Canon PIXMA MX397 In-Depth Review — Features, Specs, Performance & Business Use

The Canon PIXMA MX397 is a 4-in-1 inkjet all-in-one device that supports printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. It belongs to Canon’s PIXMA / Smart Office line, aimed at small offices, home offices, and users who require both document and occasional photo capability. As a midrange multifunction inkjet, the MX397 is designed to balance versatility (multi-function & network) with moderate cost and acceptable print quality.

Although the MX397 is now discontinued (Canon lists it under “discontinued” models) , many used or refurbished units still circulate in markets. Knowing its strengths and limitations is important before deploying it in a small business environment.

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Key Specifications & Features

From Canon’s official specifications (Asia / Southeast Asia support pages) and retailer sources, here are the key technical specifications and functional features of the MX397: 

General / Print Specifications

• Maximum printing resolution: 4,800 × 1,200 dpi (horizontal × vertical) 

• Print Head / Ink Type: Uses Canon’s FINE cartridges (four-colour system: Black + Cyan + Magenta + Yellow) 

• Number of Nozzles: Total 1,792 nozzles (Black: 640 nozzles; each colour: 384 nozzles) 

• Ink droplet size (minimum): 2 picoliters (“pl”) 

• Print speed (document mode):
   • Black & White (ESAT, simplex): ~8.7 ipm (pages per minute)
   • Colour (ESAT, simplex): ~5.0 ipm 

• Photo print speed (4×6", borderless): ~46 seconds 

• Borderless printing support: Yes; up to 216 mm (8.5 in) printable width (for borderless mode) 

• Paper handling / input capacity:
   • Front tray (plain paper): ~100 sheets A4 (normal quality) 
   • Specialty / photo paper: reduced capacity (e.g. 20 sheets for photo, etc.) 

• Supported paper sizes / media: A4, A5, B5, LTR, LGL, DL / COM #10 envelopes, photo sizes 4×6, 5×7, 8×10 etc. 

• Paper weight / media thickness: Plain paper: 64 – 105 g/m²; specialty / photo papers up to certain heavier weights (varies by paper type) 

Scan / Copy Specifications

• Scanner type: Flatbed + Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) (for multi-page scanning) 

• ADF capacity: Up to 30 sheets for A4 / Letter size (for standard paper)

• Optical scanning resolution: 1,200 × 2,400 dpi

• Selectable (interpolated) resolution: up to 19,200 dpi in driver mode (for convenience) 

• Scan bit depth / gradation:
   • Grayscale: input 16-bit, output 8-bit 
   • Colour: input 48-bit, output 24-bit (RGB each 16-bit to 8-bit) 

• Scanning speed (reflective, default): Eg A4 colour scan (~15 seconds) is a typical value per user sources 

• Copy features: Up to 99 copies, reduction/enlargement 25%–400%, copy quality / density adjustment etc. 

Fax Specifications

• Type: Super G3 / G3 fax capability (desktop fax)

• Modem speed: Up to 33.6 kbps 

• Black & white fax speed: ~3 seconds per page (approx) 

• Colour fax speed: ~1 minute per page under standard conditions 

• Memory / reception: ~50 pages memory for transmission / reception stored in memory 

• Dialing / speed dial capacity: Memory dial up to 20 destinations; group dials etc. 

General, Dimensions & Power

• Dimensions (with front tray retracted): approx. 458 × 385 × 200 mm (W × D × H) 

• Weight: approx. 8.4 kg with cartridges installed

• Power consumption:
   • Printing / copying mode: ~20 W 
   • Standby (minimum): ~1.1 W
   • OFF mode: ~0.3 W

• Environment / Operating conditions:
   • Temperature: 5 °C to 35 °C; Humidity: 10% to 90% RH (non-condensing)

• User features / software:
   • My Image Garden (Canon software for photo job creation, collages, printing)
   • Auto Document Fix (for scan corrections)
   • On-top panel / liftable scanner cover to scan books / thick originals
   • Caller ID, junk fax filtering functions for fax users

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Performance & Practical Behavior

Given those specs, here’s how the MX397 tends to behave in real deployments, and what to expect:

Print Quality & Output

• For documents / text, the MX397 is capable of producing clean, readable black text at normal page sizes. It is not a laser, so very fine fonts or extremely crisp outlines may be slightly less sharp, especially on lower-quality paper, but for many offices its output is acceptable.

• For photo output, the resolution and ink droplet capability (2 pl) allow for reasonable photo printing in colour. The device supports borderless prints and photo paper support, which allows small batch photography or promotional prints without needing a separate photo printer.

• It supports borderless printing, which is valuable when printing flyers, photo layouts, posters, or promotional materials.

Speed & Throughput

• The document print speeds (8.7 ipm black, 5.0 ipm colour) are relatively modest by modern standards, meaning that for medium or heavier volumes, waiting or batch scheduling becomes necessary.

