Want prints that make your photos pop on glossy paper?

In this canon pixma ip8720 review I’m sharing hands-on impressions after field-testing the Canon PIXMA iP8720 Printer in real shooting conditions.

This guide is for photographers and enthusiasts who want punchy dye-based color and sharper detail than budget models. It also suits folks who prefer simpler operation over pro complexity.

I’ll walk through print quality, workflow, and practical trade-offs versus rivals. Make sure to read the entire review — keep reading.

Canon PIXMA iP8720 Printer

Create stunning borderless 13x19 photos with vivid six-color ink and high-resolution output, ideal for photographers seeking affordable large-format prints with easy wireless connectivity and consistent, museum-quality color reproduction.

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The Numbers You Need

How It’s Built

In my testing with the Canon PIXMA iP8720 I found the printer looks bigger than a typical home inkjet but still friendly for a small studio desk. The shell is all plastic but feels solid enough for daily photo printing. That means you get a wide-format printer without needing a dedicated room, though you should plan some extra clearance behind and in front for paper handling.

Paper feeding is mostly straightforward and reliable for glossy and luster sheets. The input and output paths are easy to access, but thicker fine-art papers need a little extra attention to stay straight. One thing I really liked was how it handles larger sheets without feeling unwieldy; one thing that could be better is the feel of some of the plastic trays, which can seem a bit light when you’re juggling heavier stock.

The controls are simple and instantly usable, which is great if you’re new to photo printers. Setup was mostly painless and, after installing the software, I was printing in short order. For everyday work the layout makes sense and keeps the focus on your images rather than fiddly menus, so beginners will appreciate it.

In Your Hands

The Canon PIXMA iP8720 wakes up and gets to work with the kind of immediacy photographers appreciate; prints begin flowing with minimal fuss and it fits naturally into a Lightroom or Photoshop-driven workflow. Batch jobs feel straightforward and predictable on glossy and luster stocks, though larger print runs reward a little attention to paper handling and sequencing. Day-to-day operation is aimed squarely at photographers who want quick, punchy results without a steep learning curve.

Out of the box the color is lively and often pleasing straight from the printer, which makes proofs and client snapshots gratifying to hand over. For color-critical pieces you’ll want to lean on ICC profiles and driver tweaks to lock in predictable results, since the iP8720 offers fewer advanced controls than Canon’s PRO-100. Many users report the PRO-100 gives more consistent color without as much fiddling, so expect a bit more profiling work here if exact matches matter.

Compared with pigment machines like the Epson P400, the iP8720 avoids some of the maintenance-heavy routines photographers warn about with pigment inks, making it friendlier for regular, casual use. It won’t, however, deliver the same archival stability or the neutral matte depth that pigment systems do, so match the workflow to the output you need. Reliability is solid overall; occasional head checks and short test prints after idle periods keep frustrations to a minimum.

In practice the iP8720 feels like a consumer-minded photo tool that punches above entry-level models in detail and color fidelity, while stopping short of pro-level color management and longevity. It’s ideal for photographers who want vibrant display and portfolio prints with a straightforward workflow, provided they’re willing to do modest profiling for critical work. For quick, attractive color prints without pro complexity, it’s an easy printer to live with.

The Good and Bad

• Dye-based prints with vibrant, punchy color on glossy and luster papers.
• Better fine detail and color fidelity than budget-focused alternatives like XP-15000.
• Simpler, consumer-oriented operation compared with pro models.
• Lower operating demands versus pigment workflows that need more maintenance.

• Dye inks are less archival than pigment; prints are more prone to fade and handling wear over time.
• Not as strong for neutral matte blacks and fine-art stocks as pigment printers like the P400.
• Color consistency and driver/profile sophistication are less robust than the Canon PIXMA PRO-100.
• For color-critical work and the smoothest tonal gradations, pro models outperform it.

Ideal Buyer

As a working photographer you want prints that grab attention, not a manual. The Canon PIXMA iP8720 is built for shooters who value bold, glossy color and straightforward operation. It’s a practical tool, not a lab-grade complexity.

Ideal buyers use it for portraits, travel galleries, client proofs, and wall-ready portfolio pieces where vibrancy matters more than museum permanence. Dye-based output on glossy and luster stocks gives the immediate ‘pop’ that reads well on walls and in client reviews.

If you’ve outgrown entry-level models but don’t want the complexity of pro-class printers, the iP8720 sits neatly between those worlds. It delivers finer detail and truer color than budget wide-format machines while keeping setup, software and daily use simple. You trade some archival longevity and pro-level driver controls for a faster, easier workflow.

This is the pick for hobbyists, freelance shooters and small studios that print color regularly and want reliable, punchy results without steep learning curves. Avoid it if your work requires museum-grade permanence or the ultra-smooth gradations of higher-end pigment or pro dye models. For everyone else who wants great glossy prints with minimal fuss, the iP8720 feels like a sensible, gratifying upgrade.

