Canon Pixma MP990

Canon’s Pixma MP990 missed out on last issue’s photo printer group test but it fits right in to that category as a highly specified multifunction aimed at “serious photographers”, as Canon puts it. We’re serious photographers and many of our readers are as well, so into the PC World lab it went.

The Pixma MP990 is an imposing device; at 470 x 385 x 199 mm it needs a lot of desk space and at $599, it commands a premium price. It’s got a stack of features starting with wireless and wired LAN connectivity, USB by cable and flash drive (USB cable not supplied), PictBridge, and no less than three memory card slots including the professional’s choice – Compact Flash. There’s also CD/DVD disc printing, auto duplexing and slide and film scanning.

Interfacing with the MP990 is done on a 3.8-inch TFT display, controlled by a neatly laid out control panel with an iPod-style “Easy-Scroll Wheel” which works very well. Following the Getting Started guide made the setup procedure straightforward – drop in the print head, pop in the cartridges (red LEDs glow when each cartridge is properly seated), plug in a USB cable and you’re almost ready to go. The software takes a while to install but it’s a seamless process, requiring little user intervention. If cables aren’t your thing, then getting the MP990 printing wirelessly is a doddle – enter your Wi-Fi network settings using the scroll wheel and the PC software takes care of the rest.

The software suite has a good range of applications, including Canon’s Easy-PhotoPrint Ex, which makes printing very simple indeed; selecting images, paper sizes and so forth takes no time at all. ArcSoft PhotoStudio is the supplied image editing application but Canon recognises that advanced photographers will use advanced software, so it also supplies Easy-PhotoPrint Pro, a plug in for Adobe Photoshop CS or Canon Digital Photo Professional.