Is it time to say goodbye to your DSLR?



Are mirrorless cameras really the future of dental photography?



If your DSLR is still working perfectly, should you upgrade now or wait for the right time?



Jaz is joined by Dr. Ashish Soneji in this game-changing episode to discuss the death of the DSLR and why the shift to mirrorless cameras is inevitable.



They break down whether you should proactively switch or strategically hold off, plus what this means for your existing lenses.



You'll also learn the rules of mix and match—can you use your current DSLR lens on a mirrorless body? And most importantly, which mirrorless lenses are worth buying and which ones to avoid (hint: if they don’t have markings, you might be in trouble!).



If you care about consistent, high-quality dental photography, this episode is a must-listen!




https://youtu.be/Y29Mnz26ZIU
Watch PDP239 on Youtube



Protrusive Dental Pearl: Jaz introduces the 21-Day Photography Challenge for beginners, featuring 21 short videos to help dentists take clear, well-framed photos. In just three weeks, participants will master essential shots, including tricky occlusal views, at their own pace.



Need to Read it? Check out the Full Episode Transcript below!



Key Takeaways:




Investing in quality equipment pays off in the long run.



Mirrorless cameras offer significant advantages over DSLRs.



Lighting is crucial for capturing quality images.



Standardized images require barrel markings on lenses.



Second-hand DSLRs can be a cost-effective option for beginners.



The evolution of camera technology impacts photography practices.



Choosing the right lens is essential for dental photography.



Flash consistency is vital for accurate representation in images.



Upgrading to mirrorless is a smart move for future-proofing photography. Upgrading your camera setup should align with your clinical progression.



Mirrorless cameras are lighter and offer better image quality.



Consider the size and transportability of your camera kit.



Timing for upgrades can be linked to job changes or equipment failures.



Image quality is influenced by megapixels, especially for presentations and printing.



Using the right tools, like smaller mirrors and retractors, can improve photography outcomes.



Testing second-hand cameras before purchase is crucial to avoid issues.



Mobile photography is improving, but may not match the quality of dedicated cameras.



Investing in good photographic equipment is essential for quality results.




Highlights of this episode:




00:00 Teaser



00:47 Intro



01:41 Protrusive Dental Pearl



03:30 Ashish's Journey into Photography



09:06 The Shift from DSLR to Mirrorless Cameras



13:33 Choosing the Right Camera Setup



15:32 Upgrading to Mirrorless Cameras



19:22 Camera Recommendations for Beginners



27:23 Investing in Reliable Flash Equipment



32:20 Investing in Reliable Flash Equipment



33:48 When to Upgrade Your Camera Setup



38:08 Getting HQ Images: Mirrorless vs DSLR



42:03 Avoiding Newer Lenses



43:23 Posterior Quadrant Photography



47:50 Tips for Buying Second-Hand Cameras



49:54 Mobile Dental Photography: Are We There Yet?



53:20 Getting Your First Mirrorless Camera



55:40 Course Information



57:53 Outro




💡Catch Dr. Ashish Soneji’s upcoming course The Magic of Dental Photography this November 2025!



📅 Friday 14th November 2025 – Exclusively for BUPA dental care professionals at Bupa Head Office in Staines📅 Saturday 15th November 2025 – Open to all dental care professionals at the A-dec Showroom in Bracknell



You can head over to https://www.magicofdentistry.com/ and add yourself to the waitlist. Further details on how to book will be sent directly to your email.



Course overview:




Understanding an SLR camera it's features



Understanding a mirrorless camera and its features



Discussing the process of recording an image



Overview of SLR equipment available and custom set-up for dental photographs



Overview of mirrorless equipment available and custom set-up for dental photographs



Understanding how to record a standardised set of clinical photographic views and posterior quadrant photographs



Logistics of effective clinical photography workflow



Introduction into more advanced techniques



Introduction into recording portrait views



Case presentations



Hands-on implementation of the concepts discussed 




If you liked this episode, you will also love Basics of Dental Photography [B2B] – PDP087



#PDPMainEpisodes #PDPMainEpisodes 



This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. 



This episode meets GDC Outcomes B and C.



