Digital Camera

[238950]

Hi guys,

For derm residency, would you recommend having a point and shoot digital camera or would getting a digital SLR be worth its price?

Thanks! (and sorry if this has been discussed before)

 

[asmallchild]

Clinics usually have a nice SLR already but I noticed a lot of residents have point and shoots of their own. Just in case perhaps

I'm sticking with my canon. Make every shot a powershot 🙂

 

[Dral]

I don't know if things have changed, but I had a Nikon point and shoot a few years back that was absolutely exceptional when it came to macro (close up) shots.

 

[N-Surge]

Yeah, macro is key. I too have a Canon PS.

 

[laxman310]

I'm thinking the canon SD780IS. Small, good pics, solid reviews.

 

[droliver]

If you want consistant pictures suitable for publication you will need a SLR with a dedicated macro lens and professional lighting. I'd also suggest a ring flash.

An important thing to consider for clinic settings is that SLR cameras tend to do better in low light conditions, a scenario common in exam rooms without dedicated photo lighting. As the cost of the SLR cameras has gone down, it's kind of silly not to get one for medical photography if you want good quality. When they started at $1000, it was different.

 

[Dral]

Do you have any recommendations for a good SLR brand?

 

[sensitive skin]

Do you have any recommendations for a good SLR brand?

Canon or Nikon is industry standard.

I'm also an amateur/sometimes pro photographer ("I'm a visual person!"), and I use a professional setup: Canon 5D Mark II body, with quality "glass": 24-70mm f/2.8L, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.2L II (portrait lens), and a macro at 100mm f/2.8, with an all-purpose 580ex II flash. I do not use dSLR for derm photos: I have a tiny TINY pocket Sony Cybershot...surprise surprise! These photos won't be used for publication anyway, just for my own edification. Anyway almost all programs have a great dSLR for publication-quality photos. You don't need a dSLR.

One program I rotated through had TWO Nikon dSLRs with sick awesome macro lens and macro flash...$$$$$$.... The residents were very good with the camera.

My mentor, a private practitioner, has an awesome Visia photo machine (from Canfield), which can document progress over time utilizing the same angles and lighting. I plan to have one in my office one day.