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The Canon Pixma MG5150 measures 45x35x15cm when closed, the front paper exit tray opens automatically when something is being printed and this adds 10cm to the 35cm depth. The USB lead exits back right while power goes in back left neither add to the size.

This is a five ink offering with a small black for photos and a larger one for text printing as well as the standard three colour inks.

It has a small built in paper tray in the base of the unit and letterhead or specialist papers can be placed in the tray at the rear of the top and if paper is in this tray it will add another 20cm or so to the 15cm overall height of it.

See also: Multifunction printers

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Controls are almost all in a single panel to the right of the landscape scanner lid on the top of the unit. The exception is the on/off button that is located on the right side near the front where you will also find (behind a door) three card slots and a USB stick port. The 5x3.7cm lift up TFT can go from horizontal to near vertical so suitable for viewing where ever you place the unit. In front of this are three buttons that relate to the display. Next the ‘Home’ button and then the ubiquitous five position joystick, + and – buttons and finally scan or copy buttons. However for those using it mainly for printing all you need is the on/off and to keep the inbuilt paper tray loaded.

Scanning allows you to select either the provided software from Canon – using Solutions Menu – or if you have a favourite program you can initiate from the PC with ‘acquire’ or whatever your application calls it. A monochrome A4 page will take around 20 seconds while a full colour one up to 40 seconds. OCR will take longer.

Copying I found took just as long for colour as monochrome, this of course does not require the PC to be connected as all the controls – reduction/enlargement etc – are all available from the TFT, 15 seconds per page.

While I have an image of what I think the new ISO page used to test all printers is I am still using my method of a nonsensical 200 word document and a more normal 1500 word document spread over four pages.

The 200 word document in fastest mode came in at 12PPM and this was sharp enough and black enough for all but best printing. The four page 1500 word document was slightly slower at 10PPM. Normal is not that much slower and perfectly black.

Printing an A4 image or four near 15x10cm images on photo paper took 150 seconds from pressing print, the first 20 seconds was thinking time while the image was being sent to the printer, the output was perfectly acceptable. Printing a single 15x10cm image took just over 40 seconds from the PC and a tad quicker from a card in the printer.

The Canon Solutions menu can control everything from a single front and this can even sit in the Windows tray to be immediately ready if required. However it can be loaded when required and then removed from memory by clicking its icon in the tray.

The stated price of the MG5150 is £99 and from the link below available at half that as always think ink costs before you decide, it’s a nice compact unit idea for those who do a little of everything.

The Canon Pixma MG5150 is available from the link below for £49.99

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00400OK16?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Multifunctionals/Inkjet/PIXMA_MG5150/