AGD Subject Code: 130 ELECTIVES (138 Dental photography)



Aim: To explore the transition from DSLR to mirrorless cameras in dental photography and highlight the advantages, optimal setups, and key considerations for upgrading.



Dentists will be able to:



1. Recognize the benefits of mirrorless cameras, including focus peaking, real-time adjustments, image stabilization, and high ISO performance.



2. Choose appropriate mirrorless cameras, lenses, and flash setups based on their clinical photography needs.



3. Assess whether transitioning from a DSLR to a mirrorless system is the right choice based on their current equipment and practice requirements.







Click below for full episode transcript:



Teaser: Is it RIP DSLR? It actually is because around sort of 2020, Nikon and Canon have pretty much stopped developing the cameras. There's many advantages of that, mainly from the fact that prices are coming down.



Teaser:And also from the fact that technologies moving forward, but also from the fact that you're not getting so much support from the suppliers. If you have problems or if your camera is going to break or issues like that, you're not going to get so much support.



Yeah posterior shots exactly. The point that I sort of made at the beginning is it's about the light, right? It's about getting that powerful exposure of light, which you're just not going to get with a camera and there's so much more better quality images. And even the way that you're holding your DSLR the mechanics of how you're holding that, you're going to a better frame shot, you're going to create better angles. So if I'm on to invest in the good clip--



Jaz's Introduction:I'm actually a little bit emotional, guys. It's the death of the DSLR camera. You'll find out in this episode why? The future, the now is mirrorless cameras. They are perfect for dentistry and they are the future. They're not going to make any more DSLRs in the future. But the million dollar question is if like me, you already have a decent camera.



It's a DSLR, the photos are fine, you have no issues with it, should you? Proactively or preemptively upgrade now to a mirrorless? Or is there perhaps a more strategic time to do that? What are the rules of mix and match? Can I use my existing lens on a mirrorless body?



And you'll also find out which mirrorless lens to buy and which ones to avoid because they don't have any markings, that they don't have any markings. How are you going to keep your photographs in consistent reproducible framing? We cover all that with our guest, Dr. Ashish Soneji.



Dental Pearl:Every PDP episode, I give you a Protrusive Dental Pearl, and this one is pretty special. This one's dedicated to anyone who's new to dental photography. Like you'll hear the importance of dental photography and you know why it's important. That's why you're listening to this episode. You just cannot develop as a clinician without a camera.



So dedicated to the absolute new beginner to photography I've created. The 21 day photography challenge. Just give me three weeks and I'll get you taking consistent, beautiful, nicely framed, nicely exposed photographs. It's like an online challenge if you like, right? 21 videos. Now they are short little videos that you can consume day by day, and like I said, within three weeks you'll be taking great photos, like you'll be proud of them as a beginner, including the dreaded occlusal photo.



The 21-day Photography Challenge starts with which kit to buy and then develops into all the different shots and all the different settings and why you do each setting. You can choose to do one video a day, or you can actually binge the whole series in true Netflix fashion. The choice is yours at the time of publishing this episode, it is now available on the Protrusive Guidance app.



You'll see it listed in the Jaz's Masterclasses section. And it's got all the cheat sheets you need as well. So if you're brand new to gender photography and you love our content, then do check it out. Now do I think you need a hands-on course? Ideally, right? So what my 21 day challenge does, it gets you started, it gets you to pick up the kit and start taking photos and start practicing those dreaded shots, but to go to the next level I would recommend an in-person hands-on course, which really does elevate you.



This could be from our guest Ashish today, or anyone local to you who takes good photos that you admire and is passionate about teaching dental photography. I know you're going to love Ashish. Let's check him out and I'll catch you in the outro. But remember, if you're interested in a 21 day challenge, check out the Protrusive Guidance app. Catch in a bit.



Main Episode:Dr. Ashish Soneji welcome to the Protrusive Dental Podcast, my friend. How are you doing?



[Ashish] Not too bad, man. Glad to be spending the time with you.



[Jaz] Dude, you've been in task with like a huge one, right? This is a huge one. Photography is like the most important, most foundational, most primitive thing in dentistry. I see I mean that in a good way not primitive as in like it's slow down,