If you’re into dental photography—whether capturing dental intraoral photography or perfecting your dental digital photography techniques—you know how critical good lighting is. But does investing in a high-end flash system like Canon’s always make sense? At $229 (compared to $1099 for the Canon Speedlite EL-1), the Godox V1 Flash offers a compelling and cost-effective alternative. Curious about Canon’s latest flash system? Check out our article about theirrumored hybrid Speedlite and its potential to revolutionize dental photography.
When it comes to professional dental photography, Canon flash systems are often considered the gold standard. However, their premium price can make them inaccessible for some users. The Godox V1 Flash provides comparable features—such as high-speed sync, excellent light quality, and advanced wireless connectivity—at a fraction of the cost.
Does this mean you’re sacrificing quality for affordability? Let’s explore.
At $229, the Godox V1 Flash is significantly more affordable than many Canon flashes. This makes it an excellent option for dental professionals seeking a cost-effective yet high-performing lighting solution.
The round flash head delivers soft, even light. Its ability to tilt, rotate, and zoom ensures flexibility for capturing professional-grade images, whether you’re photographing close-ups of dental work or portraits of patients. It’s also perfect for dual-flash setups with modifiers, ideal for advanced intraoral and portraiture work.
With 480 full-power flashes per charge, the Godox V1 ensures you can get through even the busiest day without worrying about running out of power. This reliability is especially valuable for lengthy dental photo sessions.
Consider these questions:
If your answer is “yes” to any of these, the Godox V1 Flash could be the ideal solution. Combining performance, flexibility, and affordability, it’s a fantastic choice for dental professionals and enthusiasts looking to elevate their dental photography results without overspending.
Want to master your flash system and take your dental photography to the next level? Start with our expert tutorials, including free guides and resources, to help you refine your skills.
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Canon’s journey with Speedlites has been exciting, but recently it hit a turning point with the discontinuation of the flagship Speedlite EL-1. This left a noticeable gap in their lineup, and while Profoto is often considered a top alternative for high-end lighting, many dental photographers still prefer to use Canon-branded gear to maintain full compatibility within their system.
There are rumors that Canon may soon announce a new Hybrid Speedlite, which could potentially take the position of the new flagship model. However, this information hasn’t been confirmed. If the rumors are true, this new Speedlite might include both traditional flash functionality and a video light, which would make it a versatile tool for both still photography and video documentation.
The addition of a video light is more than just a novelty. For dental photographers, this could offer significant benefits, especially when working in environments that require both still images and videos. Imagine shooting clinical photos and quickly transitioning to record video demonstrations using the same light source—no need to switch setups. This hybrid system would streamline workflows for those involved in intraoral photography and dental portfolio shoots.
One of the most anticipated features of this rumored Speedlite is the control over shallow depth of field (DOF), allowing dental professionals to create more artistic and dynamic images. The continuous lighting mode could be particularly useful for crafting soft, diffused backgrounds while keeping the subject, such as a dental restoration or smile design, in sharp focus. This combination of precise lighting and DOF control is invaluable for those aiming to elevate their dental photography into the realm of artistic presentation.
Canon hasn’t confirmed the specifics yet, but we’ve been told to expect new Speedlite features beyond the hybrid lighting. What exactly those features will be remains unclear. The official announcement could come as early as November, though delays in the EOS R era have been common, especially with products like Speedlites, which can take longer to reach the market.
It’s also worth noting that there has been a recall on the Speedlite EL-5, so it’s clear Canon is working to refine its lighting solutions. While there is no confirmed flagship model in the current lineup, we don’t expect Canon to leave this gap unfilled for long.
For now, dental photographers should keep an eye on the developments, as this new Hybrid Speedlite could represent a major leap forward for those who need to capture both photos and videos with professional lighting.
Check out Dental Photography Flashes Online Lesson!
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
Check out our online Dental Photography Flashes course!
New, affordable lens for intraoral and portrait photography? Check out our cameras online lesson and Macro Lens guide – it will help you with the right choice for your dental photography set! If you’re looking for a low budget APS-C mirrorless camera lens, this one can be one of your options: new Meike’s 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens.
The lens will be available in various mounts, including Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon EF-M and RF, and Micro Four Thirds.
