Canon PIXMA TR8500 — Features, Specs, Performance & Business Use

The Canon PIXMA TR8500 is a family-oriented, five-ink multifunction inkjet printer positioned for home offices, small businesses and creatives who need versatile media handling, modest photo capability and reliable everyday document workflows in a compact footprint. It sits above entry-level home printers by offering an ADF for multi-page scanning, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for mobile printing, and a five-cartridge ink set (including pigment black) that balances sharp text with improved photo/color output. Below is a detailed look at what the TR8500 offers, how it performs in real use, and which business scenarios it fits best.

Quick technical snapshot (essential specs)

Functions: Print, copy, scan and fax (all-in-one).
Ink system: Five cartridges — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Dye-based Black, plus Pigment Black (for crisper text and better document durability).
Print resolution: Up to 4800 × 1200 dpi (optimised photo printing).
Print speed: Typical ISO speeds sit in the low-teens ipm for black and single-digit ipm for colour in similar TR-series models; expect real-world document speeds suited to small offices (manufacturer lists device-class speeds; see caveat below).
Scan resolution: Optical scanning up to 1200 × 2400 dpi on the flatbed.
ADF: Built-in automatic document feeder (useful for multi-page scanning/faxing). citeturn0search12
Connectivity: USB, Ethernet/Wired LAN (model-dependent), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth on some models, AirPrint and Mopria support plus Canon PRINT mobile app.
Paper handling: Front paper cassette + rear or top feed for specialty media; borderless photo printing up to ~8.5" × 11" depending on region.

(Notes: Canon sells several closely related TR8xxx models — TR8500 / TR8520 / TR8550 variants exist in different markets and spec sheets can vary slightly. I cite Canon’s official manuals/spec pages where possible; if you want me to use specs for a specific region or SKU, tell me and I’ll lock the article to that sheet.)

Design & build — compact, user-friendly all-in-one

The TR8500’s exterior is compact and visually approachable: a small control panel with an LCD, a top-loading ADF for multi-page originals, and a rear/upper paper feed for photo or specialty stock. It’s designed to sit on a desk or credenza; weight and footprint are conservative compared with larger office MFPs. The five-ink system requires slightly more user maintenance than a two-cartridge setup, but it delivers visibly better photo and mixed-media results while the pigment black improves document longevity for text-heavy print runs.

Print quality & engine behaviour

Text and business documents

Thanks to the pigment black ink, the TR8500 produces sharp, water-resistant text suitable for reports, proposals and documents that may be handled frequently. Small fonts render with good edge definition compared with dye-only black cartridges, making the TR8500 a solid pick where legibility and archival quality matter.

Photos and graphics

The four colour dye inks (C/M/Y + dye black for photos) plus the high-resolution print head allow detailed, colourful photo prints and marketing mock-ups. Canon rates the device up to 4800 × 1200 dpi for photo output; in practice, the printer delivers vibrant snapshots and decent brochure-quality colour for short-run marketing materials, though colour-managed proofing for professional photo work will still benefit from higher-end photo printers or RIP workflows.

Media versatility

Borderless printing and a broad set of supported sizes (from 4×6 up to A4/Letter and special square sizes) let you produce photos, flyers and business cards without manual trimming. Rear/top feeding accommodates heavier paper and envelopes better than tray-fed-only desktop printers.

Scanning, faxing & document capture

The TR8500’s flatbed scan glass plus an ADF make it useful for small-office capture tasks: multipage scanning to searchable PDF (with compatible software), scan-to-email, and faxing are all supported. Optical scan resolution up to 1200 × 2400 dpi gives good fidelity for archiving documents or scanning images for reproduction. The single-pass ADF (model-dependent) speeds digitization of multi-page originals and is a practical advantage versus small all-in-ones that lack any ADF.

Connectivity, mobile printing & software

Canon provides a modern mobile printing story: AirPrint (iOS), Mopria (Android), the Canon PRINT app and Wi-Fi Direct cover most smartphone/tablet use cases. Bluetooth setup options and easy wireless connect procedures simplify initial install on home-office networks. For small IT-managed deployments, the TR8500 supports standard drivers and basic network print sharing — but it lacks the extensive fleet management features you’d find on enterprise MFPs.

Consumables, running costs & reliability

The five-cartridge approach gives flexibility and economy: you replace only the colour that runs out, which can lower waste and cost in mixed-use environments where text-heavy jobs dominate. Canon offers both standard and high-yield cartridge SKUs; choosing high-yield replacements reduces per-page cost at the expense of larger upfront consumable expense.

From a reliability standpoint, the TR8500 is built for moderate office loads. If your monthly pages regularly exceed several hundred to a few thousand pages, it’s wise to consider service plans and to monitor the cost per page to ensure the TR8500 remains economical versus laser options or refillable-tank alternatives. Third-party aftermarket inks exist, but using OEM cartridges preserves warranty coverage and often yields more consistent colour/image quality.

Real-world performance — what to expect day-to-day

Speed: The TR8500 family targets small-office throughput rather than heavy production. You’ll see brisk performance for single-page documents and decent throughput for occasional multi-page jobs; complex high-density photo PDFs will slow effective print speed. (Model-specific ISO speeds vary by region and testing method.)
Duty fit: Suited to home offices, freelancing professionals, and small teams (1–6 users) who need a mix of document and photo output rather than continuous high-volume printing.
Usability: Canon’s app and common mobile protocols make direct printing easy; the ADF speeds administrative capture and reduces manual scanning time.

Business use-cases — where TR8500 shines

Small creative studios & freelancers: Produce client proofs, color mock-ups and handouts in-house with better photo quality than basic printers.
Home offices & remote workers: Compact footprint, mobile printing and multifunction features (scan/fax) make it a one-device office hub.
Boutiques, salons, small retail: Quick printing of promotional leaflets, appointment cards and small photo prints for clients.
Micro-teams needing occasional colour collateral: When colour materials are required but full production runs are rare, the TR8500 avoids outsourcing delays and costs.

Not ideal for businesses that require high monthly volume, heavy duplexed document printing at the lowest possible cost per page, or enterprise-grade fleet management and security features.

Deployment tips & best practices

Default to pigment black for business docs: Configure drivers to use pigment black for text jobs to improve water resistance and archival durability.
Use high-yield cartridges where volumes justify: This lowers per-page cost.
Enable mobile printing profiles: Set up AirPrint/Mopria/Canon PRINT for quick user adoption.
Monitor monthly usage: If you approach several thousand pages per month routinely, evaluate switching to workgroup lasers or refillable-tank printers for better economics.
Calibrate for colour-critical prints: Use Canon’s software tools and profile workflows when client-facing colour accuracy matters.

Final verdict

The Canon PIXMA TR8500 is a balanced, compact all-in-one that combines improved text durability (pigment black), strong photo capability and practical office features (ADF, mobile printing, borderless output). It’s best for small businesses and creative professionals who value mixed-media flexibility and mobile convenience more than raw monthly throughput or enterprise management. For teams printing large volumes of documents every month or requiring device-level security and fleet controls, a dedicated workgroup laser or enterprise MFP will be a better long-term fit.

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