Conclusion

I still have a sense of excitement and anticipation when I open the box and setup a new printer, the question that runs through my mind is - could this be the ultimate printer we have all been waiting for?

Is this the ultimate printer?

To answer that question quickly - the ultimate printer arrived at least two or three years ago. Most of today's top of the range printers are more than capable of producing outstanding quality prints that will rival anything produced in a darkroom - and many middle of the range printers can also produce prints that can't be easily dismissed. So what are we still looking for in a printer? Well we now have to look at features that are going to suit our style of pictures, features such as straight paper path, media compatibility or CD/DVD printing, ease of use, and perhaps longevity.

I like the construction and feel of this printer, the metal finish instills a feeling of a quality product. Setting the printer up was very easy and I was producing prints within minutes. Although I have had several printers that have a CD/DVD label printing facility, I can't say that I have ever used it that much, this mainly due to not being able to get hold of suitable printable discs. A straight paper path is a must for heavier weight media such as the 350 g/m Fine Art Paper "Museum Etching" (Hanhemulhe). If the printer has to be moved forward on your desk then a pair of rear wheels will save you a lot of backache - a nice touch.

The Canon Pixma Pro 9000 has been producing excellent quality prints over the last two weeks, it has surpassed my expectations in many respects, but also fallen short in other areas. The 2 pl droplet size together with a resolution of 4800 x2400 dpi ensures grain (dot) free smooth image quality. For b/w printing Canon has got it spot on, no-one could complain about the image quality, perhaps the print speed, yes. Prints on Photo Paper Pro - PR101 are outstanding, but then I would expect this too. Colour prints are vibrant and well saturated, especially the reds.

The Easy-PhotoPrint Pro plug-in sorts out the renowned Canon red problem once and for all, but as I am reading about this problem on so many forums maybe someone at Canon should take note and produce a profile for European users. Although I found a few faults with the Easy-PhotoPrint Pro plug-in, it has the potential to become an indispensable item for any digital photographer, I hope Canon sorts these problems out quickly and hopefully develop the plug-in into a stand alone application or incorporate it into the actual printer properties dialog panel.

The fact that this printer uses dye inks and not pigment inks doesn't concern me too much, maybe we are doing a bit of an overkill on the longevity issue, I can't think of any of my images that I would want to hang on a wall for the next five years let alone 200 years - we are also assuming that someone may still want to look at printed images in 2206. Who knows, we may have virtual images in the future. However, I do understand the need for archival quality prints and inks, and that it is an important factor for the Fine Art photographer (is there such a thing as a Bad Art photographer?)
For the photographer/artist who wants to sell their work to collectors, the Pro 9000 may not be the first choice. But maybe there could be a market for Time-limited edition photographs, sell your prints on a timed basis, the longer life prints could command higher prices. We have to give the manufacturers full credit for developing and producing inks that are going to last well into the future, and Canon has not sat back on this either, they will be launching the Pro9500 early in 2007. So if your after a new printer and want something that complements your digital camera, then the Pro9500 may be worth waiting a month or two for.

Here are the ink levels after some 30+ A4 prints - take it with a pinch of salt

Although the Pro9000 is labelled as a professional printer, some of the features, such as the lightweight paper guide, small ink cartridges, ink level indicator and lack of networking capability take the printer out of the professional category. Having said that, the Pro9000 is Canon's best printer to date. For the hobbyist and semi-professional photographer this printer could be the perfect choice.

Should you buy this printer?

There is no doubt that this printer is producing some excellent prints, and deserves all the praise it receives. Many photographers love the distinct Canon printer quality and the Pro9000 won't disappoint in this respect.. The Pro9000 is perhaps not a quantum leap forward with printer technology, but it is well specified and represents excellent value for money.

Price - £499 - web price about £360

Pros:
Excellent photographic print quality
Speed with colour
Straight paper path
Design
Price

Cons:
Slow B/W printing
Easy-PhotoPrint Pro needs a bit of attention
USB 2.0 port only

UK Visitors £360	US Visitors $403.50
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