Its price, $190, seems very reasonable as a dental photography accessory. The effective focal length depends on the mount, but on APS-C cameras, it will be roughly a 90mm equivalent macro lens, while on Micro Four Thirds, it’ll be a 120mm macro prime.
Looks like an affordable offer for dental photographers, always looking for the best macro shoots possible.
Meike’s 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Specs:
The lens is compatible with:
E mount : Sony E mount A7III A9 NEX 3 3N 5 NEX 5T NEX 5R NEX 6 7 A5000 A5100 A6000 A6100 A6300 A6500 .etc
X mount: Fuji X-Pro2 X-E3 X-T1 X-T2 X-T10 X-T20 X-A2 X-E2 X-E2s X-E1 X30 X70 X-M1 X-A1 XPro X-T5，etc DSLR Cameras
Z mount : Nikon Z Mount Cameras Z50, Z5, Z6, Z7 Z30 .etc Under APS-C Mode
EFM mount: Canon EFM-mount Cameras, such as: EOS M M2 M3 M5 .etc
RF mount: All Canon RF mount Cameras EOSR5 EOSR6 EOS-R EOS-RP .etc
M43 mount: For Olympus mirrorless camera E-P1 E-PL1 E-P2 E-PL2 E-P3 E-PL3 E-PL5 E-PM1 E-PM2 OM-D E-M5 E-P5 OM-D E-M1 OMD-EM10 and other Olympus Micro 4/3 cameras .etc
Panasonic Lumix G9 G1 G2 G3 G5 GF1 GF2 GF3 GF5 GF6 GF7 GH1 GH2 GH3 GH5 G6 GX1 GX7 GX8 GH4 GM1 GM5 -D E-M5 E-P5 OM-D E-M1 OMD-EM10 and other Panasonic Lumix Micro M4/3 MFT cameras .etc
Our review:
When it comes to practicality, please note that the shutter ring is placed on the front of the lens and it’s quite easy to change it accidentally while setting the focus. This is a thing to remember!
For the price, the lens’ work looks very decent. We need to lower our expectations, though. There’s no AF or any other automation, so setting the focus needs more focus 😉 Low budget comes with its price and that’s something to always keep in mind.
To sum up: please consider this device only if you’re not able to afford a better and more expensive one. Otherwise, don’t bother.
You’d like to customize your shutter sounds when working with a patient? The Nikon’s Z9 will give it to you!
Nikon shared the selectable shutter sound during a live stream that it published to YouTube which was spotted by Nikon Rumors. There will be three sounds available: the standard Z9 click, a more DSLR-like click, and finally a shutter sound that is more akin to what has been heard from a Nikon film camera. The shutter sound volume can be adjusted between one and five — one being quiet, and five being the loudest.
Will the patient appreciate the real sound during a shoot? We’ll see. Rumor has it Nikon will consider adding other sounds, including fun ones such as the cat’s meow. If that doesn’t make your patient laugh, we don’t know what else will!
How to describe it in one sentence? This is EOS R6 II tech in a smaller, compact body. But there’s more to know.
Canon says this full-frame mirrorless camera is for amateur photographers, but we’re always curious if the new “baby” can work in dental or intraoral photography. 24-megapixel sensor, Dual Pixel AF, the DIGIC X processor, AI-driven subject recognition – we know them already from EOS R6 II, but thanks to the lighter body the EOS R8’s price is much more friendly. And we must say, the sensor and processor are quite impressive for the price.
The camera weighs just over a pound (461 grams) with a battery, SD card, and no battery cap. It measures 5.22 x 3.39 x 2.76 inches (132.5 x 86.1 x 70.0 millimeters). There’s also a responsive and comfortable vari-angle touchscreen. The camera’s weight can be a big advantage for those of you who get easily tired with heavy dental cameras, we’re pretty sure female dental photographers will also appreciate this feature. On the other hand, heavy lenses and light bodies won’t provide proper balance, so, if you’re strong enough, we’d recommend choosing a more massive camera.
One SD card slot isn’t a huge issue, but something you’ll need to get used to. Changing the card won’t take long, after all!
The HDR feature is always important for dental photographers: it’s helpful when it comes to spot the details on a dental photo.
