Printer/Multifunction Support

[Andre_L]

There are quite a few of the PIXMA MG-series that have rear feed. For example, the MG6220 has a rear feed.  Canon refers to it as rear tray or Automatic Sheet Feeder.

For example, if you search their FAQ for MG6220 rear tray

I too am trying to find a rear feed model to replace my MG6220's that I've repurposed with other family members.  I currently have both Epson and Canon printers.  I like the Canon MG-series because I can easily remove the print head (on most of them) for cleaning.  (5:1 or 10:1 solution of Distilled Water and 91% Isopropyl Alcohol is the magic formula being sold by online companies claiming to have a special/secret forumla printhead cleaning formula.)

The Epson's I like better due to the additional ink tank colors (light magenta & light cyan) versus the Canon's standard CMYK (and sometimes Gray)

While writing this reply, I tried to narrow my search in Canon's FAQ section.  You can tinker with the filters and search criteria to get different results.

Start with searching for these words: rear tray PIXMA MG

Then, in the left-hand frame, set your filters to

• Products
  • Printers
    • Inkjet Multifunction
      • MG-Series Inkjet

Note_1:  Whenever you click Search, it resets your filter selection. 

Note_2: Search results are not all inclusive because it doesn't include any reference to the MG6220 referenced in my first link above.

Today I picked up a MG5622 from WalMart hoping it had a rear tray.  NOPE!  So back it went 20 minutes after purchasing it.  Seems that the only way I can know if a Canon has rear feed is to find a floor model & look, purchase-then-check, search the Canon FAQs, or hope my Google-Fu is strong.

UPDATE: I've done some more digging around.  While I haven't been able to confirm all the MG's currently listed on their site do not have a rear feed, there are two others areas of Canon's site you can check.

1. Click on the printer and look at the full specs. (Expand Main Unit Specs).  Look for the field titled "Output Tray Capacity".  For whatever reason, that corresponds to the input trays. If it lists two separate numbers, then the printer has two input trays.  That will typically infer a rear tray feed option. However, if it only notes a specific size of paper, such as "5x7", then that likely refers to a top & bottom front-tray loading setup.
2. At the top of the printers product page, click the red "play" button.  That will pop up window with video and a 360° view. Look through the 360 view.  One of the shots may show the rear tray opened up.  For example, the MG8120 will show the rear tray extended in one of the slides represented in the 360° view.

[Andre_L]

So, after more searching, I'm fairly confident in stating that as of this writing, none of the PIXMA MG-series have a rear paper feed.  That being said, I'm forced to go back to Epson.  I'm OK with that in the long run since I'll get a SquareTrade 3-yr warranty for a couple extra bucks.  When it comes to inkjets, even with my knowledge of maintenance and cleaning, I still don't expect much more than 3 years from a printer, so I almost always make out with the extended warranty.

In the basic Epson XP-series, you get the basic CMYK (dye) + K (pigment) ink tanks.  Stepping up to the next group in the XP-series, you get the 6-color Claria inks, which are all dye-based: CMYK + Light C + Light M.  This is because the printer is focused on photo printing.

For the basic printer needs, I recommend the Epson XP-630.  (My XP-610 threw an unrecoverable error, so that's why I'm replacing it.) The XP-610 and XP-620 are end of life in the sales channel.  These printers do NOT have rear feed. 

I decided to pop for the 6-color setup.  The Epson XP-860 and XP-960 are definitely more expensive at $215 and $230, respectively.  However, both have rear feed as well as a dedicated photo paper tray and disc tray.  The 860 does borderless prints up to 8x10. The 960 does borderless up to 11x17.  For $15, it's a no-brainer to get the additional print capacity of the 960.  (These prices are current on Amazon with free Prime shipping.)  The printers are the same price ($230 + free shipping) directly from Epson.

Once I have the printer, I'll be ordering [Removed link per Forum Guidelines]. I've been through tons of various refillable tank suppliers. InkOwl is by far the best quality.  And their customer service is beyond compare!  Since I already have other Epson printers (Artisan 1430 for example), they use the same ink.  However, if this is your first time with refillable ink, you'll need the [Removed link per Forum Guidelines] supply to go with it.  BTW, I also get my Canon refillable tanks and ink from them too!

UPDATE: [Removed link per Forum Guidelines]!  I'm not even going to think twice.  At that price, it also qualifies for the less-expensive SquareTrade 3-yr warranty for $15.99!  Done, Done, AND DONE!!!! (Says price is good until 19-MAR-2016)

$216 for the printer w/3yr Squaretrade warranty, $35 for the refillable cartridges, and $60 for the Claria bulk ink, which should last years for most people. $315 out the door.  Yeah, more expensive than the respective Canon, but it also does so much more.  (But not including the ink & tanks, $216 is better than any of the current Canon offerings.)

[jmdinkins]

I also find myself in this dilema. I have been a Canon girl, as I call it, since the early 2000s. I purchased a MX922 and have it packed to return. I don't understand upgrading the equipment and taking away features. This is the first time this has happened in all of my Pixmas. Very disappointed. I now find myself searching through HP & Epson, much to my dismay. Get it together Canon. 

