SKU:

CS-EP-279-LCXL

Condition:

New Compatible

OEM Part #:

T279XL520-S

Color:

Light Cyan

Ink Type:

Dye

Page Yield:

Up to 740 pages (ISO/IEC 24711)

Chip:

New compatible chip (ink-level monitoring)

Warranty:

Lifetime Warranty

Returns:

1-Year Free Returns

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this printer need a light cyan at all?

Pale tones are the hard part of photo printing: full-strength cyan dots show as grain in skies and water. Light cyan lays the same hue down paler, so gradients stay smooth. It is a core part of the XP-980's six-colour system, not an optional extra.

How many pages does the T279XL520 print?

Up to 740 pages, Epson's published ISO/IEC 24711 rating for the genuine cartridge. Sky- and water-heavy prints draw on it more than the mixed test pattern does.

Can I use regular cyan in the light cyan slot?

No. The slots are coded for their own cartridges — T279XL520-S light cyan belongs in the light cyan slot, T279XL220-S cyan in the cyan slot. Forcing the wrong cartridge risks a recognition error at best.

Which printer does it fit?

Only the Expression Photo XP-980. The XP-960 is a 277-family printer and takes different cartridges; XP-970, XP-950, XP-860 and XP-850 are likewise not 279 printers.

What if my printer flags the cartridge after an update?

This cartridge carries a new compatible chip. If your printer's firmware has been updated, recognition issues can occasionally occur. Power off, reseat the cartridge until it clicks, and restart; if the warning persists, contact us — the lifetime warranty covers it.

Is the ink dye or pigment?

Dye — Claria Photo HD is Epson's dye-based photo ink line, and all six 279 colours follow it, black included.

Standard or XL — which am I buying?

The XL. The standard light cyan (T279520) is rated 360 pages; this T279XL520-S is rated 740. The compatible ladder for this family is XL-only, and we label the tier plainly on the box.

Does it report ink levels?

Yes. The new compatible chip reports remaining ink to the XP-980 like a standard cartridge does, so the low-ink warning still works.

Is it a genuine Epson cartridge?

No — a Clever Supplies compatible built to the T279XL520-S specification and labelled compatible on the box and this page. Epson did not manufacture it.

How much ink is in it, in millilitres?

We don't publish a figure: Epson's US documentation gives no millilitre volume for the 279 family, so the Volume field stays blank rather than borrowing a reseller's number. Judge it by the 740-page ISO yield.

What does the lifetime warranty cover?

A cartridge that leaks, prints poorly from new, or stays unrecognised after troubleshooting is replaced under the lifetime warranty. Free returns apply within the first year.

Should I buy the single or a set?

The single when only light cyan is low. The Set of 6 replaces all six colours at once for less than six singles, and the Set of 13 stocks a heavy photo printer — both linked from this page.