Skip to content
Pickoryx

Canon PIXMA TR7120 vs MegaTank PIXMA G3270: Which Ink and Scan Workflow Fits You?

Choose the PIXMA TR7120 if you regularly scan eligible stacks of plain-paper originals through its automatic document feeder (ADF) and prefer cartridge replacement; choose the MegaTank PIXMA G3270 if bottle refills suit you and placing each scan original on the platen is acceptable. Canon's manuals spell out both workflows, but do not establish lifetime ink savings or measured print/scan quality.

Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-01

Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC

Products compared

Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.

The buying question

Would the TR7120's cartridge replacement routine and automatic document feeder (ADF) for supported stacks fit better than the G3270's refillable tanks and platen-based multi-page scanning process?

The TR7120 documents a replace-a-cartridge routine and an ADF for eligible stacks; the G3270 documents bottle refills and sequential platen loading for multi-page scans. This is a workflow comparison, not a claim about running cost or output quality.

Quick verdict

Choose Canon PIXMA TR7120 (White, 7178C002) if

  • You regularly scan same-size plain-paper stacks within the TR7120 ADF's supported capacity.
  • You prefer swapping a new black or color FINE cartridge when its ink runs out.
View Canon PIXMA TR7120 (White, 7178C002) on AmazonPaid link

Choose Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270 (Black, 5805C002) if

  • You prefer refilling integrated tanks from the matching GI-21 bottles and accept the refill steps.
  • Most scanning is occasional or you are comfortable placing originals on the platen one at a time for a multi-page PDF.
View Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270 (Black, 5805C002) on AmazonPaid link
When to skip: You need automatic two-sided scanning of a batch of originals: Canon says the TR7120 ADF cannot scan double-sided originals automatically, and Canon describes the G3270's scanner as single-sided with each multi-page PDF original loaded on the platen.
When the recommendation changes
  • If you scan only occasionally, the ADF may matter less, so weigh the ink-system routine more heavily.
  • For mixed, fragile, or non-plain originals, both models have a platen; the TR7120 ADF limits apply only to supported same-size plain-paper stacks.
  • If automatic two-sided scanning is required, the TR7120 manual says its ADF cannot scan double-sided originals automatically; confirm the exact workflow required before choosing.

The differences that matter

Ink Refill Workflow

Canon PIXMA TR7120 (White, 7178C002)

Uses the PG-295 black and CL-286 color FINE cartridges. Canon's replacement procedure removes an empty cartridge and installs a new one.[6, 8]

Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270 (Black, 5805C002)

Uses integrated GI-21 ink tanks refilled with matching-color bottles. Canon's procedure involves opening the tank, aligning and inserting the matching bottle, then closing it; when ink-level notification is enabled, the remaining-ink count is reset after refill.[1, 2, 3]

What this changes: Choose based on whether you prefer replacing the printer's black/color cartridges or handling bottle refills and the tank steps. The cited sources establish the maintenance actions, not lifetime ink cost, refill frequency, or savings.[6, 7, 8, 1, 2, 3]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Multi Page Scan Workflow

Canon PIXMA TR7120 (White, 7178C002)

Has a flatbed plus an automatic document feeder (ADF). Canon supports up to 35 same-size plain-paper A4/Letter sheets or 5 legal sheets in the feeder; it does not automatically scan double-sided originals through the ADF.[6, 7, 10, 9, 11]

Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270 (Black, 5805C002)

Canon lists its scanner as flatbed and single-sided. The G3070-series manual, which explicitly lists the G3270, describes building a multi-page PDF by loading the next original on the platen between scans; RTINGS' exact G3270 review reports no ADF.[1, 2, 4, 12]

What this changes: For a repeated stack of supported, same-format plain pages, the TR7120's documented feeder avoids lifting and reloading each sheet individually. The G3270 workflow described by Canon uses the platen for each page; the TR7120 ADF has a 35-sheet Letter/A4 or 5-sheet Legal limit and cannot automatically scan double-sided originals.[6, 7, 10, 9, 1, 2, 4, 11, 12]

Best fit: Canon PIXMA TR7120 (White, 7178C002)View Canon PIXMA TR7120 (White, 7178C002) on AmazonPaid link

Best for your routine

Scanning frequent stacks of eligible same-format plain paper originals

Best fit: Canon PIXMA TR7120 (White, 7178C002)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

The TR7120 documents an ADF with up to 35 A4/Letter sheets or 5 Legal sheets; the G3270 workflow described by Canon reloads each next original on the platen for a multi-page PDF.

View Canon PIXMA TR7120 (White, 7178C002) on AmazonPaid link

Choosing a bottle-refillable tank system over replaceable FINE cartridges

Best fit: Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270 (Black, 5805C002)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Canon documents the G3270's integrated GI-21 tanks and bottle refill steps, while the TR7120 manual directs replacement of its FINE cartridge when empty.

View Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270 (Black, 5805C002) on AmazonPaid link

Value and trade-offs

One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.

This article does not compare current offers. Weigh the current prices against the value you place on an ADF workflow or a refillable-tank routine.

