Canon PG-512 & CL-513 Ink: Complete Australian Guide 🖨️

The Canon PIXMA MP230 and iP2700 were among the most widely sold entry-level inkjets in Australia during the late 2000s and early 2010s — simple, compact, and affordable. Many are still in service. If you're looking for replacement ink, PG-512 and CL-513 is what you need.

Ollie and Noodle have the breakdown (Noodle has a particular fondness for printers that just keep going 🐾).

Which Printers Use PG-512 and CL-513?

PG-512/CL-513 covers a broad Canon PIXMA lineup:

PIXMA MP series:

• MP230, MP240, MP250, MP252, MP260
• MP270, MP272, MP280, MP282
• MP495, MP499

PIXMA iP series (print only):

• iP2700, iP2702

PIXMA MX series (office all-in-ones):

• MX320, MX330, MX340, MX350, MX360, MX410, MX420

PG-512 vs CL-513: Understanding the Pair

| Cartridge | Type | Purpose | |-----------|------|---------| | PG-512 / PG-512XL | Pigment Black | Documents, text, sharp lines | | CL-513 / CL-513XL | Dye Tri-colour | Colour printing, photos |

PG-512 uses pigment ink — crisp, smudge-resistant, good for text documents. CL-513 combines cyan, magenta, and yellow in a single tri-colour cartridge. When one colour depletes, the whole colour cartridge needs replacing.

PG-510 vs PG-512: What's the Difference?

This is a common point of confusion for Canon PIXMA owners. PG-510 and PG-512 cover largely overlapping printer ranges:

• PG-510: Standard yield, fits MP240, MP250, MP270, MP280, MP495, iP2700, MX320–MX420 and others
• PG-512 / PG-512XL: Higher yield version — often listed as the XL equivalent for the same printers

In practice, many Australian retailers list PG-512XL as the high-yield version of PG-510 for the same printer range. Check your printer's cartridge bay door — it will show which specific number your printer specifies.

Page Yield: Standard vs XL

| Cartridge | Standard PG-512 | XL PG-512XL | |-----------|----------------|------------| | Black | ~400 pages | ~400 pages (XL = standard here) |

Note: Canon's numbering for this range can be confusing. PG-512XL is the high-yield variant — check Canon's official compatibility list for your specific model.

For CL-513:

• CL-513: ~329 pages standard
• CL-513XL: ~349 pages (note: minimal yield difference vs standard for this specific cartridge)

The practical takeaway: For this cartridge family, compatible options are the primary consideration given limited genuine retail availability and the age of these printers. Focus on getting quality compatible ink rather than agonising over standard vs XL, as the yield difference is narrower than most other cartridge families.

Cost Per Page: Genuine vs Compatible

At typical Australian retail prices (genuine may be difficult to source):

| Cartridge | Compatible (est.) | |-----------|-------------------| | PG-512XL compatible | ~1.5¢/page | | CL-513XL compatible | ~2.5¢/page |

For a household printing ~80 pages/month, compatible cartridges cost approximately $24–$36 per year — excellent value for keeping an older printer running.

Genuine Availability Note

PG-512 and CL-513 are older cartridges. Genuine Canon versions are largely out of stock at major Australian retailers. Compatible cartridges are the primary practical option for these printers — and they perform well for everyday home printing tasks.

Ollie & Noodle's Verdict

• ✅ Compatible is the right choice — genuine retail availability is very limited
• ✅ Excellent running cost — older PIXMA printers on compatible ink are very cheap to run
• ✅ PG-512 vs PG-510 confusion: check your printer's cartridge door to confirm which is specified
• ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law
• ✅ Printhead tip: for old printers, run the built-in cleaning utility if output is streaky before blaming the cartridge

Australian Consumer Law

Canon Australia cannot void your statutory warranty because you used compatible ink. For printers outside their standard warranty period, Australian Consumer Law still provides protection based on reasonable product lifespan expectations.

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Summary

• ✅ PG-512 (pigment black) + CL-513 (tri-colour dye) — 2-cartridge system
• ✅ Compatible is the practical choice — genuine PG-512/CL-513 has limited retail availability
• ✅ Very low running cost — ideal for keeping older PIXMA printers economically viable
• ✅ Fits: MP230–MP499, iP2700–iP2702, MX320–MX420
• ✅ Check cartridge door for PG-510 vs PG-512 — sometimes used interchangeably in AU market
• ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law