The control layout is simplified in this smaller body. You don’t get a joystick, there’s a simple D-pad rather than a rear wheel, and there are less buttons to customize. Some of the functions are harder to find, if you like to have them all at hand, take this under consideration
Dual Pixel CMOS II AF with tracking AF available for all modes will be useful while taking intraoral photos. But there’s more: Flexible AF can be paired with Eye Tracking and this feature is not to be underestimated when it comes to portrait shooting.
The camera uses a smaller battery which is also found on the Canon R50. Canon did not provide CIPA ratings for the battery in the R8, though in PetaPixel’s testing, the battery ran out before a full day of mixed video and still shooting.
Usual connection options are available: a multi-function shoe for compatibility with a range of accessories including external flash, 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 4.2, and MFI for direct connection with an Apple device, in addition to Android devices.
We’re not professional video makers, but let’s notice the possibility of recording 4K UHD at 60p for up to 30 minutes.
The camera doesn’t have in-body image stabilization (IBIS) which can cause a difficulty while macro shooting – a heavy 180 mm lens can upset the balance. If you’re taking photos under continuous light, the lack of IBIS can be even more noticeable.
Body alone, the R8 will cost $1,500. The kit with the R8 and 24-50mm are set to be priced at $1,700.
Check out our cameras online course!
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:
The firmware can be downloaded here.
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:
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!
Is Nikon dropping the DSLR in favor of the mirrorless sector?
The DSLR cameras have gained recognition around the world and among photographers in various industries. Dental photography included! Everyone knows some of the immortal models, like Nikon D750, working flawlessly for many, many years. Even though the camera itself was often passed from hand to hand.
Recent Nikon rumors made us think: will dental photographers be forced to change their habits and start using mirrorless cameras? Or is it only a premature panic?
Even though the company’s focusing on the mirrorless cameras, Nikon isn’t planning to exit the DSLR branch yet. “It is true that we are concentrating development resources on mirrorless cameras,” but “We have not decided to end or withdraw from development. to produce, sell, and support single-lens reflex cameras” says Mr. Tokunari, Nikon’s Senior Managing Exec Officer/CFO.
This confirms Nikon’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Tokusei Yoshiaki announcement at the financial results briefing for the April-June 2022 period: “Nikon will continue to operate the single-lens reflex camera business. We have not decided to withdraw from development.”
It looks like dental photographers can still use Nikon’s DLSRs and we shouldn’t be worried. Yet.
We’ll keep you posted as usual!
Don’t forget to watch our DSLR vs Mirrorless cameras online training with the first episode for FREE!
Venus Optics has just unveiled a new unique macro lens: the Laowa 24mm T14 2x PeriProbe. With the same features as the previous Laowa probe lens, it also provides a surprise: a 90-degree rotating periscope tip at the end!
Thanks to its long, narrow tube, the PeriProbe can reach deep inside tiny holes or can be helpful in dental intraoral photography. Its periscope can “dive” into the mouth with a 360-degree rotation while keeping the majority of the camera out of the way. Can you imagine that?
The PeriProbe lens comes with a 1/2-20-inch thread towards the end for attaching magic arms and extra lighting in order to illuminate tiny objects in the macro range.
The Venus Optics Laowa 24mm T14 2x PeriProbe lens is already available and it costs $2,299.
Is this the future of dental intraoral photography? It sure looks interesting, but will it be possible to use in our dental photography industry? As we all know, intraoral photography can be tricky with its narrow photo object!
In our opinion, the lens can be an interesting addition to your dental photography kit.
Looking for an honest online training? Check out our lessons about flashes in dental photography!
As we predict – thanks to many trade rumors – Canon is about to announce the Canon EOS R7 and Canon EOS R10, two mirrorless models with APS-C sensors.
But there’s more. Various sources say that these new models could be direct replacement for the Canon EOS 7D Mark II and Canon EOS 90D. That’s all according to news site CanonWatch, who think we could have an official announcement as soon as 24 May! The EOS R7 was thought to be a replacement for the Canon EOS 7D line, as Canon has been focusing on its EOS R line-up for some time, and a mirrorless version of the EOS 7D II could definitely attract dental photographers who want the reach of an APS-C sensor (and a more affordable body).
