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Nikon Z8’s leak: first specs and pics of the upcoming camera!

Nikon Z8’s leak: first specs and pics of the upcoming camera!

Let’s be clear about it: we’re talking about rumors and leaks and we can’t be sure what will be confirmed and how it will affect dental photography. Nevertheless, we’d like to take a closer look at the first Z8 probable specs and pictures!

The Z8’s about to have similar specs to the famous Z9, but its form factor is much closer to the shape of the Nikon Z7 II, rather than the Z9. Will it be considered a good idea for your dental photography equipment?

What do we know so far?

  • Nikon Z8 will weigh under 1kg and measure 144x118x83mm (5.6×4.6×3.2in) and will have a 3.2-inch tilting LCD rear screen, and either a 3MP or 9MP electronic viewfinder
  • Nikon Z8 is rumored to feature a 45.7 megapixel stacked sensor, capable of 20 frames per second when shooting in RAW or 120 frames per second when shooting JPEG only, with a maximum shutter speed of 1/32000
  • Reportedly, it can record in 10-bit HEIF image files, HEIF images have a better compression algorithm than JPEGS
  • Its sensor is reportedly capable of ISO 64-25,600, although we suspect that this number will be a lot higher when you take into account manually increased speeds
  • Nikon Z8 looks set to include one CFExpress card slot and one regular SD slot.

The camera is already called a “mini Z9”, and the Z8 will also have a pro-level price, apparently costing around $5000/£4800. The Nikon Z8 should also be with us very soon, with Nikon reportedly gearing up for a big marketing campaign.

We’ll keep you posted on the subject and, as usual, we’ll check if the camera is suited for dental digital and intraoral photography!

Check out our Cameras Online Training!

Sigma and Tamron are knocking Sony and Nikon out of the top 3 in the lens market!

Sigma and Tamron are knocking Sony and Nikon out of the top 3 in the lens market!

If you’re looking for a dental photography lens to make your portrait and intraoral photos even better, it’s time to take some new players under consideration. Warning: you might be shocked!

For the longest time, Canon, Nikon and Sony were the kings of lenses and we, dental photographers, couldn’t imagine working in our dental offices without them. But things change! In the last few years Sigma and Tamron have not only released some seriously shout-worthy lenses, but they’re often a lot more affordable than first-party equivalents.

And while Canon stays on top of the sales rank, the second and third place are pretty surprising.

Have you seen our Online Course: Lenses?

From the latest Japanese data there is just 3.3% separating the top 5 market shareholders in the interchangeable lens market, with Canon in first place (17.1%), Sigma in second (16%), Tamron coming in third (15.1%) followed by Sony in fourth (14.2%) and finally Nikon in fifth (13.8%).

The results show that the interchangeable lens market is booming, that the popular manufacturers aren’t as powerful as they used to be and that a famous name doesn’t mean an obvious success.

And, what’s more, cameras with interchangeable lenses are gaining in popularity and this is living proof of the fact that smartphones aren’t enough. Especially in dental digital photography.

Check out what the Sigma’s CEO said about their new products!

Dental Photography Lens with best magnification ever?! Zuiko Digital ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO

Dental Photography Lens with best magnification ever?! Zuiko Digital ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO

Zuiko Digital ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO

If you’re using the Olympus system in your dental photography practice, this one’s for you!

The Micro 4/3 macro lens users finally can choose the long-focus lens.

The lens offers the highest ever magnification which will be helpful especially in intraoral photography. Shooting a single tooth won’t be an issue! What’s more, the lens allows creativity and it’s not so usual with other, regular macro lenses. We’re pretty sure you’ll be happy with it if macro photography is your hobby in general, apart from the dental photography industry.

The automatic stacking system lets the lens work smoothly with all the OM system cameras. Sharp pictures are guaranteed! The 2x macro combined with the Micro 4/3 gives the 4x magnification for the 35 mm format and when we’re talking stabilization, we mean perfection. You won’t need a tripod for intraoral photography and we know how big a difference it makes. Leaving a tripod at the dental office door means easier work and less inconveniences. 

Now, let’s move on to the technical data.

