Canon PRO-1000 vs CT-21

I have had a Canon PRO-1000 for some time, it is an amazing printer. It is a must for someone producing professional photographic image prints. I cannot stress how good quality it is.

But I have just replaced with a Canon CT-21. So I felt it's worth explaining why, and what difference it makes.

Do I need a photo printer?

The first point is whether I need a photo printer. It is my only colour printer, and I do print photos for the family that get framed and go on walls, and so on. But I print stuff like a menu with a colour logo on it, etc, which seems overkill to use a PRO-1000.

Basically, I probably do not need a professional photo printer, really. It is just my usual overkill.

What is my use now?

Given the ability to print up to A2, I have actually been using it for posters for the pub. They are stunning.

Is A2 big enough?

The catch is, posters at a pub, may want more, like A1. So I decided to get the TC-21, which is an A1 poster printer that takes roll paper feed. If someone accidentally orders A0 clip frames at the pub, I may be in trouble.

What of TM-255?

I considered the TM-255 - it uses 5 inks, not 4, but has a base, and is just so big. It looks great, but I simply did not have space. The TC-21 fits on my bench. The ™-255 is also high volume and stupidly quick, but the TC-21 is not a problem for what I need in terms of print speed.

Key points in favour of the PRO-1000

• The photo print quality is just amazing, cannot be faulted.
• It does edge to edge printing on most paper sizes (oddly not A5), which is very cool. Even A2.

Key points in favour of TC-21

• It does A1+. Indeed, it will do 610mm wide and 18m long if you want!!!
• It does roll paper feed (which I am using for A1+ or A2+), but it can take narrower paper roll.
• It does sheet feed (no need to take out rolls feed, just manual sheet feed via top loader), all the way down to A6. Very handy.
• Easy colour refill - the PRO-1000 is easy, but this is only 4 inks.

Some downsides for PRO-1000

• It uses 12 inks, this is a feature in terms of quality but a pain in terms of costs and hassle with ink. It also gets through "maintenance kits" which also cost.
• If you do not use for a while, weeks, it will waste a lot of ink and take ages to start up. But it will then print perfectly. I don't know if the TC-21 does this.

Some downsides of the TC-21

• It is bigger, check dimensions, but wider by quite a bit. Well, obviously it has to be.
• It does not do edge to edge well - it can get very close on roll feed, maybe 1mm each side, and cut with no margin top/bottom. But not at all on sheet feed. This is perhaps its main lack of feature.
• It is only CMYK not 12 inks, but the photo printing is still good, and good enough by far for some family photos.

I do not know running costs yet, but the results are pretty good.