Camera for intra-oral photos

[pukenucleus]

I'm starting my orthodontic residency soon and was looking into buying an SLR camera with macro lens and a ring flash. Do any of you have opinions or suggestions regarding what camera/system you prefer? I've been looking at Canon XSi/T1i and also the Canon 50D. Both cost are quite the investment (as is my residency) and I was wondering what camera works best for you?

Thank you in advance for your time!

Cheers.

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[padyhien]

Either of them is an excellent choice. The important is to get the canon 60 mm macro lens and a ring flash. The body can be upgraded later if you want to. In fact, you can get the xti, xs camera body whatever you can get it cheap.

 

[yojimbo53]

the issue is not getting a macro-specific lens (point and shoot technology has progressed to the point that the macro function on a decent p&s camera will give results that are way more than adequate). the issue is getting proper lighting. using a point flash (possibly with a cheap homemade diffuser) will give you results that are fine for your purposes (taking initial records, progress photos, aid in diagnosis and tx planning, etc). if you're submitting photos in publications, textbooks, etc, then a ring flash may be more necessary. that said, i've seen photos in some newly-released textbooks (by some world renown authors - who will remain anonymous), and they look horrendous.... 😱

 

[charlestweed]

the issue is not getting a macro-specific lens (point and shoot technology has progressed to the point that the macro function on a decent p&s camera will give results that are way more than adequate). the issue is getting proper lighting. using a point flash (possibly with a cheap homemade diffuser) will give you results that are fine for your purposes (taking initial records, progress photos, aid in diagnosis and tx planning, etc). if you're submitting photos in publications, textbooks, etc, then a ring flash may be more necessary. that said, i've seen photos in some newly-released textbooks (by some world renown authors - who will remain anonymous), and they look horrendous.... 😱

The flash of most compact point and shoot cameras are actually too bright when you take a close up picture. To solve this problem, I block the flash with 1-2 layers of opaque tape (or partially block it with dark tape). To avoid getting a shadow when taking an upper occlusal image, you have to turn the camera up side down (or side way…depending on the location of the flash on the camera).

When I was an ortho resident 10 years ago, I used a 2 mega pixel point and shoot camera (Nikon coolpix 900) for intraoral pictures. And even at 2 mega pixels, I was still able to enlarge the images for power point presentations.

 

[Guy Smiley]

The flash of most compact point and shoot cameras are actually too bright when you take a close up picture. To solve this problem, I block the flash with 1-2 layers of opaque tape (or partially block it with dark tape). To avoid getting a shadow when taking an upper occlusal image, you have to turn the camera up side down (or side way…depending on the location of the flash on the camera).

When I was an ortho resident 10 years ago, I used a 2 mega pixel point and shoot camera (Nikon coolpix 900) for intraoral pictures. And even at 2 mega pixels, I was still able to enlarge the images for power point presentations.

Well, they don't let us do that at your program anymore. They now have a camera requirement - DSLR with specific macro lense and ring flash.

 

[charlestweed]

Well, they don't let us do that at your program anymore. They now have a camera requirement - DSLR with specific macro lense and ring flash.

Really? I was the 1st resident who introduced that Nikon coolpix 900 camera (before that, they used film camera). Everybody in my class (and the class after that) used the same Nikon camera.

Hope you enjoyed the first 2 weeks of wire bending exsercise....and study model trimming😱

 

[Jone]

The ironic thing is, the Decision-Maker at half these programs that mandate a DSLR, probably doesn't even know the difference between a DSLR and a pinhole camera.

Well, they don't let us do that at your program anymore. They now have a camera requirement - DSLR with specific macro lense and ring flash.

 

[charlestweed]

Here is the youtube video from Lester Dine, Inc. They sell this compact point and shoot camera for $795.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XViVKs4L_5M&feature=channel_page

They also include the Pixelease software (this is perfect for ortho). If you don't want the software, you can buy a cheaper (and better) camera at Best Buy (for less than $400) and get similar results

 

[neezy]

I have a Canon 40d with a sigma 105mm macro lens and a sigma ef-500 super flash. Attached to the flash is my trusty saturn ring flash www.ringflash-adapter.com . The saturn ring flash gives me some versatility to be able to use the flash for personal indoor photography and also saves a few dollars on buying the sigma or canon ring flash. I also bought all my stuff used and saved alot. fredmiranda.com is a good website where lots of camera bodies are sold and occasionally macro lens. You have to pay to create postings so it weeds out all the scumbag ebayers/craiglisters.

If you have any interest in photography outside the mouth this is a good setup but is a big investment. The canon Xsi/TiD1/Xti would easily do the same job with the lens and flash but the 40d just felt better in my hands.