For the price, and speed, the is very tough to beat in its hardware class, and provides an unmatched balance of powerful functionality with affordability. With an advertised copy speed of 12 copies per minute, the unit is especially fast for its analog laser monochrome technology, and also comes equipped with business level paper handling.
This beefy unit weighs in at 52.9 pounds, sports a footprint of 19.1 inches by 17.6 inches which, with only a 14.1 inch height, makes it sturdy, but small considering its included hardware, and capabilities. A30 page automatic document feeder sits snugly on top of the platen glass cover that can be absolutely essential when producing copies from multiple input sources. Imagine the time saved when compared to hand shuffling thirty documents through a flip top document glass cover and sorting the output. When copy demands are high, an ADF which lower end units lack is essential.
One of the strangest features about the Canon Copier PC-981 is that its counterpart, Canon Copier PC-980, has single increment zoom ratio adjustment capabilities, and the PC-981 does not. The even stranger this is that, other than this quality or lack thereof, they are exactly the same unit. They have no other differences. At least Canon has provided both models with quick and easy preset reduction and enlargement ratios with reduction ratios at a 70% minimum and an 81% level, and enlargement ratios of 115% and a maximum of 141%. Though preset ratios are convenient, without single percentage increments it is virtually impossible to match an image to an exact desired size.
A 250 sheet capacity front loading paper tray allows an ample amount of storage for most applications, but is not the extent of the Canon Copier PC-981’s full capacity. A fifty sheet multipurpose tray is also concealed within the unit, and makes room for many types of media that it could otherwise not be compatible with, such as custom stationary, transparencies, or business card material. The additional bypass tray can also be used for standard legal or letter sized paper, bringing regular storage capacity to 300 total sheets.
Not only can this unit make reproductions of standard paper, it can also open to scan images from books or magazines, or even other three dimensional objects with a flat surface, though, of course, the automatic document feeder only operates with standard sizes, legal or letter.
When analog technology is the basis for copy technology, exposure is critical, which is why Canon has implemented not only automatic exposure into the PC-981, but a manual exposure mode as well that allows images to be darkened or lightened depending on the desired effect and outcome. A specificphoto mode is also selectable which adjusts levels specifically for images with a full range of tones, as opposed to simply standard black text. A toner save mode can also be used to reduce exposure level with the intention of cutting down on toner usage, completing the ’s long list of versatile and comprehensive feature, and placing it at the top of its class.
Source:
