The Canon PIXMA PRO-100 is the entry-level model in Canon’s high-end line of professional photo printers, and while it’s not the most expensive machine it boasts features that appeal to pros and amateurs alike, making the Canon PIXMA PRO-100 one of our top-rated photo printers.
At more than 40 pounds, the PIXMA PRO-100 is a heavyweight, measuring in at 27.2 x 15.2 x 8.5 inches. The large design eliminates any possibility of portable use.
There is no preview display, and the controls consist of two large buttons for power and paper feed, as well as a smaller button to turn WiFi access on and off. But what is its print quality like?
Canon PIXMA PRO-100 review: Print quality
As one would expect from this grade of large-format photo printer, the PIXMA PRO-100 produced some very good prints in our tests, both in the smaller 4 x 6 photo size and larger 8.5 x 11 size. Overall, the prints were error free, with crisp detail and consistently good color quality.
The printer’s 4800 x 2400 resolution is well-suited to printing photos, and while we reviewed printers with higher resolution, the difference was never noticeable in our test prints.
However, when directly compared to other print samples in our review, the PIXMA PRO-100’s had slightly muted tones, and one image also had a slight yellowish cast. Under closer examination, there was also faint banding in the finish of some of the photos. It’s only visible at certain angles under high magnification, but when comparing prints of such quality, these small distinctions matter.
The print speed is also on the slow side – 4 x 6 photos print at an average rate of 97 seconds each and full-page photos print in an average of 192 seconds. Both times are among the slowest in our review.
Canon PIXMA PRO-100 review: Features
Like many other high-quality photo printers we've reviewed, the PIXMA PRO-100 requires more than the four ink cartridges which inkjet printers normally use. Instead, the Canon has eight dye-based ink colors: black, gray, light gray, cyan, photo cyan, magenta, photo magenta and yellow.
The PIXMA PRO-100 supports both photo paper and fine-art paper with a variety of finishes, including glossy, semi-gloss, semi-matte, luster and matte. Like other large-format photo printers, it offers borderless printing for paper as wide as 13 inches and up to 19 inches long. In addition, a dedicated disc tray lets you print labels onto CDs and DVDs.
The printer has a number of connection options, including Ethernet and Wi-Fi for network connectivity, USB for a direct connection with a PC, and both wired and wireless PictBridge support to print directly from cameras. You can also print wirelessly from a smartphone or tablet with the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint app, but there is no option to print from external storage, so files saved to a USB drive or media card need to printed via a PC.
Canon PIXMA PRO-100 review: Pricing and warranty
The printer itself isn't cheap, but that's because this is aimed at the more high-end of the market. Savings can be made in the longer term thanks to the ink prices.
Dye-based inks are generally more prone to fading than pigment inks, but Canon promises that its UltraChrome inks are stable for up to 100 years. The ink costs an average of $1.31 per milliliter, putting it very close to the most affordable in our review.
Canon includes a one-year warranty, which is an average coverage period for printers, but the company’s support services are a bit more robust than most. Tech support staff can be contacted through phone, live chat on the Canon website and email.
Online support options include the usual user manual and FAQs, but there is also a troubleshooting guide and a forum where you can ask and answer questions and get help from support personnel.
Should I buy the Canon PIXMA PRO-100?
It’s not small and it’s not cheap, but the Canon PIXMA PRO-100 is one of the best inkjet photo printers on the market. It’s a home photo printer that produces professional-grade results, even with its limited standalone print options.
Its photos also have minor print quality issues, though the results are still gallery quality. Overall, the PIXMA PRO-100 is a superb photo printer and a smart pick for anyone who wants to print near-professional-grade photos at home.
