All recent Canon original ink cartridges (with printhead) eg 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 and 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.
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 etc) can be refilled too, but...refill friendly (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 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).
Another important feature of refillables is that the fill holes/plugs are recessed into the top, so the plugs don't cause interference in the printer. 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 above photo is of an older model (CLI8) refillable Canon tank - with a protruding plug. All recent refillable tanks have recessed plug holes! The orange cradle, each ink tank comes with is handy for sealing the ink outlet while refilling.
Another omportant feature of refill friendly ink tanks is the "ink" chips. Refillable 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/cartridges reset automatically - each time a cartridge is removed from the printer. 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 and on. So - unless you always leave your printer powered on, ARC ink levels will reset (to full) with every power cycle.
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. Find a chip resetter for your model Canon here.
Refillable PGI-525 and CLI-526 ink tanks... NEW!
Refill friendly 525/526 ink tanks are compatible with Pixma iP4850, iP4950, MG5150, MG5250, MG5350, MX885 (with 5 ink tanks) and MG6150, MG6250, MG8150 & MG8250 (6 tanks incl grey). Available with ARC or MRC chips.
Refillable PGI-520 and CLI-521 ink tanks...
Refill friendly 520/521 ink tanks are compatible with Pixma iP3600, iP4600, iP4700, MP540, MP550, MP560, MP570, MP620, MP630, MP640, MP980, MP990, MX860, MX870 etc. Available with MRC or ARC chips.
Refillable PGI-5 and CLI-8 ink tanks...
Refill friendly 5/8 ink tanks are compatible with Pixma iP3300, iP3500, iX4000, iX5000 iP4200, iP4300, iP4500, iP5200, iP5300, MP530, MP610, MP620, MP830, MX850, MP960, MP970, 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 models. Each part of the world uses different cartridges, 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 PGI520BK & CLI521BK/C/M/Y/GY cartridge set (with gray) + ink for MP980 & MP990.
Contents: 6 empty cartridges with auto-reset chips (ARC), 4 x syringes/needles, extra plugs, instructions + 50ml premium pigment (C5) black ink and 5 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 auto-reset chips (ARC), 4 x syringes/needles, extra 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, extra 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, extra 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, extra plugs, instructions + 50ml premium pigment (C5) ink, 4 x 50ml premium dye (C8) ink
Refillable PGI5BK & CLI8C/M/Y cartridge (4) set + ink for Canon iP3300, iP3500, iX4000, iX5000 etc printers.
Contents: 4 x empty cartridges with auto-reset chips (ARC), 4 x syringes/needles, extra plugs, instructions + 50ml premium pigment (C5) ink and 3 x 50ml premium dye (C8) ink
Refillable PGI5BK & CLI8C/M/Y cartridge (4) set + ink for Canon iP3300, iP3500, iX4000, iX5000 etc printers.
Contents: 4 x empty cartridges with manual-reset chips (MRC), 4 x syringes/needles, extra plugs, instructions + 50ml premium pigment (C5) ink and 3 x 50ml premium dye (C8) ink