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.
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.
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!
Nikon’s Full-Frame Flagship Camera with New Features
Nikon has officially announced the development of the Z9.
The new Z9 will:
use a newly developed stacked CMOS sensor and processing engine
support 8K video
have various other, new video specifications
The image accompanying the announcement shows a camera larger than the Z6/Z7 II, with what appears to be an integrated vertical grip.
The company is saying that it promises the Z9 will bring together Nikon’s set of “groundbreaking technologies” to deliver “the best still and video performance in Nikon history“.
“The Z9 embodies ultimate usability as a tool,” Nikon writes. “Offering users an unprecedented imaging experience from capture to workflow exceeding that of previous digital-SLR and mirrorless cameras.”
The rumor also stated that the camera was tested with a range of different megapixel sensors from 45-megapixels to a 60-megapixel version. Other features rumored include 20 frames per second through a blackout-free EVF (like the Sony Alpha 1 and Alpha 9 series), a 16-bit RAW option, a new user interface, and improved noise levels and better dynamic range.
Nikon Rumors claims the camera is expected to be released in the fall of 2021. Its price is rumoured to be something around $6,000 – $7,000.
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.
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: What Is It?
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 to Release Two New DSLRs and Several F-Mount Lenses in 2021
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?
Nikon is still focused on the development of DSLRs, as the company is not quite ready to give up on the F-mount. But the majority of research and development funds are still focused on mirrorless.
The Z 7II started shipping in December 2020. The second shipment to dealers will be in the middle of January
There are two new DSLR bodies to be released in 2021.
DSLR bodies are still outselling the Z-mount Mirrorless bodies but they expect within 60 days that mirrorless will outsell F-mount.
There are 8 new Z mount lens released by 12/31/2021. The total will be 24 Z mount lenses.
Confirmed: Nikon to release several new F mount lenses in 2021.
Two new macro lenses: 60mm and 105mm.
The new Webcam Utility is free and is an excellent AP. Easy to use for connecting families digitally.
The Z mount bodies will continue to receive firmware updates and the plan is to implement significant upgrades, not just minor fixes.
We will keep you posted on any new releases perfect for dental and intraoral photography!
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.
The Nikon D850 just received a $500 price cut: its price is just $2,500! This makes it more affordable than it’s ever been since it was released in 2017. This is an incredible offer for the full-frame DSLRs lovers.
We bet you’re happy now, as the D850 is one of the most popular cameras in dental photography. If you’ve been thinking about purchasing it – it looks like now is the best time!
The price drop, originally spotted by Nikon Rumors. If you don’t need szybkiego video autofocus, and you’ve not been wooed by the latest and greatest mirrorless options, this is a deal you’ll want to look at very closely.
According to NR, the price cut comes a sale before the new release, as there is a follow-up to the D850 coming in “early 2021.” That camera could be one of Nikon’s last full-frame DSLRs before shifting all of its attention to the mirrorless Z-series.
If you’re thinking about purchasing the Nikon Z 5 there’s a good idea for you! Nikon has reintroduced its Yellow Program, which allows US-based consumers to order the Z5 and, if not satisfied before a month is out, return the camera for their money back.
As Nikon announces:
“We’re so sure you’ll be thrilled with the performance you’ll get with your new full frame mirrorless Z 5 camera that we’ll let you try one at home for 30 days. If you aren’t totally impressed with the Z 5 (we’d be surprised), send it back to us for a full refund.”
The return offer even includes a prepaid shipping label, so this trial is100% free.
If you do decide to check the Nikon Yellow Program, note that your Z 5 will be inspected if returned (it must be sent back in “like-new condition”). Also note that all Nikon Yellow customers will need to pay in advance.
You can choose from these three options, and you can also grab the FTZ adapter for a few extra dollars.
The Nikon Z 5 body only (for $1399.95 USD)
The Nikon Z 5 with a 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens (for $2,199.95 USD)
The Nikon Z 5 with a 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens (for $1699.95 USD)
Make a decision soon: the offer ends on November 30th.
Do you like this idea? We think it’s a really honest way to test a camera – which is not the smallest expense, let’s face it. Any producers dare to follow Nikon?
Nikon has officially unveiled the new and improved Nikon Z6 II and Nikon Z7 II full-frame mirrorless cameras! And, 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.
