Canon imageClass ($219.99), a printer that is otherwise identical, violates the rule for printers where higher numbers indicate greater capabilities. The Canon MF260 II printers are more capable in some areas, but the MF275dw offers less in other areas. The MF275dw is less expensive than, say, the imageClass MF269dw, which has many of the same features. However, it does not have the same paper handling capabilities for scanning or printing as the MF269dw. The imageClass MF264dw is similar in price, matches most of its features, adds faxing and has the same number of pages. But it falls short when it comes to paper handling. The MF275dw can be a good choice if you don’t need heavy duty MF450 class printers, like the Editors’ Choice MF455dw.
Setup is quick and easy
The MF275dw has a size and weight that is typical for a mono laser multifunction office printer. It’s a bit too large to share a desk comfortably, but it’s small enough to fit in a corner.
It is very easy to set up. Remove the packaging, load it with paper and plug it in. The cartridge is already installed and ready for use. In our tests, software installation was also very simple. Canon offers an installation CD that does almost everything automatically. The only thing I had to tell the program was to connect via Ethernet and confirm it found the printer. The firmware was updated automatically through the network connection. As well as Ethernet, there are also USB, WiFi and WiFi Direct options. Mobile printing is also supported by the printer.
Paper handling is suitable for light-to-moderate-duty printing in a small or home office, but more “light” than “moderate,” despite the automatic duplexing (for two-sided printing). The only tray is a legal-sized one that can hold 150 sheets. The tray is at the bottom of the printer and sticks out slightly. There is no cover on it, so loading the tray is easier than using a drawer that you slide in and out. Due to the lack of an additional tray or even a bypass for a single sheet, you will have to replace the paper in the tray every time you want to switch paper sizes or types.
Canon recommends a monthly cycle of 200-2,000 sheets. But a realistic maximum, given that you would prefer not to have the tray refilled more than once a week is 600 sheets a month, which is about 30 sheets a day.
The MF264dw II comes with a flatbed of letter size and a 35-page ADF that can handle pages up to the legal-size. It is typical of this price range that it cannot scan both sides of the stack of pages, and even with manual assistance, it will not assemble the scanned sheets in the correct order. Duplex scanning is only possible on the flatbed by manually scanning both sides of each page one at a. time. This is a major problem if you plan to scan multiple pages of duplex documents. The menu allows you to copy single-sided originals into two-sided copies.
The category has a typical running cost. Toner cost is calculated based on a high-capacity printer toner cartridge. Drums are included with this cartridge. As always, keep in mind that the number that matters most is the total cost of ownership—running cost plus initial cost. In our guide on how to save money when buying a printer, we cover how to calculate the total cost.
Canon imageClass Mf275dw – Matching the Competition
In our performance tests, we compared the MF275dw to the Lexmark MB2236i and Brother MFC-L2717DW. We also tested the Canon MF264dw. All three printers are currently priced about the same as the MF275dw and offer a greater paper capacity. Lexmark, Brother and MF264dw II all have slightly faster speeds than the MF275dw. The MF269dw shares the same rating with the two Canon models. Although its results weren’t included in these charts, it gave a nearly identical performance in our tests.
The four printers were all able to print our 12-page Word file with little difference. However, both Canon printers tied with the fastest time for the first page (FPO), while Brother and Lexmark tied for the first place on pages 2 to 12. The different strengths of the printers were cancelled out by 12 pages. If you print mostly one- and two-page documents, then either Canon printer is faster than the others, even if it’s only a few second difference. The Brother and Lexmark printers will be faster than Canon if you print documents that are longer than 12 pages.
The two Canon printers tied in the first place for the full business application suite. This includes Excel, PowerPoint and PDF documents with color graphics, each of which is one to four pages. The MB2236i came in third. The FPO times are a major factor in these results, as the total time difference between printers is almost equal to the FPO time multiplied with the number of documents in the suite.
The MF275dw is a mono-laser that barely misses being in the top tier. The characters had crisp edges and the majority of fonts that we tested, which would be likely to be used for business documents, were easily readable at 4 points and well-formed, while passing both tests at 5 point. The two fonts that were highly stylized with heavy strokes were also well-formed and readable at 8 point, which is standard for mono laser output. The other font was well-formed in 12 points and readable, even at 8 point, which is better than normal.
Graphics output was clear and accurate, but individual graphics could have been a bit too ‘non-professional’ for some situations. I observed some posterization, or sudden shading changes where they should have been gradual, in a difficult-to-reproduce shade, and some subtle dithering in fills. Minor uneven pile height was also visible in solid-black fills. A dark gray line with a black backdrop on a one-line chart didn’t standout as much as it should have. And although a line of a single pixel width on the same background was visible, it wasn’t completely filled in. Photo prints also showed some dithering. However, they were not bad enough for handouts.
Verdict: Solid choice, but check the paper handling
The MF275dw is worth considering if you have a high-quality print or scan requirement. Consider any of the models listed here if you are a frequent printer and will need to fill the 150-sheet tray more often than you would like, or if you frequently change paper types. Each of these models has a drawer with 250 sheets and a bypass tray for a single sheet.
Canon MF264dw II has no faxing. If you need it, this is a deal breaker. Both the Brother MFC-L2717DW, and Canon MF269dw II offer analog faxing via phone lines. The Lexmark MB2236i also offers faxing through the internet.
Consider the paper handling when scanning. MF269dw II is the only duplex scanner among the models listed here, excluding the more expensive MF455dw. It’s the most expensive option, but it is worth the cost if this feature is important to you. And, despite the high price, the MF455dw remains our top choice for mono laser AIOs. The MF275dw is the right choice if you do not need duplex scanning. However, its smaller paper capacity makes it less attractive.