Canon PG-510 & CL-511 Ink: Complete Australian Guide 🖨️
The Canon PIXMA MP280 and MP495 were among the most widely sold budget home printers of their era — simple, reliable, and affordable. They found their way into millions of Australian homes. If yours is still printing, you need PG-510 and CL-511 ink — and you need to know your options.
Ollie sniffed out the best value (he has a soft spot for legacy printers 🐾), and Noodle confirmed the XL recommendation with data.
Which Printers Use PG-510 and CL-511?
The PG-510/CL-511 range covers a very large Canon PIXMA lineup from the 2009–2014 era:
PIXMA MP series (home all-in-ones):
- MP240, MP250, MP260, MP270, MP272
- MP280, MP282 — among the most widely sold
- MP480, MP490, MP492, MP495, MP499
PIXMA iP series (print-only):
- iP2700, iP2702
PIXMA MX series (office all-in-ones with fax):
- MX320, MX330, MX340, MX350, MX360, MX410, MX420
PG-510 vs CL-511: The Two-Cartridge System
| Cartridge | Type | Purpose | |-----------|------|---------| | PG-510 / PG-510XL | Pigment Black | Documents, text, sharp lines | | CL-511 / CL-511XL | Dye Tri-colour | Colour printing, photos |
PG-510 uses pigment ink — crisp, smudge-resistant, ideal for text. CL-511 combines cyan, magenta, and yellow in a single tri-colour cartridge. When one colour runs out, the whole colour cartridge must be replaced.
Page Yield: Standard vs XL
| Cartridge | Standard | XL | |-----------|---------|-----| | PG-510 / PG-510XL | ~220 pages | ~400 pages | | CL-511 / CL-511XL | ~244 pages | ~425 pages |
Yields based on Canon ISO standard at 5% coverage.
PG-510XL delivers 1.8× more pages than standard. CL-511XL delivers 1.7× more. The yield gap is narrower than some other cartridge families, but the XL still delivers meaningfully more pages at a lower cost per page.
Cost Per Page: Genuine vs Compatible
At typical Australian retail prices (note: genuine PG-510 may be harder to source as the range ages):
| Cartridge | Genuine XL (est.) | Compatible XL | Saving | |-----------|-------------------|---------------|--------| | PG-510XLBK | ~4.0¢/page | ~1.6¢/page | ~60% | | CL-511XL | ~6.0¢/page | ~2.4¢/page | ~60% |
For a household printing ~80–100 pages/month, compatible XL saves approximately $80–$120 per year vs genuine standard.
Genuine Availability Note
The PG-510/CL-511 range is old enough that genuine Canon cartridges may be difficult to find at Australian retail. Officeworks and Harvey Norman have largely phased out this range. Compatible cartridges are the primary practical option for most Australian owners of these printers — and they perform well for typical home use.
A Word on Printer Age
PIXMA MP280/MP495 printers are now 10–15 years old. The most common issue at this age is dried printhead nozzles from infrequent use — not cartridge quality. Before replacing cartridges, run the built-in printhead cleaning utility if output looks streaky. Ink alone won't fix dried nozzles.
If the printer is producing consistent, clean output: compatible XL cartridges are the right choice to keep it running economically.
Ollie & Noodle's Verdict
- ✅ Buy XL — 1.7–1.8× more pages vs standard at a lower cost per page
- ✅ Compatible is the practical choice — genuine PG-510 has limited retail availability
- ✅ 2-cartridge system — separate black + tri-colour
- ✅ Check printhead condition on older printers before assuming the cartridge is faulty
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law
Australian Consumer Law and Canon Warranties
Canon Australia cannot void your statutory warranty because you used compatible ink. For older printers outside the standard warranty period, Australian Consumer Law still provides protection for reasonable product lifespan. Compatible cartridges do not affect these guarantees.
Summary
- ✅ PG-510 (pigment black) + CL-511 (tri-colour dye) — 2-cartridge system
- ✅ XL versions: ~400 pages (black) and ~425 pages (colour) — 1.7–1.8× more than standard
- ✅ Compatible XL saves ~60% — approximately $80–$120/year at typical home volumes
- ✅ Fits: MP240–MP499, iP2700–iP2702, MX320–MX420
- ✅ Compatible is the primary practical option — genuine retail availability is limited
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law