Modern digital photography may be joyful or painful experience because taking photos is just the beginning. It’s crucial to understand the process and establish so-called Digital Workflow. In simple words, it is the step by step process from setting the camera and taking a photo to the final result. It can be photo printed in the book or email attachment or picture displayed on the big screen during lecture.
Digital Workflow in dental photography includes six main elements:
Initial settings of the camera
Setting the parameters to take intraoral shots or portraits
Importing photos
Pictures organization
Post-production
Backup
With this article, I start the series explaining these six elements in details. Let’s jump into the first step.
Initial settings of the camera.
– Date & Time
– Color Space
– Image quality
– White Balance
– ISO
Initial settings are crucial for getting the best results and for the future organization of the photos. When you buy your digital camera, it will have so-called default settings, embedded in the factory. They work fine and are good for a majority of the applications. In the case of dental photography or for advanced use it makes sense to dig inside these settings to get most out of it.
Not every digital camera offers you access to all parameters. A majority of modern DSLR cameras (Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera) and mirrorless cameras let you customize the settings depending on your needs. Some of them are easy to set, but others are in the menu of the camera. Whenever you struggle, please refer to the manual of your camera. Yes, I know, it’s annoying and written in the language understandable only for real geeks and photo enthusiasts but don’t give up.
1. Date & Time
It’s crucial for proper organization of your photos. When you take a picture, your camera will also save date and time. Then, after importing photographs to the computer, images will be organized based on the date hierarchy.
2. Color Space
In your camera, you can change default color profile settings from sRGB to Adobe RGB. It will allow saving 35% more information about color.
3. Image quality
A modern digital camera lets you save a single photo in jpg or RAW file. Whenever you have a chance, select RAW + jpg. It gives you best flexibility. I will explain this topic in the future, in the separate article.
4. White Balance
Set in the camera flash symbol. White Balance permanently applies to jpg files already in the camera. RAW files allow you to optimize the color in the postproduction. It’s important at the end to see your photos in the same color temperature.
5.ISO
Sensor sensitivity (ISO), should be set to the values in the range from 100 to 400. Newer cameras can handle with higher ISO values without compromising the quality of the photo.
Summary:
By applying these initial settings to your camera, you will get control over quality and organization of your photographs.
If you are subscribed user in the Dental Photo Master platform, you can watch related videos: Dental Photography Cameras – different models of the cameras are demonstrated, with step by step process of selecting the correct setup. Digital Workflow – The essential steps of a digital workflow. Learn about files transfer, management and archiving of your photographs.
Brackets are one of the essentials for digital dental photo-documentation.
They help to position the flash heads at a distance from the lens. Brackets connect with a screw to the tripod socket at the bottom of the camera body. Different models are available with various sizes, weight, shapes and mounts for flash heads.
Before you make your decision, choosing a particular model, you should know what for you want to use it.
Indications for using the brackets:
– Color, tooth shade communication
– Texture of the front teeth
– more 3D look of the teeth
– Portraits
Companies worldwide offer a few models of brackets, which can be used in dental photo-documentation. Some of the brackets are specially designed for dental photography others are used in macro photography.
I have checked the differences between the brackets for you and here is the list with my comments. Please be aware, this is my opinion.
PhotoMed R2 Dual Point Flash Bracket – made in the USA
[Fot.PhotoMed bracket ] PhotoMed is a worldwide leader. The R2 Bracket is available in two different flash mounts: Nikon (R2-N) and Universal (R2-U).
R2-N adopts only Nikon SB-R200 flash heads (part of R1C1 Nikon system).
R2-U is universal and will accept every flash head with a shoe foot (Canon 270EX II, Nissin i40).
Characteristic: selection of different models, sizes, and mounts, high-quality finish, light weight – especially the classic model. Ball attachments and wider arms increase the weight of the set. Materials: black anodized aluminum, plastic Worldwide deliveries. Orders outside the US require direct email contact with the shop. The fixing screw, connecting the bracket to the camera (tripod socket) needs secure fixation to avoid movement of the bracket.
Available models:
PhotoMed R2 Dual Point Flash Bracket (original)
Max span: 22”/ 55cm
Weight: 8 oz. / 225g
Mount: Nikon or Universal
Price: 279$
PhotoMed R2 – Wide Bracket
Max span: 29”/ 73cm
Weight: 10 oz. / 285g
Mount: Nikon or Universal
Price: 319$
PhotoMed R2 – Ballhead Bracket
Max span: 24”/ 61cm
Weight: 13 oz. / 370g
Mount: Nikon or Universal
Price: 319$
The company offers two models: Scorpion (basic, shorter arms) and Albatross, with longer arms. Characteristic: The advantage is that you can easily upgrade your bracket from Scorpion to Albatross by attaching extension arms. The company offers an additional bracket element, “bracket upper”, for big-sized (albo bigger) DSLR cameras or for cameras with battery packs attached. Good price.
Arms are connected and tightened with regular screws with knobs for easy assembly, but they get loose easily after manipulation with the arms and need tightening more often.
