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Epson ET-2900 vs Canon PIXMA TR8620a: Which Printer Fits Your Routine?

Choose by the work you want to do: the ET-2900 uses refillable ink tanks, while the TR8620a uses individually replaceable ink tanks and adds a sheet-fed ADF for multi-page originals. Neither is a universal winner; choose around your preferred ink-handling routine and document workflow.

Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-01

Source checked 2026-10-01 21:34 UTC

Products compared

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The buying question

Should I choose Epson's refillable-tank ET-2900 or Canon's cartridge-based TR8620a for my ink routine and scanning workflow?

The ET-2900 asks you to refill color-matched tanks and reset their estimates; the TR8620a uses replaceable individual ink tanks and includes a sheet-fed ADF, with a stated capacity and duplex-scan limitation.

Quick verdict

Choose Epson EcoTank ET-2900 if

  • You prefer refilling the printer's ink tanks from color-matched bottles and resetting the displayed ink estimate after filling.
View Epson EcoTank ET-2900 on AmazonPaid link

Choose Canon PIXMA TR8620a if

  • You want a built-in ADF for stacks of same-size paper originals and are comfortable replacing individual ink tanks when they run out.
View Canon PIXMA TR8620a on AmazonPaid link
When to skip: Skip both if you need an ADF to scan stacks of two-sided originals automatically: the TR8620a manual says duplex originals cannot be scanned automatically by its ADF, and Epson identifies the ADF as a feature limited to other models in this shared manual, not the ET-2900 group.
When the recommendation changes
  • If the ink replenishment method matters more than document feeding, favor the ET-2900 for its documented bottle-refill process; if stack-fed scanning matters more, favor the TR8620a's ADF.
  • If automatic duplex scanning of a stack is mandatory, neither documented workflow meets that requirement: Canon says its ADF cannot automatically scan duplex originals, and the ET-2900 is in Epson's model group without an ADF.

The differences that matter

Ink Refill Workflow

Epson EcoTank ET-2900

The ET-2900 has refillable tanks. Epson's instructions say to match bottle and tank colors, fill to the upper line, and reset the estimate after filling; the estimate is not a direct measurement of tank contents.[1, 2]

Canon PIXMA TR8620a

Canon specifies a five-color individual-ink-tank system for the TR8620a, with PGI-280 pigment black and CLI-281 dye-based inks. Its manual directs users to replace the tank where ink runs out and match its position to the print-head label.[3, 5]

What this changes: A buyer chooses between bottle refills plus an estimate reset and replacing individual labeled tanks. These documented routines do not establish comparative ink cost or page yield.[2, 3, 5]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Multi Page Scan Workflow

Epson EcoTank ET-2900

Epson describes the ET-2900 with a flatbed scanner and its shared guide says ADF functionality is only available on ET-4900/L5390; ET-2900 belongs to the separate ET-2900/ET-2920/L3360 group. The guide also gives a scanner-glass placement workflow.[1, 2]

Canon PIXMA TR8620a

Canon identifies a flatbed and ADF scanner on the TR8620a, with ADF capacity up to 20 Letter sheets or 5 Legal sheets of plain paper. Canon's manual says duplex originals cannot be scanned automatically by the ADF.[3, 4, 6, 7]

What this changes: The Canon supports feeding a limited stack of qualifying one-sided documents; the ET-2900's documented route is the scanner glass. Neither specification establishes scan speed or output quality.[2, 3, 6, 7]

Best fit: Canon PIXMA TR8620aView Canon PIXMA TR8620a on AmazonPaid link

Best for your routine

A buyer who specifically prefers refillable ink tanks and bottle top-ups

Best fit: Epson EcoTank ET-2900

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Epson documents a color-matched bottle refill and ink-estimate reset workflow for this ET-2900 series model.

View Epson EcoTank ET-2900 on AmazonPaid link

A buyer who regularly feeds supported one-sided paper stacks for scanning

Best fit: Canon PIXMA TR8620a

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Canon specifies an ADF for the TR8620a with a defined sheet capacity; the ET-2900 is covered by Epson's no-ADF model group.

View Canon PIXMA TR8620a on AmazonPaid link

Value and trade-offs

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

Compare the live offers against the refill-versus-replace routine and the value of an ADF for your documents; this article does not establish total ink cost or page yield.

