When I am developing an image, I want to get the best possible results. Over the years, I have tried many different programs side by side, and for final image quality, DxO PhotoLab stands out. Here’s why anyone serious about their photography should consider it.
What Is DxO PhotoLab 8?
Although image development and editing are often used interchangeably, I distinguish between them. Admittedly, there is a bit of an overlap. But, for me, development is about making non-destructive adjustments to raw file controls, whereas editing is changing the actual pixels of an image. Together, they amount to processing an image.
DxO PhotoLab 8 is mainly an image development tool. The latest release has brought significant improvements to this program, which was already held in high esteem by its users. That high opinion has been held for a long time for several reasons.
Firstly, DxO’s laboratories have the most accurate lens profiles. With other programs, a single adjustment is applied to all focal lengths, resulting in unnecessary cropping, vignetting, and aberration removal at most focal lengths. However, with PhotoLab, those profiles are individually tailored for each focal length along a zoom’s range. Furthermore, each camera and lens combination is tested in the DxO Laboratories.
Secondly, and probably more importantly for most photographers, the tone and color adjustments are precise and give first-class results. PhotoLab has long been hailed as having the best noise reduction function using its DeepPRIME algorithm. The latest version comes with DeepPRIME XD2s (standing for eXtra Detail v2s), which has an improved denoising and demosaicing function.
Most people know that denoising is the removal of the usually unwanted graininess in a photo, with colored grains considered particularly ugly and unwelcome. If you shoot with an older camera, at very high ISOs, do longer exposures at night, or underexpose and increase the brightness when developing the image, you will encounter noise in your images.
Meanwhile, demosaicing is how the mosaic of red, green, and blue pixel values is converted into the colors we see. Poorly executed demosaicing can introduce numerous visual artifacts at the pixel level. These might include color distortions like fringes along sharp edges and moiré patterns in high-frequency details, resulting in artificial-looking results. Consequently, fine textures such as hair, fur, and feathers can lose their clarity and display maze-like or random pixelation instead.
Using a top-quality demosaicing program can increase the effective visual resolution of the camera without increasing the pixel count. Therefore, a camera with a 20 MP sensor using the DeepPRIME XD2s demosaicing algorithm can produce an image that is more detailed than one with a 40 MP sensor using poorer-quality demosaicing. That difference is clearly seen in the results.
What Else Is New in PhotoLab 8?
Besides the DeepPRIME XD2s, there are some other new features in PhotoLab 8.
The new large magnifier previews the noise reduction and other changes to the image in real time. Previously, the preview was small and a bit cumbersome to use. The new version can be dragged around the image to inspect pixels at magnifications up to 1,600%.
The new version also includes a hue range mask for more precise adjustments of colors within images. Then there are big improvements to the tone curve. That includes a tone picker and a luma channel. The latter allows you to make changes to tones without affecting saturation. It also has a histogram with numeric values for each point, plus user-defined presets that make the tone curve more intuitive.
DxO PhotoLab downloads the optics modules only for the specific combination of lenses and camera models when you open a photo with that combination. Additionally, the new improved softness compensation included in the program has been upgraded. It shows increased detail without adding fringing or other unwanted artifacts.
There have been improvements to the workflow too. In the new Compare Mode, you can set any image as a reference and match your adjustments to other images. You also get a preview whenever your mouse rolls over the color renderings, LUTs, tone curve presets, etc.
Finally, browsing and image loading is now faster across the board.
PhotoLab 8 In Use
PhotoLab does have a catalog, but I tend to open it as a plugin from either Lightroom Classic (File > Plug-In Extras) or On1 Photo Raw (right-click > Send to DxO PhotoLab). That’s mainly because I have extensive libraries set up in those programs and haven’t bothered to learn all the keyboard shortcuts in PhotoLab yet. That’s my shortcoming, not the program’s. However, PhotoLab could be greatly improved by standardizing its shortcuts with other programs, making it easier to jump between them.
Thinking back to when I first used PhotoLab, it took me a little while to get used to the layout of the Customize tab. Customize is the module that other programs call Develop. Once I became used to it, however, it actually made more sense than other programs. That's because the tonal settings are in a different tab from the color settings and are not mixed. All the detail corrections, such as noise reduction, repairing lens softness, removing chromatic aberrations, and similar functions, are together in a single tab, as are the crop, horizon leveling, distortion, and perspective tools.
All the special effects are grouped too, as are the local adjustments. While mentioning the local adjustments, if you’ve not come across them before, it’s worth learning how two unique masking tools work. A control point, once placed, automatically creates a mask based on the colors and tones directly under its center. This mask determines the areas of the selection that will be affected by the adjustments. Control lines work similarly. There are other more commonly found masking options too.
What I Liked and What Could Be Improved Next Time
What I Liked
- Amazing photographic results.
- Good integration with other programs.
- The Customize module is well thought-out.
- The new features mentioned above are a big improvement on the previous versions.
- DxO Optics modules give far superior lens corrections compared to other programs.
- The DeepPRIME XD/XD2s noise reduction is second to none.
- There are presets available in PhotoLab 8, including an enormous range of accurate film simulations.
- Adjustment sliders are precise and applied instantaneously.
- It’s a perpetual license, not a subscription.
What Could Be Improved Next Time
- Simplifying and standardizing keyboard shortcuts would be welcome. Why is Ctrl/Cmd + 5 required to add five stars instead of just pressing 5? Why doesn’t the Tab key open and close the sidebars of the workspace?
- The PhotoLibrary isn’t as easily accessible as others. Moreover, you cannot import Lightroom’s catalog as you can with ON1.