Compare Nikon Z6, and Nikon Z7 with Nikon Z6II, and Nikon Z7II versions side-by-side and you might not see a difference:
Nikon has said before that the most important thing in its newest products is taking users’ opinions under consideration. Therefore, the new “Zs” are improved versions of their older brothers, and this seems fine and fair. You can see it yourself: the new bodies are almost identical to the older ones, apart from a slightly changed grip. No reason to cry here!
But if you’re looking for novelties, both cameras have been updated with Dual EXPEED 6 image processors, which enables to capture 4K/60p video (coming to the Z6 II via firmware in February 2021), ups the continuous shooting speed to 14fps (Z6 II) and 10fps (Z7 II), increases the size of the buffer, and promises improved autofocus performance, including expanded eye-detect and animal-detect (which now work in Wide-Area AF (L)) and better low-light autofocus.
Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II Price
The Nikon Z6 II and Nikon Z7 II are both expected to start shipping before the end of the year. The Z6 II will be available in November for $2,000 body-only or $2,600 in a kit with the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens; while the Z7 II will be available one month later, in December, for $3,000 body-only or $3,600 in a kit with the aforementioned 24-70. The MB-N11 battery grip will be available in November for $400.
Nikon is consistent with its Z series: any new version looks almost the same and that makes working with it comfortable for us, used to the Z’s interface users. And we really do like the Nikon’s strategy based on creating low-budget models with the best available quality.
The first set of rumored specs of the Nikon Z9 has leaked! The flagship-level full-frame mirrorless camera will allegedly feature a 45MP sensor, 20fps continuous shooting, 8K video capability and more.
The specs were published by Nikon Rumors. The so-called – we’re still not sure whether this name will stay – “Nikon Z9” will be something of a mix of a Nikon D6 style body (possibly with a built-in grip), Canon EOS R5-level imaging capabilities, and Sony a9II-level autofocus.
The release of the Z9 will be in Fall 2021 and its price is rumoured to be something around $6,000 – $7,000.
But there are more details already. The camera will reportedly feature a 46MP sensor, a brand new EXPEED processor that are capable of shooting up to 20fps at full speed and capturing 8K/30p video, an improved AF with object detection, a high-res blackout-free EVF, dual XQD/CFExpress card slots, Gigabit LAN, and a “new user interface,” although there are no further details shared on that last point.
One year before the release we can’t be sure of anything and things may change, of course. But with these specs it’s clear that Nikon wants to create an epic camera for professionals.
Disappointingly, though, the rumored ISO range is no better than that of the Nikon Z7. While ISO64-25,600, expandable to 51,200-102,400, is still very capable, it’s below par for a professional camera primarily used by working sports, wildlife and news photographers. The D6, for example, has a sensitivity range of ISO100-102,400, famously expandable to ISO3.28 million.
No doubt Nikon is aiming for prototypes of the Z9 to be ready for testing at the 2021 Olympics (as Canon is planning for the rumored Canon EOS R1), with availability by the end of 2021. Here are the full leaked specs, courtesy of Nikon Rumors:
NIKON Z9 Specs
to be expected in the fall of 2021
• No official plans for Nikon Z8
• Prototype Z9 cameras may be tested at the Tokyo Olympics next year
• A D6 body combined with Canon EOS R5 imaging, α9II AF, and blackout-free EVF
• 46MP sensor
• 20 fps
• 8k30p, 4k120/60/30p
• New EXPEED processor designed for 8k
• Improved AF (Object detection AF)
• Two XQD/CFX type B memory card slots
• ISO 64 – 25,600, Hi1, Hi2
• High resolution, blackout-free EVF
• New user interface (no second LCD screen on the back like he D6)
• New battery: Nikon EN-EL18x
• Gbit LAN, USB-C, WiFi, GPS
• Price: $6,000 – $7,000
Nikon has officially confirmed the existence of the long-rumored full-frame mirrorless Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II in a countdown page on its website. The official release time is October 14th at 12:00am ET! Nikon calls this event “The Next Chapter”.
What will they be? According to their latest report, these will be “incremental updates” with the same image sensors, same overall body shape, and the same resolution EVFs as the current Nikon Z6 and Nikon Z7.
As far as we know today, the Z6 II and Z7 II will have:
Dual Card Slots (one CFexpress and one SD)
Improved AF for face, eye and animal detection
Dual EXPEED processors
A faster max frame rate
A larger buffer
4K/60p video capability
The ability to take a proper battery grip with buttons for vertical shooting
We will keep the lights on and inform you about every new detail of the new Z6 and Z7 models.
