Canon Pixma MP980 review

Scanning functionality is also typical, with options including sending a file straight to your PC, as an email attachment or scanned as a PDF. You can save all documents as TIFF, JPEG, bitmap or PDF files, and the scanner supports film and negatives as well. The negative and slide holders are accessible underneath the document protector below the lid. The scanner supports document sizes of up to 8.5 by 11 inches, but the fixed hinge makes it difficult to stretch the scanner cover over thicker documents and books.

Average performance
The MP980 performed averagely in terms of speed across the board, as can be seen from the chart below.

The MP980's print quality suffers from a few problems. Text prints look fine at first glance, but, upon closer inspection, you can see many jagged edges and malformed lines. Colour text is marred by white blotchy marks within the letters, and, although smaller text should be clearly formed, it turns out thick and barely legible. As usual, we also printed out a page of colour graphics on plain paper to test print quality, and we were disappointed by the washed-out colours and under-saturation. All of the pictures on the document looked hazy and dim, especially the facial tones that normally appear vibrant on our monitor.

Performance test (in pages per minute)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Photo speed (One Sheet)

Colour graphics speed

Presentation speed

Colour Text speed

Canon Pixma MP970

1.61 

2.07 

2.59 

7.85 

HP Photosmart Premium Fax

1.33 

3.85 

3.82 

7.57 

Epson Artisan 800

2.82 

6.06 

6.6 

6.43 

Canon Pixma MP980

2.52 

2.9 

3.72 

5.75 

Kodak ESP 5

1.37 

2.13 

2.21 

4.39 

Conclusion
The Canon Pixma MP980 isn't a bad machine, but its rivals are faster and there's unwelcome issues with its print quality. The HP Photosmart Premium Fax all-in-one, which throws in a fax machine and an auto-document feeder for less money, offers a better deal.

Additional editing by Charles Kloet