The 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO is an autofocus lens that delivers up to 2x macro (or 4x with a 2x teleconverter). Its stabilization system is compatible with the Sync IS system, allowing it to work in conjunction with in-body stabilization of Olympus/OM System cameras.

The lens is constructed from 18 elements, arranged in 13 groups. Its design has two focus groups that act in conjunction, allowing very close focus when the focus limit switch is in the ‘Macro’ position. The lens also has a focus ring that can be snapped back to reveal a focus distance scale and (on Olympus or OM System cameras) engage manual focus.

Of course, its macro possibilities are only one of many features and it will cope with a dental portrait and creating a dental portfolio as well. 

KEY FEATURES

  • High resolution macro lens
  • Exceptional Magnification–Delivers 4x equivalent shooting when paired with the MC-20 2x teleconverter
  • Autofocus without limits–High speed, high precision AF
  • High performance 5-axis image stabilization
  • Built to enable split-second macro shooting capabilities
  • IP534 splash proof and dustproof performance
  • Freezeproof down to 14°F
  • Fluorine coating
  • Weight: approx. 453 g5 (lens only)

The OM System 90mm F3.5 macro IS pro’s price tag is $1,499.99.

Check out our Online Training: Lenses course!

Canon confirms it once again: DSLRs aren’t dead!

Canon confirms it once again: DSLRs aren’t dead!

DSLRs are dead!

You may expect it year after year but hold your horses. If we weren’t sure until now, now we are, because Canon says it without any doubt: DLSRs are alive and they’re fine and you can work with them as a dental photographer. 

Canon still accounts for a third of the entire camera market, with as many as 1.8 million digital SLRs being sold last year! And of course, Canon sells more than anyone else.

Why would anyone think that this is the end of the DSLR era? Well, there were no new models shown during the last CP+ event. But there’s an easy explanation to that.

“CP+ is a place to present new products, and that’s why you won’t see many DSLRs this year. All companies are of course focusing on hybrids. But SLRs still represent 30% of global sales. That means there’s always demand for this range – and most DSLRs sold globally are made by Canon.

“There is also a high volume of lenses that are still intended for the DSLR ecosystem. We do not envisage a sudden end to SLRs, nor an instant switch to hybrids. Sure, there will likely be a gradual decline, but the demand is still there. – says Go Tokura, general manager of Canon’s Imaging Division.

Interestingly, as we can see, Canon distinguishes three camera types at the moment: mirrorless, hybrid and DSLRs. And the latter is still hanging in there.

Are you a DSLR or mirrorless fan in your dental office?

Check out our dental cameras online course!

If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in Mirrorless vs DSLR in Dental Photography Register Now and Watch for Free the First Episode.

Eye-controlled AF coming to more EOS R. But not so soon

Eye-controlled AF coming to more EOS R. But not so soon

It’s our mission as a camera manufacturer to figure out ways to make any camera system easier and more comfortable to operate. So, in terms of the eye control system, or eye-controlled focus, we intend to deploy this to various other models as well. At the same time, we’d like to improve the performance and usability. – says Canon management at the CP+ Expo in Japan.

This means we can expect the eye-controlled AF in the next EOS Rs!

For us, dental photographers, it can be a groundbreaking feature. Taking intraoral photos means adjusting the focus more and more precisely. To be honest, it takes years of practice to master such conditions. With the eye-controlled AF digital dental photography and intraoral photography will become easier and more approachable.

The feature is already available in the R3, but for a dental digital camera, it’s quite expensive. We’re really happy to hear that every dental photographer, regardless of their cameras’ price, will be able to use this feature.

We’re just hoping it will be possible sooner rather than later!

As usual, we’ll keep you posted. Stay with us for more dental photography news!

It’s official. The EOS R1 will be Canon’s “most premium model”

It’s official. The EOS R1 will be Canon’s “most premium model”

Canon has officially confirmed that the Canon EOS R1 is in development – and that it “will be our most premium model.”

As you may remember, the first rumors about the new model’s development were out in November 2021. Today Canon has confirmed, for the first time, that the model is actually in process!

The statement was made by Go Tokura, general manager of Canon’s Imaging Division, during an interview with Photo Trend.

