say that Canon are alone in this; most major manufacturers' original ink cartridges are pricey and they also want to make as much money as they can.

But doesn’t Canon also make money on their printers as well?

Mostly no actually, they sell their printers at zero margin or in fact at a loss. But why would anyone sell their product at a loss? They wouldn't stay in business long doing that. When you look deeper, it becomes obvious that the real money is in the consumables, like Canon ink cartridges, because they are purchased more often and in greater volume.

Canon, like all the other big players, spend considerable time and money getting their know their customers and they know most of them tend to stick with OEM (original) ink, sometimes out of habit and sometimes due to suggestions that only original ink will work and that recycled or compatible ink is far inferior and will damage the printer.

However, my experience shows that recycled Canon ink is a viable option that saves money without compromising on quality.

But won’t the use of original ink lead to less printer downtime? Again, this isn't necessarily true; regular use and maintenance keep your printer in full working order. You can read more detail on how an inkjet printer works in my blog.

You have to wonder if genuine ink cartridges are worth paying extra for . Original Canon ink cartridges are worth buying; they have their place and purpose, but they are expensive because the manufacturers set the prices.

Q. Can I use a different brand of ink in my Canon printer?

A. As easy and convenient as that would be, the simply answer here is no, you can't use any ink cartridge in a Canon printer.

The first step is to make sure you have the correct cartridge for your Canon printer. For example if you're using the Canon Pixma TS6350A you'll only be able to use the Canon PGI580 CLI581 ink cartridges . The same can be said for the other 37 HP printer models that take the 305 inks.

What about recycled ink cartridges?

Provided you buy a recycled cartridge that is designed for your Canon printer you'll be able to use it.

Q. Is it worth buying Canon XL ink cartridges?

A. Yes they absolutely are worth buying.

An XL or high capacity cartridge will cost you more than the standard capacity cartridge straight off the bat.

They will cost more upfront but they will be far more cost effective because the average cost per print is lower. Consider the Canon Pixma TS3350 ink cartridges for example. A standard black will cost around 8p per print, a colour will cost around 10p. Now compare that to the high capacity black costing around 5p and the colour around 7p.

All those costs aren’t even taking in to account the further savings you could make if you were to buy recycled cartridges instead of originals.

Blog Author: Simon Cross is the engaging and knowledgeable voice behind the insightful articles on printers and printer consumables at IJT Direct, an ecommerce store renowned for its comprehensive selection of printers, printer consumables, and hardware. View Simons author page to find out more about him.