[jmdinkins]

I had the MX892 and it just went on the blink. I bought the MX922 and am returning it today. You went backwards with the upgrades. As far as finding another MX892, it is now priced 3 times the amount I paid when it was brand new. Seriously???

[Carolyn_B]

I'm trying to replace my Canon Pixma iP4820, as it won't work now that the ink absorber pad is full. I called Canon to see if I could order that part, but it's not available. I loved the iP4820 as it gave 5 years of good service and I print quite a lot. I was especially fond of the rear feed. I'm really sorry Canon doesn't seem to support a rear feed now, even on regular single-purpose printers.

Note to Canon: Please bring back a simple printer with a rear feed; it is extremely useful, and adjusting to print photos (4x6, etc.) was much easier than the current fiddling with multiple guides in a front paper tray.

[me4u]

Your 2012 statements need updated. as canon and others no longer make rear paper feeders. I have been a multi canon printer customer since the late 70's  and all canon printers had rear paper feeders. Today no canon printer has a rear feeder. Your compitition also quit making rear paper feeders.

Sadly only rear paper feeders have been jam free for various types and sizes o fenvelopes, and various paper sizes and weights from light to card stock.

Canon's deciosion to remove the rear paper feeder has lost untold amounts of customers. as well as the loss of orders for your inks.

Bad design change  by canon .

I simply found another vendor who sold a rear paper feeder and now they also get my orders for ink, So canon loses out on a new order and after market ink sales.

Canon ink is great but pricy ,and  I have always recognized the savings of the ability to buy only one color as needed, instead of buying a combo package that has 3 colors when  only one colorruns out. .   I just wish yCanons Ink tanks  were bigger and prices were lower,

I also do not want, nor neeed,  your glossy paper in this day and age of cellphones cameras,  and computers programs  that can display non grainy pictures on small or  huge screens without being grainy, and also store thousands of pictures. I can decline the "GIFT"  which costs canon  money or I can     give it away.

Too bad canon does not reduce prices when "free" glossy paper, that is not wanted, or needed,  is declined  on a combo ink order. . 

Besides your 5x7 photo paper often curls in inside humidity and does not feed well from the front tray and causes a jam.

Canon also offers o two combo ink products. One 4 pack provides 3 colors and  includes the larger black ink but not the smaller black ink,  and another combo pack  has the same 3 colors and the smaller black ink but not the larger black ink

Unless one goes to different pages both are not shown as options.  Plus...  DUHHH ....  when  there are 5 ink tanks   why not also sell a combo pack with all 5 inks????  and r show all combo packs on the same page??   ( they both come up for the same PIXMA printer  but on different pages via different selections. )

.

Please bring back the rear paper feeder.(on all wireless models including multitask printers)  with larger seperate ink tanks.  as canon is one of the most user friendly  printers that I have ever used and one of the best .

In the past they also had the best prices.

.  

[KarenB]

Wondered how you like your Epson XP-630?  I have been happily using my Canon rear feed printer - but it is about to stop working because of that ink absorber full.  I can't find another Canon rear feed.  I use the rear feed to print checks at work because it is so easy that way!

[KarenB]

I've just joined the "club" with my rear feed Canon PIXMA about to stop working because of the ink absorber almost full!  Can't find another rear feed Canon.  Did you find a suitable rear feed Epson or HP?  I need it for printing checks at work!

[Carolyn_B]

After my Canon Pixma iP4820 died due to ink absorber full, I researched printers to death.  Finally got an Epson XP-960 for the wide format feature, which I like for printing genealogy charts and maps.  The XP-960 has a rear feed for specialty papers, including 11" x 17".  However, its rear feed does not operate like the Canon, where I could load multiple sheets at a time.  With the Epson XP-960, you load one sheet at a time, and only after prompted to do so during the print process.  So if you need to print many pages of checks, this may not work for you.  I assume you could use the front-loading input tray for the checks, as I do with plain paper, but I'm not sure.

Overall the Epson XP-960 does a good job, but I miss the convenience of the rear loading tray that the Canon iP4820 had. Good luck in your search!

[Andre_L]

KarenB,

Check out my post above (Message 22) and Carolyn_B (Message 29) right above this one.

We both selected the Epson XP-960 as our replacement.

My post was edited to remove the hyperlinks to other vendors, but the main idea is still fully intact.  You'll just need to use a little Google-Fu to find my references.

If I recall correctly, I believe all the current Epson XP-series have rear feed, even their entry level XP-330. 

(I know for sure the XP-330 does because I just looked on Epson's website.  And I know the XP-860 and -960 do.  So, it wouldn't seem out of the realm of possibilty to correctly assume all the XP-series do.  But of course, confirm for yourself.)

I don't think that the XP-960 is only single-sheet feed as Carolyn_B states, but I can't say that I've tried feeding more than one at a time.  And I'm not near my printer right now to confirm.