Surgical photography - which lens/light?

[SwingBopper]

I'd like to know which macro and light combination would be best suited for photographing surgical procedures using a 1.6 crop canon body:

100 mm 2.8 or
180 mm 3.5

and which light
14ex or
24mx

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[jefferybond]

I suppose it depends on how close you can get, which I suppose wouldn't be very close given it's surgical?

Longer macro lenses are harder to hand-hold, but give you greater subject to camera distance. I guess it all comes down to the minimum focus distance of each lens.

Jeff

[PiRho]

I've never thought of doing surgery macro... but I would think that getting the longer lens would be better in that situation. you should have some light already in the Operation room, I have no idea which flash i'd go with for this situation.

~Z

[Matatazela]

Without knowing the specifics here, it is difficult to make a recommendation. Hoewever, in general terms, I would guess that the minimum safe distance and the size of the subject area would be paramount in selecting a lens. The lens and camera may also need to be sterile and that may pose problems as well. I would guess that the further from the subject the better, and in that case, a 430ex may be able to do the job as well.

On another tack, what about a waterproof housing (which could be sterilised) and a decent P&S inside?

[mtonsbeek]

I use the 100mm 2.8 macro with the 14ex for in my dental surgery and can recommend it. In my relatively small surgery I only find I have to stand too far away from my patient to achieve a portait style photo but for clinical intra-oral shots it is pefect.

[macro junkie]

60mm
mpe-65
mt-24ex with homemade defsuer

[Courierman]

I think a 180L and a flash ring so you dont get in the way,how you ganna keep them clean without blowing them up in the steamer?

[teo-bingus]

You could try contacting the photo/publicity department of a hospital. My hospital has a group who do all sorts of photography throughout the hospital including in the OR. I'm sure you can't get close if the area is sterile, when I've observed surgery they didn't want me to touch the drapes over the table, or to be close enough to lean over them (otherwise they might become non-sterile).