There is not enough verified price history here to recommend buying now or waiting. Check current offers before purchase.

Limitations

  • The comparison uses manufacturer specifications and manuals; neither printer was hands-on tested for this article.
  • No page-yield or per-page ownership-cost conclusion is drawn. Epson notes that quoted yield varies with image content, paper, print frequency and environment; that does not support a direct cost comparison here.
  • The TR8620a ADF's published capacity applies to supported plain-paper originals. The Canon manual says the ADF cannot automatically scan duplex originals.
  • Live price and stock can change; no verified price-history window was available for this comparison.

Questions shoppers ask

Does the Epson ET-2900 refill from bottles?

Yes. Epson documents refilling the ET-2900 series tanks from ink bottles: match the bottle to the tank color, fill to the upper line, and reset the displayed ink estimate. Epson says the estimate is based on usage rather than direct measurement, so visual tank checks still matter.

Can the Canon TR8620a scan a stack of pages?

It has an ADF. Canon specifies up to 20 Letter sheets or 5 Legal sheets of plain paper, with supported originals subject to its manual's size, thickness and weight limits. The ADF cannot automatically scan a duplex original.

Which model is better for scanning books or a few pages?

Both have a flatbed scanner. For one-off pages or bound material, use the glass; for supported stacks of one-sided pages, the Canon's ADF reduces the need to place each page on the glass.

Methodology and sources

We verified Epson's exact ET-2900 model and the Canon TR8620a identity, bridged the Canon TR8600 manual to TR8620a, then compared only documented ink-replenishment and multi-page-original workflows. We did not compare print quality, yield, running cost, scan speed or scan quality.

We compared the manufacturers' published instructions and specifications to explain the ink and document-handling trade-offs; no hands-on tests were conducted.

View 7 sources
  1. 1.EcoTank ET-2900 Wireless All-in-One Color Supertank Printer – BlackEpson US · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:33 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Product identity, model C11CL63201; product overview lists refillable EcoTank and high-resolution flatbed scanner.: Exact black ET-2900 identity and Epson's product-level descriptions of its refillable tank system and flatbed scanner.
  2. 2.ET-4900 Series, L5390 Series, ET-2900 Series, ET-2920 Series, L3360 Series User's GuideEpson · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:32 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • p. 6 states guide scope and that ADF is only available on ET-4900/L5390; pp. 37–38 ADF/glass procedures; pp. 199–203 refill, color match, upper line and reset; p. 249 ADF specification scope.: The guide explicitly covers ET-2900 Series and says ADF is limited to ET-4900/L5390. It documents glass placement and bottle refill steps, including matching color and resetting the ink estimate.
  3. 3.Canon Support for PIXMA TR8620aCanon U.S.A. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:33 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Product title; Technical Specifications: Ink Compatibility, five-color individual ink system, ADF capacity, scanner type/features and document size.: Exact TR8620a support page lists its ink family and individual tank system, ADF and flatbed scanner, and ADF capacity of 20 Letter or 5 Legal sheets.
  4. 4.Canon Inkjet Manuals – TR8600 seriesCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:31 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Manual family heading lists TR8620a among the TR8600 series models.: Explicit bridge showing that the TR8600 series online manual includes TR8620a.
  5. 5.Canon TR8600 series: Replacing Ink TanksCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:31 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Steps 3–9: remove tank where ink runs out, match new tank to labeled position, install and secure; family scope bridged by TR8620a series listing.: Describes replacing the specific individual ink tank that runs out and matching its position to the print-head holder label.
  6. 6.Canon TR8600 series: Loading Documents in the ADF (Auto Document Feeder)Canon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:34 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Note says duplex originals cannot be scanned automatically by ADF; steps describe loading documents; family scope bridged by TR8620a series listing.: Documents ADF loading and specifically states that the ADF cannot automatically scan duplex originals.
  7. 7.Canon TR8600 series: Supported OriginalsCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:34 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • ADF supported originals table: same-size plain-paper multi-page documents; A4/Letter max 20 sheets and Legal max 5; family scope bridged by TR8620a series listing.: Defines which multi-page paper originals are supported by the ADF and its paper-size-specific capacity.

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