Nikon has just registered a new camera overseas that could be the Nikon Z7S or Nikon Z6S, the refreshed versions of the existing Z7 and Z6 cameras. The new camera has some upgrades, including dual memory card slots, dual processors and 4K 60p video.
Rumors about the Nikon Z7S and Nikon Z6S are dating back to early July, when we first learned about the Nikon Z5.
And now, just a few days ago, the Japanese super sleuth Nokishita spotted an FCC certification for an unreleased Nikon camera with the product number N1932.
The tweet says: “Nikon’s unpublished digital camera “N1932” has passed FCC certification. Equipped with Wi-Fi (11a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 4.2. If the orientation of the antenna is the same as Z7 etc., the width of the main body is around 140.6 mm, the height is 68.5 mm or more (EVF part etc. are not included), the thickness is 36.6 mm or more (grip part and lens part etc. are included).”
Those dimensions are similar to those of the Z6 and Z7. Does it mean that we will be getting a Z7s pretty soon? Time will tell.
After presenting its first full-frame mirrorless cameras, Z6 and Z7, Nikon is announcing their cheaper sibling: the Z5.
It is quite similar to the Z6, but also has some differences. There’s no status screen, there’s more plastic used in the build, and the sensor isn’t backside-illuminated. But elements like the 3.69 million-dot OLED viewfinder, the 3.2-inch touchscreen, the Expeed 6 processor, and in-body image stabilization are all present.
The Z5 also has one new feature which will help all of us: dual SD (UHS-II) card slots. You can either record to both to have one of the cards serve as a backup (in case the other fails), have RAW and JPEG captured separately to the two cards, or have double capacity by having one card serve as overflow. Finally!
Nikon says the Z5 will be available in August for $1,399.95 body-only, which makes it $600 cheaper than the Z6. There’s a $1,699.95 kit with the new 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens and a $2,199.95 option with the 24-200mm f/4-6.3 lens.
Z5 in Dental Photography
We can’t resist the impression that the Z5 is aimed more at stills photographers, who will mainly use the EVF to frame shots. While it is not suited for vlogging, it seems perfect for shooting pro portraits! We must also value the eye AF not only for animals (we don’t shoot them too often), but also for human.
Will this price be true? And will the Z5 features be appropriate for our work?
We will find out in August, and you can be sure we will inform you up do date.
Venus Optics has just announced that its lens will be available for mirrorless!
Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO lens is one of the most popular and, at the same time, one of the best and most affordable macro lenses on the market.
And guess what: it is now available for Nikon’s Z and Canon’s EOS R full-frame mirrorless cameras!
The 2x Ultra Macro was recently named the “Best DSLR Macro Lens” at the TIPA awards, and that only confirms its value. It’s no longer limited for Sony mirrorless shooters; Canon RF and Nikon Z owners can take advantage as well.
We really like announcing this kind of news for dental photographers: the more good equipment, the better.
The Technical Image Press Association has announced the winners of the 2020 TIPA World Awards. The competition honors each year the best cameras, lenses, and other products that have made an impact on the photography industry.
The winners in each of the 40 categories were voted on by representatives from TIPA member industry magazines from around the world. The votes were collected by an online system due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
TIPA Awards 2020
We’ve chosen for you the best equipment for Dental Photography. If you’re shopping right now, this recommendation is worth to take under consideration.
Canon EOS R5 delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic
Canon Rumors reports that Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 are currently “both running at less than 1/4 of Canon’s manufacturing capacity.” Due to the Coronavirus Canon closed down some of its factories, so the previously planned production is unreachable.
The camera was supposed to make its public debut at this year’s The Photography Show in Birmingham. The show however has been postponed for September, so this is not possible.
What are the options for Canon? It is rumoured that the company takes two of them under consideration. The first is to launch the cameras as planned in June and July, but in limited quantities. Another option is to postpone the launch until fall, most likely October 2020, and release both cameras in sufficient quantity to meet the customers’ demand.
But this is not the only problem that Canon is facing at the moment.
Canon closes repair centres in the USA
Only a few days after the Nikon’s announcement about the repair suspension, Canon follows the competitor’s steps. The official statement says about shutting down its service centres in New Jersey, California, Illinois and Hawaii “until further notice.”
