This table shows the evolution of the Canon Digital Rebel models:

Live View continues to evolve and become more useful. Live View allows you to use the LCD screen as a viewfinder, although it is mainly designed for use in manual focus mode. With the addition of the articulating screen, Live View allows you to swivel the screen up or down and shoot at angles that would be almost impossible with the viewfinder.

Canon has upgraded autofocus capability while using Live View with three different autofocus options including a Face Detection autofocus mode. There may be uses for Live View outside the office, but we don't see it being used very often for clinical photography.


Macro Flash Options for the Canon Rebel T3
Sigma's EM-140DG macro flash is the first of three flash options for TTL flash control on the T3. The EM-140DG is a dual point flash that is compatible with the Canon ETTL flash control system. It is a more "universal" flash as it can take the full range of dental views.

The Canon MR-14EX macro flash is the second flash option. The MR-14EX's flash head is shaped like a ring flash, but it is actually "split" into two arced tubes. This gives you the even illumination of a ring, but still allows you to vary the power from side to side. This affords you more creative control over the lighting.

The third option is the Metz MS-1 wireless macro flash. The Metz MS-1 is a wireless macro flash and it requires the use of Canon's Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2. The ST-E2 is a small transmitter that sits on the camera's hot shoe and controls the flash output of the Metz MS-1. This combination is lighter than the other two flashes and there is no cable from the camera to the flash.


Macro Lens Options for the Canon Rebel T3
There are four lens options for the T3: the Tokina 100mm macro lens (18oz.), the Canon EF-S 60mm macro lens (11.5oz.), the Canon EF 100mm macro lens (20.5oz.) and the Canon EF 100mm L macro lens (22oz.). All four lenses offer very similar optical quality while the Canon EF 100mm L macro lens adds Canon's Image Stabilization (IS) system. The IS system makes focusing easier - a sophisticated system measures movement and counteracts the movement by shifting lens elements. If you are taking a mirror shot and you have the mirror in one hand and the camera in the other, you will be amazed how much more stable the image is in the viewfinder.

The Canon EF-S 60mm macro lens is recommended for orthodontic offices as most ortho practices take a specific series of photos: portraits along with anterior, buccal and occlusal intraoral views. The working distance (the distance from the lens to the subject being photographed) with the 60mm is less than the 100mm and 105mm lenses which makes taking ortho views easier.

For all other dental practices, a 100mm or 105mm macro lens is recommended to allow shooting smaller fields, especially in the posterior. These lenses have enough working distance to allow 1:1 closeup magnifications anywhere in the mouth. If you have any questions about which lens is best for your needs, please call us.