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The MX420 is one of three new models added to Canon’s huge range of inkjet PIXMA multifunction peripherals (MFPs). It’s a highly-specified device aimed at the home office, so it can print, scan, copy and fax, and comes with a 30-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) for multi-page jobs. It can connect to a home network via a wired Ethernet port or by 802.11 b/g/n wireless, or you can hook up a single PC using the USB port. Alternatively, direct printing is possible via the PictBridge USB port and memory card slots.
While that’s an impressive set of features, there are a few notable omissions compared to some competitors and other models in the PIXMA range. There’s only a single media tray, so you’ll need to unload a stack of plain paper to print photos on glossy paper, and there’s no automatic duplexer for double-sided printing, although the driver does make manual duplexing easy.
The MX420 has less of the high-gloss plastic used for Canon’s home-orientated MFPs, and it does without their touch-sensitive controls, too. Unfortunately, while the 6.2cm screen is clear and the menus fairly intuitive, we’re not keen on Canon’s combined scrollwheel and four-way rocker switch – having simply one or the other would be easier. Fortunately both the print and scanner drivers are straightforward, offering quick settings by default, but allowing advanced users to access more detailed settings when wanted.
The MX420 is an office-focused device, and its printer must make do with a lower resolution, fewer colours and larger ink droplets than some other devices in the PIXMA range. Even so, its photo quality was far better than rivals such as the Brother DCP-J715W. Its plain paper results were also good, but the printer wasn’t particularly quick on any job.
The MX420 delivered quick scans at resolutions up to 600 dots per inch (dpi); it was less competitive at 1,200dpi. The results were good, too, with sharp focus and accurate colours, although they were let down slightly by a lack of subtlety among the darkest shades. Photocopies were excellent at the default settings, with unusually well-judged exposure resulting in accurate shades and colours and well-preserved detail in copies. At 26 seconds for a single mono copy and 43 seconds in colour it’s fast enough, too.
While we’re used to PIXMA devices being attractive, the MX420 also seems particularly solid. The plastics used for its output tray and scanner lid seem sturdy, while the heavily damped scanner bed hinges prevent the fragile assembly crashing down after an ink cartridge change – a welcome precaution. Unlike Canon’s home-orientated inkjets, the MX420 uses a single colour cartridge rather than individual tanks, but the high-capacity version is good value. Unfortunately, the black tank is less so, making mono printing a little expensive. It’s a shame, given that this is otherwise a good value, do-everything MFP for the home office.
