DxO is well known to our readers. They've been leaders in camera and lens optical testing, and they've offered software like the DxO PureRAW pre-processing software and PhotoLab 6, which is a full-featured raw editor.
Now, DxO is announcing the immediate availability of 1,700 new DxO Optics Modules, consisting of three new cameras and 18 optics, including the highly anticipated Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens. The total number of DxO Optics Modules now exceeds 78,000 camera and lens combinations. These updates apply to the newest edition of Photolab 6.1, which is also available now.
For example, there's the new Canon RF 15-30mm lens at 16mm: DxO says that generic raw conversion software will typically crop 10% or more of the image. For photographers who want to avoid losing precious detail from the edge of the frame, DxO’s corrections maximize the lens’ field of view while also delivering superior corrections to sharpness and distortion.
Here's an example. First is an unprocessed raw, with some distortion clearly visible:
Then, the DxO processing of the same raw. The blue box represents the crop Lightroom would do:
The company also claims another unique benefit of working with DxO Optics Modules is the fully automatic correction of lack of lens sharpness uniformity across the entire image. DxO uses an exclusive lens sharpness calibration that delivers tailor-made adjustments and corrections across each lens’ field of view. Unlike competitors, sharpening is applied at different levels, specific to a lens’ idiosyncrasies. For instance, sharpening might increase towards the edge of the frame to balance any radial softness. This achieves superior results when compared to applying general sharpening across the entire image — an approach taken in lesser software.
The release also includes these new cameras:
● Fujifilm X-H2
● Nikon D100
● Sony FX30
And these camera/lens combinations:
● Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
● Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR
● Fujifilm XF 18-120mm f/4 LM PZ WR
● Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR
● HD Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW
● M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400 f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO with TC x1.4 Zuiko
● M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400 f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO with TC x2.0 Zuiko
● Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f/1.8
● Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD
● Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
● Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5–6.3 Di III RXD
● Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
● Zeiss Milvus 15mm f/2.8 ZE
● Zeiss Milvus 15mm f/2.8 ZF.2
● Zeiss Milvus 18mm f/2.8 ZE
● Zeiss Milvus 18mm f/2.8 ZF.2
● Zeiss Milvus 135mm f/2 ZE
● Zeiss Milvus 135mm f/2 ZF.2
DxO keeps pushing the boundaries of photo editing with their software that goes beyond the competition in terms of lens correction and optical restoration. The updates are also available in their excellent DxO PureRAW package.
DxO PhotoLab 6.1 (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on the DxO website at the following prices:
- DxO PhotoLab 6.1 ESSENTIAL Edition: $139
- DxO PhotoLab 6.1 ELITE Edition: $219
A free 30-day trial is available. Owners of DxO PhotoLab 6 can update for free from within the software.
Also, throughout December, DxO has a special holiday gift: photographers save 30% when they buy two or more DxO software titles.
I just opened up PureRaw 2 and it offered me an update to v2.3, which it describes as adding support for the Fujifilm X-H2, Nikon D100, and Sony FX30... which is to say they DID bring these corrections to PureRaw.
Turns out we were giving the wrong information. Thanks for catching that!
I have used Dxo software for almost a decade and has been great, but Lr has more lens and camera profiles that lenses that are not chipped like the old Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8. Dxo lens correction are better than most and I have not really seen the reduction in framing. The improved noise is very great. The one thing Dxo did several years ago was to add Nik Software 8 plugins like HDR Efex Pro that does great but all have adds that let you work your images. Back in 2012 Nik Software was bought by Google that was when PS and Lr cost $800 + each and was the real beginning of digital editing and was free but Dxo got it after Google no longer supported. Dxo was one of the original to have noise reduction. The ViewPoint 3 is great for those time your camera is not level and sides to be straightened.
If you tried to capture the recent Moon and Mars you may have gotten a blown out moon. The way to do it is with bracketing 5 @ +/- 3ev. ISO/SS 125, f/8 center .5s. You will get a small moon that is in focus in the first image but all dark and a blown out moon with bright foreground. What HDR does is you get a in focus moom (small) and bright foreground. We used the $80 Photomatix back then and today still the only one to do 5 @ +/- 3ev.
But want more dynamic range say at sunrise before the sun is up even with a high dynamic camera the 5 @ +/- 2EV instead of silhouette of things like driftwood you get a bright dark side or back in '12 when only the 3 +/- 2EV you wanted the outside view when inside this is when Nik HDR Efex was used the most and way before PS/LR could. The 2nd image was using the Promote Control device with my T2i but also Photomatix before Nik. The 3rd and 4th used Nik HDR. Dxo with the Nik software opens a lot of new thoughts and experimentation with images without the complicated PS.