3– Settings for Dentistry– Quick reference

 

Portrait

Set aperture to f5.6

Autofocus if you want- focus on the eyes

~All other settings like below

 

Intraoral

Set command dial to manual (M), (Aperture Priority works too except for with the Rebel)

*Set aperture to f32

*Use Manual Focus (and set distance scale window to predetermined magnification)

Set Shutter speed to 1/125– Don’t need to set if using aperture priority

Set ISO 100 or 200

Set Flash to TTL

Set white balance to flash (lightning bolt)

 

If something looks wrong then also:

Make sure the meter is set to matrix(Nikon) or evaluative (Canon)

        -the point here is that your meter considers most or all of the view

        -if your photos are too bright or dark then you may be metering a small area

Make sure your exposure compensation is set to 0 (no compensation)

        -if you notice your photos are coming out too bright or dark, this may be off

Make sure you are on single, not multiple shot mode to avoid extra photos that are black

        -this is a sport mode which fires rapidly and the flash can’t keep up

 

*Only settings different for Portrait

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The above settings are achieved differently on each camera. Just glance through your users guide and familiarize yourself with how to make these adjustments on your camera. Some of the settings will never need to be changed, but are included in case you find that something is wrong and your photos are being exposed poorly. The concepts behind these settings are found in the first lesson, ‘The Basic Principles’. Below are just a couple examples notes that may be helpful.

Distance Scale Window

 

Distance Scale window for consistent magnification

         By using the distance scale window you can keep your photos magnified consistently

By framing a model cast from different views, focusing each view, and writing down the value in the distance scale window on a 3.5x5 card, you can use those values to keep your images consistent for future shots

         The distance scale window will give you the magnification in feet, meters, and also as a          ratio

You can choose which of these values you want to consider

This is what people are referring to in dental videos or photo lectures when they say ‘this was shot at 1 to 2 (1:2)

I prefer to use the meter line and find that most of my buccal and frontal shots work at          0.45 m

Use the values you choose for all photos of a certain view by setting the distance scale window, leaving your camera on manual focus, moving your camera into focus, then firing

Mode Dial

 

-Although this is Nikon, it is not very different in most cameras

-MASP are the modes that put more control in your hands, with M(manual) giving you the most control

 

M– manual– you can choose everything (shutter speed, aperture, white balance, ISO, flash, focus)

A– aperture priority– Like M but you choose aperture and camera chooses shutter speed

S– shutter priority– You choose shutter speed and camera chooses aperture

P– program– Camera choose both shutter speed and aperture, you choose ISO, WB, flash, focus

 

The rest of the options around the dial can also be useful and are pre-set for certain circumstances such as sports or portraits. These settings are designed to make it easier for people who may not have time or know how achieve results in certain settings. Your manual will be most helpful for these.