“Due to the ‘stay at home’ directives from authorities in California, New Jersey, Illinois, and Hawaii, as well as local ‘Shelter in Place’ orders, our Canon service facilities in those states are temporarily closed until further notice,” reads the announcement. “Products needing repair can be directed to our Factory Service Center in Newport News, Virginia.”
Walk-in service is not available, even at the Virginia location, so if you need to set up a repair, you should do so online using the button “Request Product Repair”.
“Again, we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state authorities,” says Canon. “The health and well-being of our customers, clients, and employees remain our top priority during this difficult time.”
Nikon USA has suspended repairs at its service facilities and is no longer accepting equipment, due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
For those that have already sent cameras or lenses to Nikon USA for servicing or repair, it is unclear how long it will be before the suspension is lifted or when your kit may be returned to you.
Please read the official statement (shared by Nikon Rumors) from Nikon president and CEO, Bo Kajiwara:
Dear Valued Customers, Partners, and Friends,
We are all experiencing unprecedented circumstances around the world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the virus. Nikon’s top priority is the health and safety of our customers, employees and the communities we serve.
I am proud of the dedication of our Nikon team who are working remotely, and remain focused on providing the highest level of support possible at this difficult time. We are closely monitoring the situation and following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and federal/state/local health authorities.
Nikon Inc. has taken steps to ensure the safety of its employees by instituting office closings and remote work strategies in line with state and federal government mandates. These include the temporary closure of our repair service centers to prioritize the safety of our workforce and help limit the spread of the virus.
For information about our repair service center change or to get in touch with a remote support representative, please visit: https://nikonusa.com/support
In the interim, Nikon online resources for education are available on the Nikonusa website: https://www.nikonusa.com/learnandexplore.
We encourage everyone to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and to support their communities during this difficult time. We look forward to overcoming this global issue with great resolve and unity.
Nikon takes care of the mirrorless full-frame cameras users!
After last year’s patch with Eye AF for the Z6 and Z7 bodies, the newest Firmware 3.0 update provides us with ProGrade and Lexar CFexpress (type B) cards support.
Butthe biggest change regarding this patch is the one about the AF mode, which was a bit defective.
What’s new? Switching the autofocus modes is much easier now, as it can be done with F1 and F2 buttons on a body or lens tube (if you’re using a compatible lens with the Z mount). This means that the focus tracking operation in AF-C mode is improved and similar to the 3D tracking we know from Nikon’s DSLRs. It can be easily toggled on and off by simply pressing the shutter-release button halfway or holding down the AF-ON button while shooting stills in AF-C mode.
Release either button and the focus point returns to its previous setting. Moreover, switching from the AF screen with Auto-Area mode to subject tracking can be assigned to an Fn button. This is a step towards personalization.
Other corrections have been made in areas like the viewfinder brightness, the iOS Bluetooth connection and the rare phenomenon with horizontal lines on some photos.
The D750 was one of the most popular DSLRs and we are not surprised by it. But now, with the D780 already available, it is time to ask yourself: should I change my oldie?
Improved Autofocus in D780
Maybe it is not the key feature and not everyone likes using it, but if you do, you will see the difference.
In conventional DSLR mode, the D780 uses the same 51-point AF module as its predecessor but the AF system is informed by information from a 180,000-pixel metering sensor (the D750 has a 91,000-pixel sensor). This is only the first part of the improvement. The D780 received algorithms from those of the D5 professional sports camera, so its AF performance should be outstanding.
Moreover, the D780 has on-sensor phase detection, which provides the kind of distance information needed to quickly drive DSLR lenses. It also gains the AF tracking system from the Z-series cameras, including Face and Eye detection modes.
This detection will be a visible improvement for portraits, which seems really useful in everyday dental photography.
Sensor and JPEG engine
In dental photography, we are using mainly RAWs, but every once in a while there is no time for the postproduction and JPEGs are can be a salvation.
The sensor in the D780 is a newer design, either identical or closely related to the one in Nikon’s existing Z6 mirrorless camera. This means it has a BSI (backside-illuminated) design and, more significantly, dual-gain architecture.
This allows the camera to have a maximum dynamic range at base ISO with improved noise characteristics and better flashlight battery performance. What is more, these features will let the flashlight to work faster for portrait and intraoral photographs, when we are using the maximum aperture and we need more light.
