DCP-585CW

For the DCP-585CW, longevity is a one-part story: the standard LC61 cartridge, renewed as needed, is the whole maintenance plan. This model is one of 23 in the family limited to that standard tier. High-yield LC65HY cartridges do exist for the same cassette family, but they fit just four other printers — MFC-5890CN, MFC-5895CW, MFC-6490CW and MFC-6890CDW — and any listing offering them as an upgrade here is wrong, whatever the resemblance. Only LC61 cartridges are listed on this page.

The Brother DCP-585CW takes the standard LC61 tier: black (LC61BK) up to 450 pages and cyan, magenta and yellow up to 325 pages each (ISO/IEC 24711). On cost per page, the standard black works out at about 1.9 cents a page ($8.69 for up to 450 pages) and each color at about 2.7 cents (up to 325 pages). If you print mostly black, the Set of 10's four-black mix matches how these printers actually consume ink.

Which LC61 should you buy?

One color at a time: black, cyan, magenta and yellow — $8.69 each.
Full refresh: the Set of 4 ($29.94) puts one of each color in one box.
Print every week: the Set of 10 ($59.85) puts four blacks and two of each color in one box.

Chip, ink and everyday use

There is no combined color pack to waste here, and that is precisely why this older machine stays economical: black, cyan, magenta and yellow sit in separate slots, each with its own chip, and are replaced one at a time. Lift a replacement by the housing and keep fingers clear of the chip contact. Brother has discontinued the LC61 line; every Clever Supplies LC61 cartridge carries a lifetime warranty with 1-year free returns, rated at Brother's own ISO/IEC 24711 figures (black 450, colors 325).