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Canon

Canon CLI-251 BKCMYGY 5-Color Ink Value Pack

★★★★★4.7 (1294 reviews)

Five-ink CLI-251 value pack adds a dedicated gray channel to Canon photo printing — extending tonal range where four-color sets fall short.

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Overview

The Canon CLI-251 BKCMYGY 5-Color Value Pack is a genuine OEM ink set for Canon's six-ink PIXMA photo printers — specifically the MG7520, MG7120, MG6320, and iP8720. The critical distinction of this pack over a standard four-color set is the inclusion of a gray (GY) cartridge alongside the conventional black, cyan, magenta, and yellow tanks. In six-ink printing, the gray channel handles light-density neutral tones that would otherwise require mixing cyan and black — a combination that introduces slight color bias at low saturation levels. For photo printing, particularly portraits, landscapes with overcast skies, or intentional black-and-white output, the gray tank produces smoother gradients and cleaner neutral tones. The 300-page per-cartridge yield is a standardized benchmark at 5% coverage; photographers should treat it as a relative comparison metric rather than an absolute output prediction.

This pack is purpose-built for PIXMA owners who print photos regularly and want to maintain the full six-ink capability their printer was designed for. The individual tank architecture is a practical advantage: each of the five cartridges depletes at a different rate depending on image content, and the Smart LED indicator on each tank allows targeted replacement without wasting remaining ink in adjacent colors. As genuine Canon ink, it maintains the nozzle health warranties and Creative Park Premium content access that third-party inks forfeit. The value pack format provides a cost advantage per cartridge over buying individual tanks, making it the rational stocking choice for anyone who cycles through CLI-251 inks regularly.

Key Features

Print beautiful photos and documents with an improved ink formulation that gives you a wider range of colors

Genuine Canon Ink tanks allow free access to exciting premium content via Creative Park Premium

Smart LED lets you know when the inks are properly installed and which tank needs to be replaced

Genuine Canon ink is recommended for the best experience with Canon Printers

Specifications

Brand
Canon
Model
CLI-251 BKCMYGY 5 Color Pack
Ink Colors Included
Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Gray
Number of Cartridges
5
Page Yield (per cartridge)
~300 pages (at 5% coverage)
Ink Type
Genuine Canon OEM
Compatible Printers
PIXMA MG7520, MG7120, MG6320, iP8720
Smart LED Indicator
Yes (per cartridge)

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Five-ink configuration includes a dedicated gray cartridge that expands tonal depth in monochrome and shadow-heavy photo prints beyond what a four-color CMYK set can achieve.
  • Individual tank design means each of the five colors is replaced independently — the 300-page yield per cartridge is not wasted replacing full-color sets when only one ink is depleted.
  • Smart LED per-cartridge installation confirmation removes guesswork when reseating or replacing individual tanks.
  • Genuine Canon OEM formulation ensures color accuracy and nozzle compatibility with CLI-251 supported printers, reducing the clog risk associated with third-party ink formulations.
  • Value pack format prices the five-cartridge set at a lower per-cartridge cost than individual purchases.

👎 Cons

  • 300-page yield rating is based on 5% page coverage — photo printing at full bleed or high coverage will yield significantly fewer pages per cartridge than the stated spec.
  • Compatibility is limited to a specific subset of Canon PIXMA printers (MG7520, MG7120, MG6320, iP8720) — not universally applicable across the PIXMA lineup.
  • The CLI-251 standard cartridge format is a standard-yield option; Canon does not offer an XL version of the gray cartridge, making high-volume photo printing more costly per page than the black and color XL alternatives.
  • No ink level percentage readout — the Smart LED is a binary alert (installed/needs replacement) rather than a continuous level gauge.

Frequently Asked Questions

The CLI-251 series is compatible with Canon PIXMA printers including the MG7520, MG7120, MG6320, and iP8720. These are Canon's higher-tier PIXMA photo printers that support six-ink printing — the additional gray cartridge is what makes this value pack distinct from the standard four-color CLI-251 set.
Each cartridge in this pack is rated at approximately 300 pages. That yield is measured under ISO standard conditions — typically 5% page coverage on letter-size paper. For photo printing, where ink coverage per page is significantly higher, real-world yield will be lower than 300 pages per cartridge.
The gray cartridge extends the printer's ability to render neutral tones — light grays, shadow gradients, and monochrome images — without the color cast that cyan and black mixing can introduce at low densities. For black-and-white photo printing or images with significant highlight and shadow detail, the gray channel produces visibly smoother tonal transitions.
These are genuine Canon OEM ink tanks — not third-party or remanufactured cartridges. Genuine Canon inks are formulated specifically for CLI-251 compatible printers and are required for access to Canon's Creative Park Premium content platform.
Yes. Each CLI-251 cartridge includes the Smart LED indicator, which illuminates to confirm proper installation and provides a visual alert when that specific tank needs replacement — allowing you to swap individual colors rather than replacing the entire set at once.

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