Designed for dentistry, this ultra-lightweight dental digital camera is so easy to use that anyone can take high-quality images.
"Cameraphobia” may not be an actual word, but the feelings it evokes are all too real, especially when detailed images are needed for dental treatment. Taking a photo means hauling out that heavy camera, finding an assistant to help, navigating complicated camera functions, and hoping the images will be up to par. Shofu’s EyeSpecial C-II, an ultra-lightweight, intuitively designed digital camera made exclusively for dentistry, will eliminate all symptoms of “cameraphobia.”
“In our practice, teammates used to grumble at the thought of lugging out our big [camera],” said dental assistant Tina Calloway, who said everyone in her office loves using the EyeSpecial C-II. “Now, everyone is able to take images with [Shofu’s] lightweight camera. It has made photography so easy.” Devon McCleery, CDA, shared, “There is not another camera on the market that can function with the ease of this camera. If you can use a touchscreen, you can use this camera.”
Ease of Use
The lightweight EyeSpecial C-II features intuitive one-touch operation and a large LCD touchscreen for effortless viewing and scrolling, even with a gloved hand, according to the manufacturer. “We used this camera for dental training, fell in love with how easy it was to use, and decided to purchase it,” said Tomas Saucedo, RDA. Dr. Gary Berman also decided to purchase the EyeSpecial C-II because it’s so easy to use. Calling it lightweight and user-friendly, assistant Janice Turner found that everyone in the office could use it with very little training. Because it’s easy to handle, McCleery said she’s able to take photos independently, and Sandra Lambert said it reduces the time needed to take photos.
The dental digital camera is water and chemical resistant, and can be easily disinfected, which is one reason Dr. Daniel Florian purchased the camera. Luciana Arcaro said the camera is very easy to sterilize. A few evaluators said the lens cover sometimes gets in the way, and Lambert suggested there be a place to attach the cap.
Comments about the EyeSpecial C-II’s light weight were overwhelmingly positive. “The first thing you notice when using this camera is the weight of the camera and its ergonomic design. You are easily able to hold it with one hand and take intraoral photos,” shared assistant Tanya Earls. Grethe Whitman, RDH, agreed, “Most dental cameras are just too heavy to use by yourself, [but the EyeSpecial C-II] is extremely light and user-friendly.” Lambert said there were times they didn’t take pictures because they didn’t have an extra assistant, but exclaimed, “There’s nothing stopping us now! [It’s] made for what we do— dentistry! Simple and easy to use.”
Shooting Modes
The EyeSpecial C-II is ideal for treatment planning, case documentation, patient education, case presentation, and dental lab collaboration, according to Shofu. Eight user-friendly preset shooting modes (standard, surgery, mirror, face, lowglare, whitening, tele-macro, and isolate shade) enable easier, faster, more reproducible images for a wide range of applications.
“I don’t have to adjust settings or F stops. The camera is already preset for each type of picture I’m trying to capture,” McCleery said. Calling the isolate shade mode amazing, clinical coordinator Jean Ocasio said, “The whitening mode allows you to have an accurate before-and-after” to demonstrate changes to patients. Rick Leibold, DDS, said he likes the different settings and the camera’s ease of use, adding, “[It’s] helpful to use the shade setting for custom crown and bridge shades to send to lab.” Identifying the preprogrammed modes as one of her favorite features, Whitman said photography is the only way a patient is really able to “see what we see and accept treatment.” She added, “It definitely has a positive impact on case acceptance and patient education.”
Image Quality
Twelve megapixels, exceptional depth of field, a 49 mm close-up lens, fast autofocusing, a built-in flash, and antishake mode allow anyone to take exceptional photos without any special photography skills. With Wi-Fi, images can instantly be uploaded onto a tablet or a computer. Arcaro needed “quality photographs and a camera that followed OSHA and HIPPA protocols,” and said, “The Shofu camera makes digital photography easy. If you follow the 3 greens, you’re guaranteed to get a good image.” Calloway praised the EyeSpecial C-II for its “seminar-quality photography,” and Ocasio said, “The amazing flash system allows you to take clear photos [without] multimedia lights, [and] the camera takes clear photos even if you shake a little.”
Overall Satisfaction
“This product is foolproof,” shared Dr. Sebastiana Springmann, who said Shofu provides great customer service. “[It’s] easy to use with minimal training and gives consistent results. It’s the best camera I have ever used,” she added. “The fact that it’s a ‘dental’ camera with preprogrammed modes makes life so much easier and saves the clinician time,” said Earls. Calloway concluded, “I can’t say enough about the EyeSpecial C-II. Shofu thought of everything a clinician would need chairside for a camera.”