We would expect the D780 to produce JPEGs with better sharpening, more pleasing colour and more sophisticated noise reduction compared to those from the D750.
The D780 should also offer a slight upgrade over the D750 for Raw shooters, but it won’t be crucial when deciding whether to upgrade.
The mirrorless AF in a DSLR
The D780’s live view interface is directly borrowed from the Z-series cameras. It will work slightly differently than the through-the-viewfinder system: AF tracking needs to be actively cancelled and always resets to the central position.
But if you’ve only shot with a DSLR before, you’re likely to be immediately impressed by how well the live view AF performs. Particularly for taking pictures of people, and we always pay special attention to these features in Dental Photo Master.
It looks like the D780 tries to combine the DSLR and mirrorless best features at the same time.
Build and Design
The Nikon D750 and D780 are largely similar in design, but there are a few changes you may want to be aware of. Here’s a comparison of the cameras’ rear layouts:
The biggest change is that the D780 adds a dedicated AF-On button, so you no longer need to assign the AE-L/AF-L button in order to enable back-button focusing. Other, smaller changes include shuffling the live view button up to the top, moving around the and info buttons, and moving the AE-L/AF-L button down a bit. Also, the negative magnification button which once doubled as an ISO control is now doubling as a metering control instead.
In the top view, the changes are minor. The only important change is that the metering button on the top has been replaced with an ISO button (a welcome change, in my opinion), and then shifted to the right.
Summary
The D780 shoot at 7fps rather than the D750’s 6.5fps
Switch to live view and electronic shutter mode and the D780 will deliver 8fps or 12fps if you’re willing to take the slight dynamic range penalty of dropping to 12-bit mode.
The optical viewfinders are the same: pentaprisms with 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification.
The D780 still has an in-body (screw drive) focus motor and AI tab, to allow its use with a broad range of older F-mount lenses. The D750 had both features, but notably, the FTZ mount adapter for the Z-mount cameras doesn’t.
The D780’s rear screen still tilts up and down on a rugged-feeling cradle as the D750’s did, but the dot-count has doubled and it’s now touch-sensitive, making the camera much more usable in live view mode. This seems more like a mirrorless lovers thing, but it is a good way to check what is the best way for you.
The video mode is one of the least important in our work, but it is worth to point that one of the clearest enhancements on the D780 is its video performance. This is immediately apparent from the fact it can shoot up to 4K/30p or 1080/120p, rather than the 1080/60p of the D750.
The most immediately apparent difference is the lack of internal flash. Nikon says the camera can be better weather-sealed if you don’t include a pop-up flash, but any dental photographer looking to use the D780 must be aware of the additional cost, as he will be forced to buy an additional transmitter.
The D780 uses the latest EN-EL15b battery. It looks like a slightly more angular version of the existing EN-EL15 batteries, the distinction being that the ‘b’ variant can be charged over the camera’s USB socket. The D780 can still use the older 15a and 15 batteries but without USB charging, and with significantly reduced battery life if used with the original EN-EL15 batteries not marked Li-Ion20.
Should I buy a D780?
If you are still a DSLR person, but thinking about changing it to a mirrorless camera in the future, the D780 is a good first step to take. Thanks to these features you can check how does the viewfinder less work looks like and if it satisfies you.
Working with a viewfinder and using the manual AF while taking the intraoral photographies is more precise. On the other hand, it requires a bigger physical exercise, so maybe it is worth to give a live view a chance and spare our spine? The D780 offers two possibilities: live view with a better AF straight from the mirrorless and a viewfinder taken from the DSLR.
But if you are a mirrorless fan and you can’t imagine working with a viewfinder, you should not take this even under consideration and go straight towards a cheaper mirrorless.
What should be the reasons to buy the D780? If you have a significant investment in F-mount lenses, your style of shooting demands an optical viewfinder, or simply if you prefer using an optical viewfinder, it might be a good choice.
Our Recommendation
As most of these comparisons, the choice between the Nikon D750 and D780 is all about price.
Personally, I still consider the D750 to be one of the best values in Nikon’s lineup, especially used, for dental photographers on a budget. The other benefits of the D780 are still quite good, and they may be enough to put the camera over the line for you. If your budget is limited, for a price difference of $800, I’d rather buy the D750 and a good lens.
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.
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