Bracket Specification: Medical Close-Up Bracket “Scorpion.” Max span: 28cm
Weight: 400g without vertical arm – 550g with vertical arm
Mount: Nikon SB-R200 and universal
Price: 125Euro
The company offers three models: Classic, Large, and Ballhead.
Characteristic: beautiful design and excellent quality, very stable connection, a high-quality pouch for storing is available. Printed marks allow easy setup of arms and their angulations. Lightweight. Special edition upon request – with name, different colors and mounts are available.
You can experience some difficulties with an online purchase.
Bracket Specification: Owl Bracket Classic (Owlbrckt® C); Max span: 55cm
Weight: 236g
Mount: Nikon or Universal
Price: 300$
Owl Bracket Large (Owlbrckt® L); Max span: 75cm
Weight: 276g
Mount: Nikon or Universal
Price: 350$
Owl Bracket Ballhead (Owlbrckt® BH);
Max span: 60cm
Weight: 324g
Mount: Nikon or Universal
Price: 350$
Novoflex Duo Flash Holder (XXL-Halter)- made in Germany
[Fot. Novoflex Duo Flash Holder Bracket ] Brackets offered by Novoflex are for general use, with some models dedicated to macro photography. Two models, which can be used in digital dental photography, were offered. One is available on the second-hand market only: Novoflex Uniset with adjustable rods and ball heads with shoe adapter. The second one, smaller, is available in sales today: Novoflex Duo Flash Holder
Characteristic: simple design and easy setup. Limited span in Duo Flash Holder to 36cm.
Novoflex Duo Flash Holder details:
Max span: 36cm
Weight: 370g
Price: 263$
Summary: A bracket is an additional piece of equipment, dedicated to using in combination with dual flash.
The primary indications for use are correct flash heads positioning for color transfer and achieving dental photographs showing the texture of the teeth and soft tissue. Dental Photo Master recommends: Dual flash bracket – for prosthodontics, restorative dentistry, front teeth,
Ring flash – regular case documentation, surgery,
Dual flash is one of the flash types designed for macro photography. The main difference between a ring flash and a twin flash is the flexibility in flash heads positioning. The ring flash has flash tubes permanently built-in into a ring, which is attached to the lens. Dual flashes are constructed differently: they have two flash heads, which are mounted on a separate ring, or on a bracket.
(Fot.Ring and Dual Flash.)
There are several advantages of dual flashes. I’ll try to list them in accidental order:
– Light direction control
– You can fix them on a dedicated bracket
– A flexibility of positioning of the flash heads. You can set them close to the lens axis to obtain light direction similar to a ring flash or position them in a distance to gain more information about texture (when in use with a bracket).
– Optimal positioning of the flash heads for color transfer in digital dental photography (setting correct position – 45°)
[Fot Bracket 45degrees]
– More options for light modifiers (bouncers, diffusers) used in dental photography
(Fot.Dual Flash with Lumiquest]
Dual flash is available with wireless communication or with classic wires.
Available options for Canon users:
Canon MT-24EX Twin Lite + bracket (optional)
Wireless options:
2 x Canon 270EX II + wireless transmitter Canon ST-E2 + bracket
Nissin i40 + wireless transmitter Canon ST-E2 + bracket
Available options for Nikon users (wireless):
Nikon R1C1 (Nikon SB-R200 + commander SU-800) + bracket (optional)
2 x Nissin i40 + commander SU-800 + bracket
Available options for Sony users:
Sony HVL-MT24AM Macro Twin Flash Kit
Options for Olympus users:
Olympus STF-22 Twin Flash Set with FC-1 TTL Controller
If you have wireless flashes you can control them in two ways. Some of the cameras’ models have a built-in commander. Others will need a separate commander attached to the hot-shoe of your camera body.
I prefer to use an external commander instead of a built-in one (even if my camera has it).
The advantages of the external commanders/transmitters are:
– rigid and stable mount with the hot-shoe on the camera (no clips or risk of accidental damage of the pop-up flash, no wobbling of the clip)
– fast and easy access to manual settings of the flash power in the Manual Mode
On the market,we can find macro lenses with magnification ratio (1:1) with focal lengths in the range from 40 to 200mm.
[Fot. Nikon Macro lenses].
The question is, which ones are better for dental photo-documentation? Of course, the price is one of the factors influencing our choice, but it should not be the primary criteria. The best focal lengths for dental photography are the ones around 100mm (some models will be 90, 100 or 105mm, depending on the brand).
There are 2 main reasons why you should select a 100mm lens: minimal focusing distance and portrait photography.
With a limited budget, a 60mm lens looks attractive and it is tempting to make an extra saving to spend for a dinner with beloved ones… But please think about a lens, which will be universal.
A universal macro lens allows me to take both: intraoral and portrait photographs. Especially in portraits, you will realize the superiority of 100mm. Lenses in the range of focal length from 85 to 135mm are the best ones for portrait photography and will create less distortion, which is crucial for face analysis. Look at the illustration beneath, showing face distortion depending on the focal length.
(Fot. Face distortion.]