Will the new EOS R7 and EOS R10 be the right choice for dental photographers?
EOS R7: Specs
What do the rumors say? EOS R7’s technical specs include a 32.5-MP APS-C sensor with Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus, a 15-30fps continuous shooting speed, 4K video recording at 60/50fps (NTSC/PAL), 1080p recording at 120/100fps, and In-Body Image Stabilization.
We can be sure: such specs seem really enough for a dental photographer.
EOS R10: Is it happening at all?
We’re still not sure whether the EOS R10 is a real thing. None of these reports have been officially commented on by Canon itself.
But – if it is true – Canon Rumors has listed a few possible specs for the EOS R10, which if true, could make the EOS M camera line seem redundant. These include a 24.2MP sensor, 15-23fps (using the mechanical/electronic shutter), and 1x UHS-II SD card slot. These are more modest than the EOS R7, and suggest that the EOS R10 could be pitched as the entry-level RF Mount camera with an APS-C image sensor.
If CanonWatch has a good source, we only need to wait a few days and everything should be clear! Stay tuned, we’ll keep you posted.
And if you want to know more about the mirrorless cameras, feel free to register and watch our DSLR vs Mirrorless online course. It won’t cost you a thing!
What a news from Venus Optics! The Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO it launched last year for Nikon Z, Canon RF, Sony E, and Leica M mounts is being released for Leica L-Mount. This means we can purchase the Smallest 2x Macro for Any Full Frame Camera!
Please read more about the lens itself here!
Just a quick reminder: Venus Optics says that the lens can focus from infinity to 2x magnification and features a minimum focusing distance of 6.31-inches. At 2x magnification, small objects that are normally difficult to see are captured with considerable detail. Moreover, the lens is small and light which means that it is more flexible and easier to use in a variety of shooting situations. For us, dental photographers, this lens will be comfortable while shooting intraoral pictures, with high quality of details guaranteed.
The lens features three extra-low dispersion elements that eliminate color fringing at both in-focus and out-of-focus areas, which it claims allows the lens to render magnified photos with no chromatic aberration. The front element does not extend outwards when focus is changed which avoids collision with subjects and prevents dust from entering the lens.
The Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO is, according to Venus Optics, the smallest 2x macro lens available for full-frame cameras. It weighs 259 grams and is 3.18-inches long by 2.08-inches wide.
The new L-mount option for the Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO is available for $450.
DSD is a unique dental treatment planning tool that strengthens a dental provider’s diagnostic vision, enhances predictability, and improves communication between dental providers and their patients. A treatment plan is completely based on a thorough analysis of the patient’s dental and facial proportions.
In this online course our expert and new Giant Bartosz Cerkaski (the Vice President of Polish Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (PASE) and the founder of DSD Academy in Poland) will show you the Digital Smile Design Workflow, step by step. Bartosz Cerkaski has won The Best DSD Instructor Award in 2018.
We’ve prepared for you a series of lessons: professional and detailed. You can use your new knowledge in dentral intraoral photography and becoming a dental photography master.
You can choose the most important part for you or watch the whole lesson. Remember: your subscription gives you a 24/7 access to our online platform.
We can guarantee: you will benefit from it!
These are the lessons we’ve prepared for you:
We’ve just informed you about the new EOS R3, top new class camera, and now we can show you even more!
While Canon still has not revealed pricing or availability for the camera, it has published new information on how the camera can be expected to function. Moreover, the company published a set of images of the camera with and without RF lenses attached: what do you think about it?
But what is important to us? Of course, its features that can be useful in dental photography. Let’s take a look.
As for the EOS R3’s features, here is all we know:
Having said all this, Canon is still silent about the R3’s release date and/or price. We will keep you posted!
And if you’re looking for a professional, honest online dental photography course, you can’t miss our Studio Light in Dental Office lessons!
Well, that’s unexpected!
A Canon EOS R5 user has reported a replicable glitch that appears to be caused by using the camera’s in-body image stabilization which results in blurry photographs.
The problem occured while shooting in a mode where in-body image stabilization (IBIS) is set to “always on.” What happened?