Better Alternatives?

We’ve gone over the Canon PIXMA iP8720 and what it does well: punchy, dye-based color that looks great on glossy and luster papers, and a simple, consumer-friendly print experience. That makes it a solid choice for photographers who want bold prints without the fuss of pro workflows.

But not every photographer needs the same things. Below are a few real-world alternatives I’ve used, with notes on what each one does better or worse than the iP8720 and who would prefer each option.

Alternative 1:

Epson SureColor P700 Printer

Professional-grade pigment printing delivers exceptional detail, deep blacks and expanded color gamut for gallery-ready A3+ prints. Advanced media handling and precise color management ensure reliable, fade-resistant results for fine art.

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In my experience the Epson SureColor P700 brings up what the iP8720 lacks most: pigment inks and more archival prints. Where the iP8720 gives instant, punchy gloss photos, the P700 gives deeper, more stable blacks and prints that hold up better over time—especially on matte and fine-art papers.

That said, the P700 doesn’t give quite the same “pop” on glossy prints without some driver fine-tuning. It also feels more deliberate to run—you’ll notice a slower workflow and you’ll need to be a bit more careful about print profiles and paper handling than you do with the easy, consumer-style iP8720.

Choose the P700 if you sell gallery prints, make archival portfolios, or care more about longevity and neutral tones than instant glossy punch. If you mostly want quick, bright family or travel prints on glossy paper, the iP8720 still makes sense; the P700 is for fine-art and gallery-focused shooters.

Alternative 2:

Canon PIXMA Pro 100 Printer

Eight-ink dye system produces vibrant, lifelike portraits and glossy enlargements up to A3+, with simple wireless printing and smooth tonal transitions, ideal for studios, event photographers and passionate hobbyists.

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The Canon PIXMA Pro 100, from hands-on use, steps up the image quality over the iP8720 in terms of smoothness and color transitions. Skin tones and subtle gradations look cleaner straight from the printer, and it’s easier to get consistent color without hunting for fixes—helpful when you’re printing client work.

On the flip side, the Pro 100 still uses dye inks like the iP8720, so it won’t match pigment printers for archival life. It also drinks more ink and takes more space on the desk, so running costs and footprint are higher than the smaller iP8720.

If you run a small studio, shoot portraits or weddings, or need prints that consistently look great for clients, the Pro 100 is a good step up from the iP8720. If you mainly print casual photos at home and want lower cost and a smaller unit, stick with the iP8720.

Alternative 3:

Canon PIXMA Pro 100 Printer

Rich, saturated colors and subtle gradients bring every image to life, while user-friendly drivers and versatile media support deliver consistent, high-volume photo production for galleries, portfolios and client orders.

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Used in a busy workflow, the Pro 100 shows its strength in producing saturated, eye-catching prints quickly and repeatedly—more reliable for batches than the iP8720. If you need lots of client-ready glossy prints with bold color, it keeps a steady pace and gives a predictable result.

That same strength comes with trade-offs: it’s a heavier-duty machine that uses more ink, so your per-print cost goes up. And because it’s dye-based like the iP8720, it still won’t match pigment machines for archival prints or long-term museum display.

This version of the Pro 100 is aimed at photographers who print in volume—wedding shooters, event photographers, or small labs that need consistent, colorful output. If you’re printing a few photos now and then and want lower running costs, the iP8720 will feel more practical.

What People Ask Most

Conclusion

The Canon PIXMA iP8720 is a straightforward winner when your priority is punchy, dye-based color on glossy and luster papers. It delivers lively, detailed prints that outclass budget competitors but doesn’t match pigment printers for archival permanence or the PRO-100 for driver-level color control.

From a working photographer’s perspective the iP8720 strikes a nice balance between quality and simplicity. Day-to-day operation is consumer-friendly and less fussy than pigment workflows, and the output delivers immediate visual impact for portfolios, client proofs, and wall prints.

If longevity and neutral matte blacks are non-negotiable, step up to an Epson SureColor P400 for pigment-based archival strength. If you want dye-based color with deeper driver control and smoother gradations, the Canon PIXMA PRO-100 is the natural upgrade, while the Epson Expression Photo XP-15000 is the smart save for budget-minded casual printing.

For photographers who favor vibrant, ready-to-display color without the fuss of pro workflows, the Canon PIXMA iP8720 is an excellent, pragmatic choice. If archival permanence or gallery-grade matte work matters, plan to move up to a pigment solution and accept the extra complexity.

Canon PIXMA iP8720 Printer

Create stunning borderless 13x19 photos with vivid six-color ink and high-resolution output, ideal for photographers seeking affordable large-format prints with easy wireless connectivity and consistent, museum-quality color reproduction.

Check Price