As regular readers of the Prizma Graphics news section will be aware, we have frequently written in positive terms about both Canon imagePROGRAF and HP DesignJet printers, for the simple reason that the devices of both brands have an excellent track record of delivering worthwhile print results.

So, it interested us to recently receive a comparative custom test report, which showed how the HP DesignJet T850 stacked up against Canon’s imagePROGAF TM-350 model.

The organisation Keypoint Intelligence carried out performance testing on both these 36” printers, followed by the preparation of a report outlining the two machines’ respective strengths and weaknesses in relation to such vital areas as image quality, productivity, banner and poster printing, the feature sets of the devices, and their ink consumption.

With all these tests having been carried out at Keypoint Intelligence’s Wokingham, UK test facility, and the resultant report published in December 2023, the organisation has reached its conclusion on how the two devices compare… and in most categories, there was emphatically one winner.

The Canon TM-350 impressed in a broad range of respects

One only needs to take a quick glance at the specification sheet of the Canon imagePROGRAF TM-350, to appreciate how formidable a large-format printer it is. With its features and perks encompassing the use of five inks – including a new magenta ink – as well as a print speed of just 43 seconds for an A0 print, and its compact design that allows for its convenient placement against a wall in small spaces, the TM-350 thoroughly impresses.

So, it shouldn’t be a great surprise that the Canon device fared so strongly on Keypoint Intelligence’s comparison report, too. Of the eight categories across which the company assessed the Canon TM-350 against its HP rival, it was the Canon wide-format printer that emerged on top in six of them: image quality, print productivity, banner printing, poster printing, device feature set, and print driver feature set. That leaves two categories – direct print submission functionality and ink consumption – in which the two printers were tied.

Now, one should certainly not underestimate the merits of the HP DesignJet T850. This printer’s benefits include an integrated input tray that also allows it to take on A4 print jobs without any need to manually change from roll to sheets, as well as the high-quality CAD and renders that it produces. So, this machine is creditable even by the usual remarkable standards of HP DesignJet printers.

Still, in the process of its rigorous wide-format evaluation, Keypoint Intelligence discovered it was the Canon printer that achieved higher productivity in virtually all print tests, as well as superior image quality to what the HP device could muster. The organisation observed that the Canon’s speed advantage increased at the higher quality settings, and the company praised such aspects of the TM-350 as its operability, ease of use, and the hot-swap ink tanks that helped minimise downtime.

The Keypoint Intelligence report did compliment the HP T850’s 50-sheet tray that enabled it to run mixed-media workflows – as compared to the Canon printer’s single-sheet handling – but in terms of the overall analysis, the HP struggled to land a punch on its obvious competitor.

That included in relation to print quality, with the Canon being saluted for its “punchier colours, more realistic metallics, smoother tonal gradations, better depth of field, and sharper and crisper text and line art.”

Which of these printer models might be the best one for you?

Of course, there can be no single “one-size-fits-all” philosophy when it comes to the task of comparing and choosing between various Canon imagePROGRAF and HP DesignJet printers; different prospective buyers will have different needs and expectations.

So, if you would appreciate advice and guidance to help you make your choice, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our own team at Prizma Graphics today, whether by phone or email.