Fujitsu Fi-8170 Review

The Fujitsu Fi-8170 is one of the top overall scanners we tested. It is impressively fast, has a high capacity that is geared toward small business scale work, and its overall scanning quality and ease of use make it ideal for large and frequent scanning jobs. However, if you don't frequently scan large-sized or great volumes of documents, and are primarily interested in a scanner for preserving the occasional receipt or family photo, then this scanner may not be worth the high price.

Performance Comparison

Scanning Performance

The Fujitsu Fi-8170 took a small step backward from the previous model's performance in our scanning performance tests. It expertly handled all text-based scanning tasks very well. Standard text, bold text, and handwritten text all came out looking nearly as good as the originals, but photo scanning proved to be more difficult.

When we evaluated scanned receipt quality, text clarity, and handwriting quality, the Fi-8170 did exceptionally well. It handled receipts nicely, which can be a difficult task for some scanners due to the fine print. Scanned receipts are very accurate — the blacks were a deep black and had good sharpness.

Scanned text documents are also top notch. Looking at a scan feels like you're looking at the original piece of paper. Only under intense scrutiny were we able to notice a minor loss of quality, and only on thin or small text.

In the scanning of handwritten documents, we found the scanned writing to be very accurate and sharp, with no mistakes. Similar to a minor issue with thin printed text, our team did observe very thin/light areas of writing that would blend slightly into white backgrounds, but only when zoomed in with a large amount of magnification.

In our photo-scanning tests, we observed that the resultant scan was very light, and the scanning process dramatically increased the overall brightness. That over-increased brightness also caused a loss in background area details and fidelity. In addition to light areas being too bright, the Fujitsu Fi-8170 seemed to desaturate colors, and the scan had a more dull look than the original image. In the case of images with blue skies, blues were over-saturated, and in greyscale photos some darker areas were over-darkened.

While the Fujitsu Fi-8170 proved to be exceptional at scanning normal text documents, it also proved to be less capable when it comes to photos.

Speed

The Fujitsu Fi-8170 is not just exceptionally fast but is a serious challenger to the fastest model we've tested, another Fujitsu.

The Fujitsu Fi-8170 excelled at our single sheet, duplex 600 DPI Color test, the first of our three different speed tests. It accomplished the task in a mere four seconds.

The Fujitsu Fi-8170 ripped through our 10-page duplex test document in 27 seconds, which equates to an average speed of about 21 pages per minute. Its exceptional speed and huge 100-page document feeder allow it to process the biggest jobs in minutes and small ones in seconds, leaving you free to handle more important tasks than babysitting a scanner.

Our team performed the same test for a 10-page, 600dpi black and white, simplex document, and the Fi-8170 handled the task in a swift 25 seconds.

In short, this is a fast model. Considering it also has a 100-page document tray, it is a great option for keeping large scanning jobs moving right along in any home or small office. It deserves serious consideration if you value your time and efficiency in general.

Software

The software package on the Fujitsu Fi-8170 is above average and an improvement over its predecessor model.

Firstly, it is compatible with both PC and Mac operating systems. Optical character recognition (OCR) is on by default, so you won't have to venture through the plethora of advanced settings to turn it on. The OCR on this model is also very reliable and only missed a couple of words in our testing.

We found the advanced settings on the Fujitsu to be similar to the top scanners we tested, including the Canon R40. The range of settings lets you tailor the scanning settings to exactly what you need for optimal performance.

Simplified versions of all the most common settings exist on a main page of the software, which allows for quick changes, and a large scan button at the bottom of the page lets you easily begin your scanning task. Overall, the software and software interface are both very good and easy to use.

User Friendliness

The Fujitsu Fi-8170 makes no improvement over its predecessor and proved to be less user-friendly than the top-scoring scanners in our test lineup. We evaluated every scanner and assessed the initial setup as well as the user interface, weighting the initial setup to 35% of the ease of use score and another 65% weighted toward the user interface.

Right off the bat, we took issue with the setup process, which felt somewhat antiquated. The Fujitsu Fi-8170 is somewhat difficult to set up and requires a CD drive on PCs to get started.

The scanner features several buttons, including stop/clear, scan/enter, power, selection arrows, and a menu. The menu offers a variety of options, such as scanner info, speed, cleaning, test print, consumable counters, language, and brightness to name just a few. Although the menu is easy to navigate, it includes many options, perhaps more than most users will need.

Some menu wording doesn't fit on the LCD screen, leading to parts of the menu being moved down a line or partially cut off. The Fujitsu Fi-8170 settings are very robust, and outside of the initial setup and a learning curve for those more advanced settings, we found the scanner easy enough to use.

Should You Buy the Fujitsu Fi-8170 Sheetfed?

Determining whether the Fujitsu Fi-8170 is the right scanner for you largely hinges on the value you place on your time. While it falls on the pricier side compared to other tested models, its 100-page document feeder significantly streamlines large scanning jobs, freeing you up to attend to other tasks. If this level of efficiency aligns with your needs, then the Fi-8170 is a worthwhile investment. However, for most home users needing photo scanning and the occasional scanning of a receipt, it might be worth exploring one of the many other models our team has reviewed.

What Other Scanners Should You Consider?

The Fujitsu Fi-8170 is ideal for individuals who frequently scan large documents, thanks to its impressive 100-page document feeder. However, compared to other scanners featured in our reviews, it comes with a significantly higher price tag. It offers an advantage in terms of time saved, but for most users, the Fujitsu iX1600 ScanSnap is a suitable alternative, boasting a 50-page document feeder that should suffice for most home office needs. Moreover, it is reasonably priced, making it a more affordable option. If you are looking for the best overall performance from a scanner, then consider the Canon ImageFORMULA R40. Or, at the other end of the spectrum, if your scanning needs are infrequent and small, the Scanner Pro App may be a good option.