Lenses with shorter focal lengths will create bigger (wide angle lenses 14-35mm) or smaller distortion (50-60mm). Portrait photography is an important part of the dental documentation. A process of case analysis, esthetic treatment planning or communication with the patient is very limited without portrait photographs.
Another advantage is the minimum focus distance, which is the closest distance from the focal (sensor) plane to the object, which will stay in focus, creating a sharp image as the result. Every lens has this parameter, described in millimeters or centimeters. The shorter focal length of the macro lens, the shorter minimum focus distance… It means that you can get very close to the object.
Let’s look at the example of two lenses from Nikon: 60mm and 105mm.
For Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens – minimum focus distance is 30.48cm
[Fot.Nikon 105 MFD]
For Nikon AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED lens – minimum focus distance is 18.49cm
[Fot.Nikon 60 MFD]
In reality, the distance from the front of the lens to the object is half of the minimum focus distance… The practical implication is, that in 1:1 reproduction ratio (maximum magnification) with a 60mm lens you are very close to the teeth. It can influence the light distribution and lead to fogging of the front of the lens, caused by the patient’s breathing.
Summary: these facts should convince you to use a 100mm lens. If your main concern is the price, consider a cheaper 100mm lens from Tokina or Tamron. Please check our Dental Photo Master Equipment section to see available models and brands of such lenses.
Quite often I get the question: “which camera should I buy for dental photography?”
My answer is simple: select a camera with features helpful in digital dental photography documentation. One of those is Custom/User settings option.
Custom / User settings – allows you to assign frequently used settings to Program Dial Mode in the camera.
Benefit: with one dial you can recall the specific settings, like optimum settings to take intraoral photography shots. You and your staff members will like it. You don’t need to struggle with a selection of the correct aperture, shutter speed, ISO or white balance anymore. You only select the program mode – marked with a letter “U” in Nikon [Fot.1_Custom Modes Nikon D7200]
or “C” in Canon
[Fot.2_Custom Modes Canon 80D]
and your camera is ready to shoot with favorite settings for digital dental photography. Depending on the brand and model of your camera you will either have no such option, or one, two or even three possible settings.
List of Nikon cameras, with User Settings:
Nikon D7100, Nikon D7200, Nikon D750 and Nikon D610.
List of Canon cameras, with Custom Settings:
Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EOS Mark IV, Canon EOS 70D, Canon EOS 80D, Canon EOS 6D
Follow these steps to set your camera for intraoral photography: Step 1: set your camera with correct date & time, white balance, ISO, color profile, Step 2: set Mode – Manual (M) or Aperture priority mode (A or Av), Aperture – f22 or higher, shutter speed 1/125 Step 3: In the MENU of your camera select “Save User 1” (Nikon) or “Register Custom Shooting Modes” (C1) (Canon)
the blog and newsroom for Dental Photo Master online educational platform, dedicated to dental photography.
Here you will find articles about equipment, accessories, postproduction and also general information related to dental photography and photography itself.
My name is Kris Chmielewski, and I am a dentist, deep in love with esthetic dentistry and photography since 1993. I own a dental clinic in Poland. At the same time, I am a pro-photographer and a filmmaker involved in productions for Discovery Channel.
On this blog, together with my Team, I will share the best information about dental photography. I started with dental photo-documentation over 20 years ago. The experience, which I have earned over that time, gives me a good background to share my knowledge with you.
I’ll describe tools and information that seem particularly relevant and practical, along with tips on how to successfully use them.
The blog has a few sections. The latest articles will always be in front page. After a while, they will be moved to the corresponding categories and replaced with the new.
In case it isn’t obvious, you will be exposed to my views and opinions. You are more than welcome to respond, add comments and suggestions. Even disagree. I only ask of You that we keep our comments relevant to the conversations taking place here so that we can maintain respect for all those involved, and add value and depth to the discussion.
I will moderate the comments and quickly remove any of them, which would be offensive, disrespectful or irrelevant. That means that if you simply come by to advertise your website [often considered SPAM], your comment will be deleted. However, if you want to add to the conversation and engage in building the content of our website with us, then you are most welcome.
I might repost your comments and try to reach you to add more depth to the discussion.
Oh, and please don’t post any private information, as this is a public forum.
I encourage you to visit the Dental Photo Master website and learn about us, about who we are and what we have to offer. Please, feel free to contact us for more information! Consider subscribing to our website and engaging in discussions about dental photography, which I believe will become more important than ever.
Thank you for visiting, reading and spreading information about dental photography.
If you like our Dental Photo Master Blog, please help us to grow by sharing our content with your friends.
Thank you,
Kris Chmielewski
Subscription to the Blog gives you benefits:
Improvement of your knowledge and skills in dental photography
Free content inside
Always up to date with new equipment and knowledge
Access to the comments and discussions
Influence on the content – ask for topics interesting for you.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
[Fot.PhotoMed bracket ]
[Fot.Agno’s Bracket Albatros ]
[Fot.Owlbracket Classic ]
[Fot. Novoflex Duo Flash Holder Bracket ]
[Fot.1_Custom Modes Nikon D7200]