If you look at our portfolio, obviously our highest-end case is the EOS R3. I think we can say that it is our flagship product. (…)

So, of course, the EOS R3 could already claim the flagship title, but there’s a reason we named it ‘3’… And you can expect there to be a ‘1’, which is currently being worked on and will be our most premium model. So that’s the kind of interpretation you can do (laughs). I had never mentioned it so clearly before, so that’s probably how you can interpret it!”

Just a quick reminder of what we should expect. Will it be suited for dental photography?

  • We’re pretty sure that EOS R1 will be similar to Sony A1 or Nikon Z9. What does it mean? We’ll expect a high resolution sensor, high processing power and impressive speed, allowing us to work in a dynamic environment. On the other hand, the cameras are more and more advanced, so we’d like to see a totally new feature in EOS R1. This can be the best chance to set the new development direction and make dental photography and photography in general more intuitive.
  • The camera is said to not have any one specialty but will rather excel at all specialties, much like what Canon’s 5D series of DSLRs aimed to do by being accessible enough for amateurs yet powerful enough for professionals.
  • The camera will undoubtedly boast more features than the 5D line to work for professionals in ways 5D cameras were never designed to.
  • Other features and specs being mentioned include 45+ or even 85+ megapixels, 40 fps burst mode, 9 megapixels electronic viewfinder and 10 bit touch screen. Our source mentions a 100 megapixels sensor, global shutter and putting emphasis on the 8K quality. And then there’s also the new, patented in 2019 Quad Pixel AF system that has been mentioned for a while now.
  • And a price somewhere north of the R3’s $5,999.

Will the EOS R1 meet the dental photographers’ expectations? That’s for sure! Moreover, its features can be ever too much. It looks like the new Canon will be suited for dental photography lovers with a large budget. They’ll have to keep in mind the camera’s heavy weight, though.

When can we expect the Canon’s top model? All signs point to an early 2024 announcement, with a launch in time for the 2024 Olympic Games. More details should emerge into the light pretty soon and we’ll keep you posted!

The Canon Speedlite EL-5 release date postponed due to production issues

The Canon Speedlite EL-5 release date postponed due to production issues

Canon’s new speedlite – awaited also by dental photographers – has some problems on its way

Canon’ statement says: Regarding the “Speedlite EL-2022”, which was announced on November 11, 2 and scheduled to be released in March 2023, due to production reasons, we have decided to postpone the release to around the summer of 2023 because we cannot prepare a sufficient supply for the release.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. 

(Before change) Scheduled to be released in March 2023

(After change) Scheduled to be released around summer 2023

The Speedlite EL-5 is to be Canon’s first to take advantage of the multi-function hotshoe found on its latest EOS R series mirrorless cameras.
It seems to be a potential, new dental photography equipment to choose.

Canon Speedlite EL-5 Specs

  • 2.4 GHz Wireless Radio Transmission
  • Guide Number: 197′ at ISO 100 and 200mm
  • Runs on LP-EL Lithium-Ion Battery
  • Modeling Lamp; Multi-Function Shoe
  • Zoom Range: 24-200mm (14mm with Panel)
  • Recycle Time: 0.1-1.2 Seconds
  • Extended Control from 1/1 to 1/1024
  • Joystick, Dial, and High-Definition LCD
  • Remote Control with Camera Connect App
  • Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • It will cost $399

Check out our online Dental Photography Flashes course!

Canon EOS R50: Compact, light and accessible for dental photographers?

Canon EOS R50: Compact, light and accessible for dental photographers?

Canon EOS R50: Small and Cheap. What else?

Dental photographers can choose a new addition from the Canon’s family! Will one of the smallest and cheapest cameras be enough for a dental photographer?

The EOS R50 effectively replaces the EOS M50 II and marks the transition of the series to RF. The camera is said to replace the M50 Mark II, due to the use of the company’s now-standard RF mount lenses.

The camera has a 24.2MP APS-C sensor, advanced subject detection technology known from the Canon R6 Mark II and the new Canon R8, and uses the company’s newer DIGIC X processor. There’s no in-body image stabilization in the R50, but thanks to its light weight keeping the balance shouldn’t be an issue.

Impressive burst shooting 

The R50 is surprisingly adept at burst shooting for such a small camera!Itcan grab clips at up to 12 frames per second using its electronic/mechanical shutter mode, or 15 frames per second in fully electronic mode (with the risk of moving subjects appearing distorted if there’s too much lateral movement).

