Canon’s Pixma range has always scored highly in PC Authority. The MP610 is the replacement to the previously-A-Listed MP600. Wisely, Canon has left much of the original alone – the print engine and scanner both offer identical quality output.

For the scanner, this is merely good news, rather than great, as the output remains underwhelming – fine for text and photocopying, but not good enough for backing up photos. Luckily, print quality is near-perfect.

Text is rendered with laser-like precision, and 6 x 4in prints emerge at a rate of one every 52 seconds, with the kind of colour reproduction you’d expect from
a professional lab.

Our only complaint is that Canon still hasn’t addressed the longevity of its inks which can fade more than competitors’ equivalents if left in direct sunlight. But even so the MP610 remains a fabulous buy.