Picking a Fujitsu scanner that can meet all your needs is never an easy task. Most options available on the market are perfectly capable of handling everyday work projects, but due to the different sizes and features of the scanners, they are not equally suited for the same purpose. These are the questions you must answer before making a decision
What type of media will you be scanning?
Determining what types of documents and how often you must scan them will help you easily determine what features you should look for in a scanner. Most users typically use scanners to scan photos and documents, but some people also need to digitize hardcover books, business and credit cards, film, magazines, stamps, etc. 3D objects such as coins or dried flowers are also an option. Regardless of your answer to this question, choose the model that fits the largest media size you want to scan and consider whether you need duplex scanning.
Do you need a flatbed?
If you plan to scan fragile originals, bound books or various 3D objects, you must use a Fujitsu flatbed scanner. This model comes with a large glass horizontal surface that is perfect for holding paper, books and objects. Keep in mind that when this article discusses 3D objects, it refers to scanning them as 2D images, as scanners used to create 3D objects are much more complex and expensive compared to conventional scanners.
Even if photos or stamps can be placed through the feeder, the risk of them getting jammed, damaged or torn is quite high, especially if they are very old. If you only need to scan the originals once or twice, there is a way to get around this problem, as most sheet-fed models offer a plastic tray that keeps the originals safe. That said, even this solution is quite flawed, as most such operators, even when brand new, will degrade the quality of the scan. Thankfully, getting a good flatbed scanner is fairly easy, as the market is full of new and used models, allowing you to find the right one immediately.
Do you need a paper feeder?
If your workflow includes scanning documents on a daily basis, especially documents longer than 3 pages, a sheet feeder is an essential component of your scanner. The process of placing individual pages under the flatbed cover is a real pain, but doing the same thing every time you scan a 20-page contract is time-consuming and annoying. In addition, some sheet-fed models are able to pass thicker documents such as ID cards, which is a great help to many organizations.
If your job does not require a lot of scanning, you can easily use a manual feed scanner. However, if you often find yourself digitizing larger documents, then an ADF becomes essential as it is the perfect system for scanning large volumes of documents quickly. Try to find a model with an ADF capacity that will meet your average document page count. If you have to scan more sheets than the feeder has capacity, you can easily add them in the process. It is also worth noting that more advanced scanners with ADFs can also pass stacks of business cards.
What about duplex printing?
Fujitsu document scanners with duplex scanning mode allow you to scan both sides of a document at the same time. If you plan to purchase a model with a manual or automatic feeder and frequently handle duplex pages, you should strongly consider purchasing a duplex scanner, otherwise you will have to do twice as much work.
Scanners that offer the best performance are equipped with 2 scanning mechanisms that work together to digitize both sides of a page at the same time. These models are much faster than conventional scanners with a basic duplex ADF, but the price goes up as well. Also, a duplex ADF only needs to scan the first side of the document, flip it over and then scan the other side, which takes twice as long.
A third option is to purchase a scanner that offers a manual duplexing mode. In this case, the device scans the first side of a full stack of documents and instructs you to flip it over so it can scan the second side, and then its drivers automatically merge the two sides. This scanner is the least expensive option and is recommended for users who rarely need to handle double-sided pages or who do not have the budget for a more powerful model.
Best Fujitsu Scanners
What resolution do you need?
For most scanning tasks, resolution is not very important. For example, financial reports can be read perfectly even at 200ppi and 300ppi for most types of documents. One situation when you may need a better resolution is when scanning photos, but even then you will be hard pressed to find Fujitsu photo scanners below 600ppi, which is all the pixels you need to print or even an enlarged version of the image.
That said, some media requires a better resolution. If you are using 35 mm negatives, you will have to print them at a much larger size than the originals, which means the resolution will have to be very high or you will notice pixelation. Likewise, if you want to scan the stamps while retaining all the detail, only consider models with a resolution of 4800 ppi or higher.
How large are your originals?
Choosing the right model for the originals you must scan may seem easy, but some users still often overlook this aspect. For example, most flatbed scanners come with a letter-size surface, which can quickly become a problem if you scan Legal-size documents from time to time. Thankfully, most flatbed models with ADF are compatible with legal size pages, but not all are, so please check this fact before purchasing. Larger flatbed scanners can also be found, but they are more expensive and require more space.
What software do you need?
Whether it is a Fujitsu scanner for Mac or Windows, most models offered by the brand are compatible with almost all scanning software. However, if the product comes with its software, there is no need to purchase a separate program unless you need specific functionality. The most popular tools in scanning software are image editing, optical character recognition (OCR), searchable PDF creation, business card archiving and document management.
Do you need a dedicated scanner?
The last thing you must consider is whether you need a dedicated model rather than a regular model. Dedicated scanners include scanners for business cards (compact, portable devices), books (great for laying pages flat) and slides (more compact than flatbed scanners while providing the same level of quality).
Other options include portable devices (universal scanners that fit in a laptop bag) and pen models (handheld models that track over text). Even without a PC, several state-of-the-art portable scanners are available because you can save your scans on an SD card or cell phone. The market also offers scanners that can be used as portable and desktop devices, as they combine portable components with a docking station that hosts an ADF. If you think a general purpose scanner will not meet your needs, any of these options may be an excellent choice.
