Does anyone have any recommendations for appropriate digital cameras for taking pictures (for presentations) of x-rays, CT scans etc? I am considering the Nikon 990, but want to know whether any special set-up is needed, and, if anyone has experience with the 990.I would like to be able to take images as I review the films (until we move into PACS environment) and welcome anyone's opinion on how good the image quality is.

-- Donald Lee (dlee@julian.uwo.ca), August 22, 2000

Answers

Donald: I've been taking digital pix of x-rays, USNDs, CTs and MRIs for over a year now. Two mjor problems are: (1) Aligning the camera which is not a big problem for hand held shots of full sized x-ray films, but can cause major skewing of the smaller frames of USND, CT and MRI. I solved the latter by using a copy stand and a horizontal view (light) box. (2) Digital cameras do not seem to have a sufficiently wide gray scale (gamma) to reproduce all the nuances of the films. I have found that I can obtain good detail by aiming the spot metering crosshair on my Sony S70 to the important area and reframing. By using the Twilight Plus mode (Program AE Function) I avoid losing detail in the very bright areas of x-rays. You may want to check whether the Nikon 990 has these features. Also cinsider the super Zeiss lens on the Sony. Please, feel free to contact me directly.

-- T. Muhlstein (tom.muhlstein@sympatico.ca), August 22, 2000.