Battery

The EOS R50 uses the same LP-E17 battery as Canon’s other small ILCs. It’s a 7.5Wh battery which isn’t a lot to power a mirrorless camera. It’ll do well for snapping occasional photos as you go about your day, but if you devote any length of time to photos, always keep a spare battery while shooting your patient in a dental office with you to avoid unpleasant surprises. There’s nothing more stressful than your battery with your patient waiting on the chair!

Wi-Fi

Canon has also gone a long way to make connecting a camera to a phone or laptop as simple as possible, with several different methods of wirelessly transferring files.

Our verdict

Writing as a keen dental photographer, though, it’s hard to wholeheartedly recommend this camera. In my opinion, it can be the right choice for a beginner in the dental photography industry; due to its lightweight, you won’t be tired too quickly.

What about the lack of stabilization? Well, we’d recommend purchasing the right lens to ensure your intraoral photos will be spotless. Choosing the more expensive one will be smart, as you can always resell it and go to the next level.

You’ll need to keep in mind that changing settings – with no C1, C2 or C3 modes – will take more time than usual, and switching from portrait to intraoral photos is tricky and can cause a mistake. Searching for the right setting in the menu takes additional time and with your patient waiting it’s easy to choose the wrong option.

Definitely, this is a low-budget camera for beginners, so if you’re able to pay more, take the R10 or R8 under consideration.

If you’re a vlogger, this camera will be suited for you. Streaming your webinars online won’t be a problem!

EOS R50 Specs & Price:

  • OLED viewfinder with 2.36 million dots and a .96x magnification
  • LCD screen is a TFT color liquid crystal display with 1.62 million dots and is touch-control capable
  • electronic front curtain shutter and an electronic shutter (no full mechanical shutter in the R50)
  • JPEG and HEIF in addition to RAW and C-RAW recording
  • It can connect to smartphones wirelessly or via a USB cable for transmission. WiFi is the older 802.11b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.2 LE
  • single SD card slot
  • Lens Mount RF (natively supporting RF and RF-S lenses) EF and EF-S lenses can be attached using Mount Adapter EF-EOS R, EF-EOS R Control Ring Mount Adapter, Drop-in Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R EF-M lenses are not compatible
  • ISO Sensitivity Auto 100-32000 (in 1/3-stop or whole-stop increments) ISO can be expanded to H: 51200
  • Built-in Flash GN (ISO 100, meters) 6

The camera costs $680, or, the RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM and RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM lenses, is available for $1,029.

You’re a beginner in dental photography? No worries! Check out our online Dental Photography Fundamentals online course!

Dental Photography Equipment: Firmware v1.1.1 for the Canon EOS R6 Mark II is now available

Dental Photography Equipment: Firmware v1.1.1 for the Canon EOS R6 Mark II is now available

Hello, dental photographers and Canon users!

The manufacturer has just released new firmware for its Canon EOS R6 Mark II. The new firmware adds support for the Speedlight EL-5 and a few bug fixes.

Here are the available fixes and changes:

  • support for the Speedlite EL-5
  • shortened startup time when Bluetooth is enabled
  • fixed a bug that FTP/FTPS/FTTP transfer could not be performed in IPv6
  • fixed minor bugs

The firmware can be downloaded here.

Dental Photography Post Production: Digital Workflow

Dental Photography Post Production: Digital Workflow

Consistency is the key to success! Your post production is your signature.

What is a digital workflow in dental photography? We’re working with hundreds of photos everyday and proper documentation is the best way to keep them in order. We don’t even want to think what can happen with photos kept in a digital mess! But your order has also influenced your clinic-Lab communication: finding the right file will take a blink of an eye.

Do you need more advantages to get started? Let’s mention faster clinical protocols, lower cost materials for your clinic or repeatability of work (you can always re-print a model).

You’re not sure if you’re interested? These are some of the topics explored in this lesson:

  • Workflow: setting your camera and importing your photos to your computer
  • File transfer: types of ports, cables, cards. Transfer speeds according to USB connector type.
  • File Storage & Backup: Archiving your items, Backup devices, Tips: how to provide a solid backup of your files?
  • Organizing Images: Various ways of organizing your photos, according to date/event/type.