• Photo prints will take additional time — 46 seconds for a 4×6 borderless photo is a typical benchmark provided by Canon sources.

• For scans, the flatbed scanning is serviceable; multi-page scanning will rely on the ADF (30-sheet), but that is modest capacity and may slow down heavy scanning tasks.

Fax / Business Document Handling

• The integrated fax capability is an advantage for offices where faxing is still used; 33.6 kbps Super G3 ensures compatibility with many legacy systems.

• The memory for fax transmission / reception (50 pages) helps buffer bursts of fax traffic.

• Functions like junk fax filtering, caller ID support and group dialing enhance usability in mixed document / communication environments.

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Use Cases & Business Suitability

Here’s where the MX397 can fit well, and where it is less ideal, in business settings.

Good Fit Scenarios

1. Small offices / home offices with moderate printing needs — up to a few hundred pages per month, mixed document and occasional color or photo print jobs.

2. Administrative or support departments that need both text and occasional promotional prints or image inserts.

3. Freelance designers, photographers, or content creators needing a multifunction printer that handles both documents and light photo/digital prints in one device.

4. Schools, small clinics, or NGOs where cost constraints make a single device that can print, scan, fax, and copy beneficial.

Less Suitable / Limiting Scenarios

1. High volume environments (e.g. >1,000 pages/month) will strain print times, consumables, maintenance, and likely demand more robust laser or business inkjet MFPs.

2. Heavy scanning / document digitization jobs: the relatively small ADF and flatbed scanning speed make large batches cumbersome.

3. Color graphics, brochures or high-end marketing materials: while capable, the MX397 cannot compete with specialized photo printers or office printers with more advanced color management.

4. Long-term / critical uptime applications: as a discontinued model, parts / service / driver support may decline over time.

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Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

• All-in-one versatility: print, scan, copy, fax in a single unit — especially useful where space or budget is limited.

• Borderless / photo printing support: adds value for users who occasionally need marketing or image output without a separate device.

• ADF included: the 30-sheet automatic document feeder supports multi-page scanning and copying — a convenience many basic units lack.

• Moderate power consumption: <20 W in print/copy mode, low standby and off power draw helps in lower running costs.

• Established Canon software: My Image Garden, scan / correction utilities, and Canon’s driver suite provide features beyond basic printing.

• Fax integration: including caller ID, junk fax filtering and memory buffer make it useful in offices still using fax.

Weaknesses & Limitations

• Speed constraints: The 8.7 ipm (black) and 5.0 ipm (colour) speeds are slow for moderate workloads.

• Running cost / ink usage: Like most inkjets, consumable cost per page is higher than laser printers, especially for color work or infrequent use (ink drying, head cleanings).

• Discontinued status / support risk: With the model being discontinued, obtaining parts, firmware updates, or repair support may become difficult over time.

• Limited ADF capacity: 30 sheets is modest; for many multi-page scanning tasks it’s a bottleneck.

• No network print (LAN) in many SKUs: Some versions may lack built-in network / WiFi functionality, limiting sharing amongst users (many units use USB only).

• Heavy / bulky for a home unit: At ~8.4 kg and large footprint, it's not a compact printer for small desks.

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Deployment Tips & Best Practices

To make the MX397 work well in a small office or business environment, here are practical recommendations:

1. Use quality paper — especially for photo or borderless printing; cheap paper may cause bleed or failed prints.

2. Keep the printer in regular use — frequent printing helps prevent ink head clogging and maintains nozzle health.

3. Stock spare cartridges & maintenance parts — since the model is older/discontinued, having spares helps mitigate downtimes.

4. Configure fax / filter settings — use junk fax filtering and memory dialing to reduce unnecessary faxes.

5. Calibrate / profile for color work — if used for graphic work, create or import ICC profiles to improve color accuracy.

6. Use default duplex — set duplex as default to save paper.

7. Monitor usage and retire when volume grows — once monthly page counts rise, consider migrating to a laser or business MFP.

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Summary & Final Thoughts

The Canon PIXMA MX397 is a capable, versatile all-in-one inkjet that provides print, scan, copy and fax in one unit, including features like borderless printing, ADF, and photo support. For small offices or mixed-use environments with moderate printing demands, it can be a useful device, especially when document and occasional photo output are needed from one machine.

Read more:Canon PIXMA MP280: In-Depth Review — Features, Specs, Performance & Business Use

However, its age, relatively slow speeds, risk of decreased support, and higher per-page cost make it less suitable for heavier or growth-oriented offices. If your printing needs are light, or if you find a well-maintained refurbished unit, the MX397 may serve well. But for longevity, volume, or mission-critical use, you’d likely be better served by a more modern inkjet MFP or small office laser.