All recent Canon original ink cartridges (with printhead) eg PG640, CL641, PG37, PG40, PG50, PG510, PG512, CL38, CL41, CL51, CL511, CL513 as well as all older model cartridges (eg BC20, BC60 etc) are easy to refill...so you don't need any refillable ink cartridges. Just find a refill kit for your model Canon...and refill the cartridges that came with your printer. Find refill instructions here.
Majority of Canon (genuine) ink tanks (eg BCI-3, BCI-6, BCI-21, PGI-5, PGI-520, PGI-525, CLI-8, CLI-521, CLI-526, PGI650, CLI-651 etc) can also be refilled (learn how to refill), but...refillable ink tanks can make the refilling process so much easier...
Refillable ink tanks look similar to genuine Canon tanks and feature the same basic design (1/2 sponge, 1/2 ink), but that's where the similarities end.
Refillable Canon ink tanks are designed for easy refilling...
They are completely transparent, unlike recent genuine Canon tanks. This makes it easy/possible to check the ink levels and there's less chance of overfilling the tanks and making a mess (you can see what you're doing).
One important feature of refillable ink tanks is that the fill holes/plugs are recessed into the top, so the plugs don't cause interference in late model printers. Unless you've tried refilling original Canon PGI-520/525, CLI-521/526, or similar ink tanks...and ended up with few plugs knocked out inside the printer - the ink tanks leaking out and a major mess to clean up...you may not see the significance in this.
Note: The orange cradle in above pic is removable, used only during refilling - to prevent the ink leaking out through the ink outlet.
Another important feature of refill friendly ink tanks is the "ink" chips. Refillable Canon ink tanks come fitted with either ARC (auto-reset chips) or MRC (manual-reset chips). Each setup has it's advantages...and disadvantages.
ARC chips/ink tanks reset automatically - when a cartridge is removed from the printer (at certain ink % level only). All the reset technology is built into the ARC chips, so you don't need a chip resetter. Clever stuff! On the negative side...in some models the ARC chips also reset, when the printer is switched off (at certain ink % level). So - unless you always leave your printer powered on, ARC ink levels may reset (to full) even if you don't refill them, so it is more difficult to keep track of the actual ink levels.
MRC chips work the same as Canon genuine chips. Once a preset amount of printing is performed and the chip status is "empty" - it has to be reset back to full, using a chip resetter. MRC chips don't reset when removed from the printer, or when it's turned off. This means more accurate ink level readout. The only negative is that you must buy a chip resetter as well as refillable cartridges.
Refillable PGI-525 and CLI-526 ink tanks...
Refillable PGI525 & CLI526 ink tanks are fully compatible with Pixma iP4850, iP4950, iX6550, MG5150, MG5250, MG5350, MX715, MX885, MX895 (with 5 ink tanks) and MG6150, MG6250, MG8150 & MG8250 (with 6 ink tanks). Available with ARC or MRC chips.
Refillable PGI-520 and CLI-521 ink tanks...
Refillable PGI520 & CLI521 ink tanks are compatible with Pixma iP3600, iP4600, iP4700, MP540, MP550, MP560, MP620, MP630, MP640, MP980, MP990, MX860, MX870 etc. Available with ARC or MRC chips.
Refillable PGI-5 and CLI-8 ink tanks...
Refill friendly 5/8 ink tanks are compatible with Pixma iP3300, iP3500, iP4200, iP4300, iP4500, iP5200, iP5300, iX4000, iX5000, MP500, MP510, MP520, MP530, MP600, MP610, MP800, MP810, MP930, MP960, MP970, MX700, MX850, PRO9000 etc. Supplied with ARC or MRC chips.
Refillable ink tanks listed below only work in Australian & European printers..! Please contact us if you need more info, or to order cartridges for non AU or EU Canon Pixma iP, iX, MG, MP etc models. Each part of the world uses different cartridges (chips), even though the printer model numbers may be the same or similar.
Canon ink cartridges (with print-head)...
Refillable ink tanks are not available for any Canon printer using only two (black & colour) ink cartridges. These printers can be refilled, but you are limited to refilling the original Canon or compatible (eg Print-rite). Find a refill kit here. There are no chip resetters available for these cartridges either.
Refillable PGI 525 & CLI 526 BK/C/M/Y cartridge set + ink for Canon iP4850, iP4950, MG5150, MG5250, MG5350, MX885 etc.
Contents: 5 x empty cartridges with auto-reset chips (ARC) 4 x syringes/needles, extra plugs, instructions 50ml premium pigment (C5) black ink 4 x 50ml premium dye (C8) ink
Refillable PGI 525 & CLI 526 BK/C/M/Y cartridge set + ink for Canon iP4850, iP4950, MG5150, MG5250, MG5350, MX885 etc.
Contents: 5 x empty cartridges with manual-reset chips (MRC) 4 x syringes/needles, extra plugs, instructions 50ml premium pigment (C5) black ink 4 x 50ml premium dye (C8) ink
Chip resetter (CR525 or CR525U) required - not supplied sold separately
Refillable PGI 525 & CLI 526 BK/C/M/Y/GY cartridge set (with grey) + ink for Canon MG6150, MG6250, MG8150, MG8250 etc.
Contents: 6 x empty cartridges with auto-reset chips (ARC) 4 x syringes/needles, extra plugs, instructions 50ml premium pigment (C5) black ink 5 x 50ml premium dye (C8) ink.
Refillable PGI 525 & CLI 526 BK/C/M/Y/GY cartridge set (with grey) + ink for Canon MG6150, MG6250, MG8150, MG8250 etc.
Contents: 6 x empty cartridges with manual-reset chips (MRC) 4 x syringes/needles, extra plugs, instructions 50ml premium pigment (C5) black ink 5 x 50ml premium dye (C8) ink
Chip resetter (CR525U) required - not included - sold separately
Refillable PGI5BK & CLI8BK/C/M/Y cartridge (5) set for iP4200, iP4300, iP4500, iP5200, iP5300, MP530, MP610, MP620, MP830, MX850 and any other model using these 5 cartridges.
Contents: 5 x empty cartridges with auto-reset chips (ARC) 4 x syringes/needles Spare plugs, instructions.
Refillable PGI5BK & CLI8BK/C/M/Y cartridge (5) set + ink for iP4200, iP4300, iP4500, iP5200, iP5300, MP530, MP610, MP620, MP830, MX850 and any other model using these 5 cartridges.
Contents: 5 x empty cartridges with auto-reset chips (ARC) 4 x syringes/needles Spare plugs, instructions 50ml premium pigment (C5) ink 4 x 50ml premium dye (C8) ink
Refillable PGI5BK & CLI8BK/C/M/Y cartridge (5) set for iP4200, iP4300, iP4500, iP5200, iP5300, MP530, MP610, MP620, MP830, MX850 and any other model using these 5 cartridges.
Contents: 5 x empty cartridges with manual-reset chips (MRC) 4 x syringes/needles Spare plugs, instructions.
Refillable PGI5BK & CLI8BK/C/M/Y cartridge (5) set + ink for iP4200, iP4300, iP4500, iP5200, iP5300, MP530, MP610, MP620, MP830, MX850 and any other model using these 5 cartridges.
Contents: 5 x empty cartridges with manual-reset chips (MRC) 4 x syringes/needles Spare plugs, instructions 50ml premium pigment (C5) ink 4 x 50ml premium dye (C8) ink