There are so many reasons to watch this lesson– whether you’re in it for outcomes, efficiency, patient experience, the planet, or increasing the value of your practice. Choose one of them and watch our course!

We’re pretty sure you would like to watch it now and don’t hesitate any longer!

Canon EOS R8 ready? New camera to come in February!

Canon EOS R8 ready? New camera to come in February!

It seems like Canon has big news to announce!

The long-rumored Canon EOS R8 should finally see its debut in February, along with the new Canon RF-S 11-22mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM, a reimagining of the EF-M version for the manufacturer’s latest mirrorless mount.

What will the R8 be like and will it be useful in dental intraoral photography? That’s yet to be determined, but as an “8” it should be placed between the EOS R7 and EOS R10.  It is expected to share the same 24-megapixel APS-C sensor as the R10.

Not much is yet known about other features that will separate the EOS R8 from the other models, but according to Canon Rumors it will use a brand new type of ‘flippy screen’. Now they’ve got us curious!

What’s more, the new Canon RF-S 11-22mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens is supposed to be coming in the first half of 2023. It would likely be an update of the existing Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens, which is a compact, wide-angle and versatile lens for Canon’s likely soon to be extinct EOS M camera range.

Not much is yet known about other EOS8’s features, but according to Canon Rumors it will use a brand new type of ‘flippy screen’.

The Canon EOS R8 is expected to be revealed at the CP+ show – the industry’s biggest camera and photography expo, taking place in Japan from February 23-26. We’ll keep you posted as usual!

The EOS R10 currently retails for just under $1,000 / £900 / AU$1,500 while the EOS R7 comes in at $1,500 / £1,350 / AU2,300. The EOS8 should be positioned between these two price tags.

 

Nikon D780 and its features for dental photographers

Nikon D780 and its features for dental photographers

The new DSLR from Nikon will be available by the end of January.

Nikon D780: Personalization possibilities

Nikon introduces a DSLR with features and benefits that were only available for its Z-Series before. It also inherits some features the company’s professional D5 and D810 models.

Therefore, Nikon is giving us a signal: the DSLR era is not over yet. Is it possible that mirrorless cameras, with all their possibilities, small sizes and capacities won’t take the market over? Time will show. At the moment, Nikon is saying: DSLR is still strong.

One of the most useful features in D780 is the possibility to personalize your camera. You can easily choose the U1 or U2 profile and set it up according to your needs. Each one can have its aperture and shutter settings – just to make working with the camera even more comfortable. This feature will be appreciated especially by dental photographers who are working with two permanent, best for their work camera settings: one for intraoral and one for portrait photographs. It is convenient to have them on a finger.

Nikon D780: Dental Photographers should be satisfied

What is more, the D780 offers a top (expanded) ISO of 204,800. This parameter can be crucial when it comes to portrait and intraoral photographs. Why? With ISO that high, photographs won’t lose their quality, with flash lamps working longer and faster. Moreover, in the opinion of many professional dental photographers it is better for patients not to be blinded by a strong flash. Lower ISO is, of course, also good to work with, but in dental photography one might consider the higher ISO level to keep things comfortable.

The camera has solid build quality and a tilting 3.2″ touchscreen display, USB Type C port (that can be used to charge the battery) and a pair of UHS-II SD card slots. Wireless options include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The D780 can take over 2200 photos on a single charge of its battery, which means 3 days of taking photographs without thinking about charging the battery.

 

Nikon D780’s key features:

  • full-frame CMOS sensor
  • Lens mount: Nikon F
  • Hybrid AF system automatically switches between focal-plane Phase-Detect AF and Contrast Detect AF
  • ISO 50 to ISO 51200 with improved noise reduction
  • 4K UHD video with up to 30 fps / Full-HD video with up to 120 fps
  • Shutter speed from 1/8000s to 900s
  • 12 fps continuous shooting in live view / 7 fps continuous shooting through the viewfinder
  • 3.2″ 2.35m-dot tilting touchscreen
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • Dual SD memory supporting UHS-II standard

What is the price of this novelty?

Nikon D780’s price starts at $2,299 (body only) at the official Nikon site and will be available on January 23rd.