Current offers were not compared for this article. Check both prices when you are ready to buy; this article cannot determine whether to buy now or wait.

Limitations

  • No hands-on testing was performed. This comparison relies on Canon's published specifications and model-family manuals, with RTINGS used only to corroborate the ADF configuration.
  • The comparison does not estimate ink cost per page, lifetime savings, refill intervals, print quality, or scan quality/speed.
  • The TR7120 ADF is limited to same-size plain-paper originals and supports up to 35 A4/Letter sheets or 5 Legal sheets; it does not automatically scan double-sided originals.
  • The G3270 instructions describe multi-page PDF scanning by loading the next original on the platen; no measured workflow-speed comparison was performed.
  • Prices and availability can change. This article does not compare current offers or recommend buying now versus waiting.

Questions shoppers ask

Can the TR7120 scan an entire stack at once?

It can feed a supported stack through its automatic document feeder (ADF): up to 35 same-size plain-paper A4/Letter sheets or 5 Legal sheets. Mixed sizes or unsupported media should use the platen. The ADF does not automatically scan double-sided originals.

How does the G3270 create a multi-page PDF?

Canon's series manual says to scan the first original from the platen, choose Yes to continue, then load the next original on the platen and scan again. It gathers the pages into one PDF; RTINGS also identifies the exact G3270 as a flatbed model without an ADF.

Do the refillable tanks prove that the G3270 costs less to run?

No. The sources here establish the refill versus cartridge-replacement steps, not current ink prices, page yields under your use, or lifetime ownership cost.

Methodology and sources

Compared official Canon specifications and matching manuals for ink maintenance and multi-page original handling. Exact-model RTINGS reviews were used only to corroborate whether each model has an ADF. No print or scan performance tests were conducted for this article.

Automation assisted with research organization and drafting. The comparison uses cited manufacturer documentation and does not claim hands-on product testing.

View 12 sources
  1. 1.Canon Support for MegaTank PIXMA G3270Canon U.S.A. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Canon U.S. Support > Technical Specifications > Scan (single-sided scanning, flatbed scanner, multi-page PDF); Ink Information (GI-21 bottles, integrated tanks): The exact G3270 support page lists single-sided scanning on a flatbed, multi-page PDF scanning, and a four-color CISS with integrated tanks and GI-21 refill bottles.
  2. 2.Canon Online Manual — G3070 seriesCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Model list at page top: G3270 is listed within G3070 series: Canon explicitly includes G3270 in the G3070-series online manual used for G-series operation steps.
  3. 3.Canon G3070 series: Refilling Ink TanksCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Refilling Procedure, steps 1–8; ink-level notification notes: Canon directs users to refill the corresponding tanks from bottles, align each bottle with its matching inlet, and reset the remaining-ink count after refilling when ink-level notifications are enabled.
  4. 4.Canon G3070 series: Sending Scanned Data as E-Mail from ComputerCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Steps 2 and 7, lines describing platen loading and continued PDF scans: The procedure loads the original on the platen; to continue one PDF, the user selects Yes, loads the next original on the platen, and starts another scan.
  5. 5.Canon G3070 series: SpecificationsCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Scan Specifications: The series manual gives maximum scan size A4/Letter and optical resolution 600 x 1200 dpi; only scan-size context is used here, not a scan-quality comparison.
  6. 6.Canon Support for PIXMA TR7120Canon U.S.A. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Technical Specifications: Scan and Ink Information: The exact TR7120 support page identifies flatbed plus ADF, an ADF capacity of 35 plain-paper sheets / 5 legal sheets, and the PG-295/CL-286 two-cartridge ink system.
  7. 7.Canon Online Manual — TR7100 seriesCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Model list at page top: TR7120 is listed within TR7100 series: Canon explicitly lists TR7120 in the TR7100-series manual used for exact-model replacement and ADF instructions.
  8. 8.Canon TR7100 series: Replacing a FINE CartridgeCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Replacing Procedure, steps 3–6: Canon's series manual instructs users to remove an empty FINE cartridge and install a new one; the two cartridge positions are for color and black.
  9. 9.Canon TR7100 series: Loading Documents in the ADFCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • ADF loading steps and double-sided-original note: Documents are loaded face up in the ADF; Canon says double-sided originals cannot be scanned automatically with the ADF.
  10. 10.Canon TR7100 series: Supported OriginalsCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:41 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • In the ADF, Quantity and Kind of original: For same-size/thickness/weight plain-paper originals, the ADF accepts up to 35 A4/Letter sheets or 5 legal sheets; the platen accepts originals unsuitable for the ADF.
  11. 11.Canon PIXMA TR7120 Printer ReviewRTINGS · Independent testing · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:37 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Scanner section and tested model/variant section: RTINGS' exact TR7120 test/review reports an ADF as part of the scanner. Used only to corroborate the ADF feature, not print or scan superiority.
  12. 12.Canon PIXMA G3270 Printer ReviewRTINGS · Independent testing · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:37 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Scanner section and tested model/variant section: RTINGS' exact G3270 review reports a flatbed scanner without an ADF. Used only to corroborate the feeder configuration, not scan quality or speed.

Continue comparing