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This "sequel" to Canon's first 13-inch pigment printer seems a lot like the original.
While testing out Canon's "new" 13-inch PIXMA Pro9500 Mark Il pigment printer recently I couldn't help but feel I was living through the movie "Groundhog Day." Hadn't I done all this before?
In a way, I had. Exactly two years ago in the July 2007 issue of PDN, I reviewed Canon's first generation 13-inch pigment printer, the PIXMA Pro9500, which prior to its release, had faced extensive delays. Though I had griped, in my review, about how long it had taken for Canon to bring the Pro9500 to market, I genuinely liked that 10-ink printer for its superb color and black-and-white printing capabilities, and its compatibility with a slew of art papers. (At the time, both pigment inks and being able to play nice with art papers had been new things for Canon's PIXMA line.)
Flash forward to 2009 and we now have the Mark II version of the Prog500. How much has changed? As in Bill Murray's recurring day in Punxsutawney, PA, hardly anything at all.
For one, both printers look almost exactly the same. The only thing that would tell you they're different models is the "Mark II" designation on the name plate and a gold badge on the top of the printerwith the PIXMA logo.This is not really a complaint though since I like the stylish, grey and black look of the Pro9500 original and Mark Il versions. I also like how unobtrusive the printer is, with the assorted flaps and trays folding up nicely when you're done printing, creating the perfect, flat spot to inspect your 13 x 19-inch photo after its done printing.
I also like the two small wheels on the back of the printer which help you easily move it around, especially when you're adjusting it to use the front feed paper path for art substrates such as the heavier Premium Matte and Museum Etching papers.
On the downside, there are some annoying design issues that haven't changed since the original version....