Straight from the horse’s mouth: while shooting, the first picture produced in the sequence is significantly more blurry than any pictures thereafter. However, if the shutter continues to be half-pressed, while in single or continuous autofocus, photographs produced come out just fine.
This stands in the opposite of Canon’s introducing EOS R5 and R6 cameras as the “first Canon cameras with 5-axis in-body” IBIS, which can “deliver an industry-leading 8-stops of IS when the cameras are paired with certain lenses“.
Canon responded that its technical team is currently investigating the issue.
We’re waiting for the next steps of this issue and will keep you posted.
Check out more details on the R5 here!
Almost two years after the original announcement from Nikon, the day has come: D5 firmware version 1.4, D850 firmware version 1.20, and D500 firmware version 1.3 are all available now and enable use of CFexpress Type B memory cards as well as XQD cards in the Nikon DSLRs.
CFexpress in dental photography: advantages!
What should you expect? Rather than a speed boost, the main advantage here is compatibility, and, for example, if you own both a D500 and a Z6 II, you can now share memory cards between them.
Though the memory cards themselves are capable of faster read and write speeds, the internals of the DSLRs would need to be designed to take advantage of an additional lane of PCIe offered in CFe. XQD cards are also less common now and will eventually be phased out and replaced with CFe.
Photography Fundamentals: Camera – watch our online course!
The firmware also addresses other issues Nikon discovered with the three cameras: for example, the D5 shooters can now choose the band (2.4 or 5 GHz) for the host SSID when connecting to wireless networks via a WT-6 or Wt-5 wireless transmitter connected to the camera. Nikon also fixed an issue that prevented normal shutter release and caused an error to be displayed during a very specific set of circumstances.
CFexpress is a standard for removable media cards proposed by the CompactFlash Association (CFA). The standard uses PCIe 3.0 interface with 1 to 4 lanes where 1 GB/s data can be provided per lane.
Nikon Rumors is reporting that the company plans to release two new DSLRs in 2021 along with “several” F-mount lenses.
It looks like the company has to offer dental photographers a lot this year. After all, dental digital photography requires a good equipment!
What are the specific plans for 2021 that Nikon users will benefit?
We will keep you posted on any new releases perfect for dental and intraoral photography!
Check out our comparison in Dental Photography Course: DSLR vs Mirrorless!
Venus Optics has announced that the 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro lens, originally announced in 2018, is now available for Canon EF with a stepless aperture ring and finally on Pentax K.
The news comes months after giving the lens the Nikon Z and Canon RF’s mounts.
This announcement makes for two different versions of the optic available for Canon EF.
Laowa says that the 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO in Pentax-K mount is assembled with the automatic aperture coupling lever, which allows aperture control via the body of the camera. You can either use the manual aperture ring or park the focusing ring at the “A” symbol and adjust the aperture via the camera. Exif data would be stored in the metadata as well.
Venus Optics had previously launched an EF version of the lens with automatic aperture control via the camera, but this iteration brings a stepless aperture ring for users. “Stepless aperture control is one of the most advantageous and essential features for videography. It allows a smooth transition between each aperture level,” Venus writes in the press release.
New! Studio Light in Dental Office Lessons!
The Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro is available for $449 in some iteration on seven mounts.
Sample images:
Nikon has confirmed that stocks of the new camera have arrived and that it is ready for despatch! This means you can purchase your brand new Nikon now. Nikon USA informed customers that the Nikon Z6 II will be shipping, as well as Amazon in UK.
And if you haven’t place your order yet, maybe it’s time to do so now: the Z6 II is one of the bodies on offer in the early Nikon Black Friday deals in the US, where the Nikon Z6 II and FTZ adapter are already reduced by $200.
And what is the Z6 II? Basically, the new cameras are very similar to the old ones. Apart from some important features like dual card slots, 4K/60p video capture, and improved autofocus performance, we get the same product as two years ago. But it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. This results in a number of performance improvements, notably in its continuous shooting speed. The Z6 II can shoot up to 14fps (up from 12fps), which it can maintain for 124 12-bit RAW files or 200 JPEGs.
Check out our new online lessons: Studio Light in Dental Office!
There is no update on when the Nikon Z7 II will start shipping, but stay tuned!