- PhotoLab’s removal tools are not using AI masks. While I personally don’t mind that, others might miss this feature.
In Conclusion
Although cameras are getting better at not introducing noise to images, having top-notch noise reduction coupled with outstanding demosaicing and fabulous tonal and color controls makes this software attractive for serious photographers who push exposure limits.
As a plugin, it’s nearly perfect. It runs smoothly and gives great results that, arguably, are second to none. As a stand-alone program, it’s great as a development tool. However, if DxO wants to attract users from other programs, the designers should consider making it easier for photographers to migrate. The PhotoLibrary is functional but not as intuitive as other programs. Plus, the keyboard shortcuts are not standard.
I think PhotoLab 8 is a program aimed at competent photographers who want to get the best from their images. I can see a substantial improvement in the outcome between this program and Lightroom, and, for me, the investment in time learning to use the software was worthwhile.
Good for you - I'm sticking with LRC.
I use them both - PhotoLab for RAW processing and LRC for DAM and post-processing. The plugin makes round-tripping super-simple.
Very true, Jaques. Thanks for commenting.
That's fine, Anthony, if it works for you. Nobody says you must change. However, I'm glad Adobe's offering isn't the only software out there. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Dunno Y U bothered to read the article, then, much less comment on it. If you’re not interested, just pass on by.
I’ve never been able to afford more than mid-level cameras and lenses, and DxO has made it possible to produce, in my opinion, much better results most of the time, faster, than anything else. Even now that I can use really good lenses and cameras, and while LrC can do many things very well now, I still find the raw conversions DxO produces are more suited for most images. I’ve experimented with a few packages the past two years: Capture One, Luminar, Lightroom, DxO, and Photoshop, with the TK 9 panels that allow local adjustments with masks better than anything other than DxO. I’ll use LrC for Digital Asset Management (DAM), LrC and DxO, depending on the job, and Photoshop + TK Panels for more complex images, and maybe Zerene Stacker if I’m really close up. And, I’ll experiment more with more of DxO’s editing features, too. I used to use consumer level Canon cameras, now I use FujiFilm X system. https://billbgibson.myportfolio.com/
Thank you, Bill, for sharing your experiences. It's interesting reading that. I enjoyed browsing your portfolio too.
Thanks!
People have been complaining for _years_ about the tiny GUI size on 4K monitors, and the grey text on a grey background. Easy to see if you're 18 years old, but more and more difficult as one ages. Perhaps everyone in France is still using 1080p monitors, but DxO have stubbornly refused to address these issues. Also really annoying - if you don't upgrade your software within a 2 release cycle, you pay what a non-customer pays (i.e. full price). This company doesn't care about its customers or customer retention.
Hi Kevin as the UK Product liaison this is the official response to your post above.
Thank you for sharing your suggestion with us. We appreciate your input, and I have passed it along to our product manager for review. Each of our products follows a defined roadmap, and integrating new suggestions can sometimes be complex. While we cannot guarantee immediate implementation, customer feedback is always valuable in shaping future developments. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our team evaluates potential improvements. If you have any further thoughts or suggestions, feel free to share them with us.
Questions on upgrade please follow this links as it will give you DxO's position on this subject: https://support.dxo.com/hc/en-us/articles/4496876113937-Why-is-my-upgrad...
Totally agree on the UI thing. FWIW, LRC doesn't have a solution, either, though PS does. Disagree on "stubbornly refuse", though. We don't know the reason. Maybe it's wickid hahd or just a lower priority in the context of limited dev resources. Have you filed a feature request on the user forums? If enough of us do, it might bump this up the priority ladder.
The 2-year upgrade thing is obviously intended to keep them solvent. "Customer retention" is of little value if those customers don't upgrade from time to time. Current policy seems a reasonable balance between maintaining cash flow and allowing customers to skip some upgrades. If you choose not to upgrade for 5 years, it's not like your ancient version suddenly stops working, unlike what happens if you let an Adobe subscription lapse.
Just because a company doesn't give away the store doesn't mean it "doesn't care about its customers".
DxO may not provide every single feature on my wish list, but some of its tools are absolutely class-leading and indispensable to my workflow for high-volume low-light event photography. My work would be harder, slower and less polished if I had to rely on any other RAW processor. The lens/camera profiles are amazingly effective, and the noise reduction has done more to expand the boundaries of low-light performance than even my migration from Micro Four Thirds to Sony FE. In fact, if DeepPRIME XD2s and Apple Silicon had been available five years ago, I might have saved $20k by not migrating at all.
I'll be honest, I'd consider a switch if any software aside from CaptureOne implemented tethered shooting in a meaningful way (particularly for Sony, I wouldn't consider LR to be a feasible option here).
Until then, I really don't see any other serious options.
Thanks for the comment, Derek. It might be worth messaging Michael Plant (see his comment above) with your thoughts.
I've been a longtime user of DXO, and I wholeheartedly agree with the critique of non-standardized shortcuts. Take the Z key for example. Virtually every other program uses Z to Zoom to 100%. Not DXO. For DAM I use Mylioo Photos. Mylio is simple: to round trip an image out to DXO, drop it into the original folder, and Mylio picks it up. There is no DAM that offers anything close to what Mylio Photos can do.
That's interesting thanks Daniel. I'll look into Mylio.
I used DXO photolab years ago and liked the results it gave. Capture one user at the moment, but it sounds like a viable alternative. Is tethered shooting supported?
Sadly not, but there is a workaround that I used for Lightroom and C1 that don't support my camera. I used my camera's free software for the tethered shooting and the image feeds into a folder and is viewed and opened by DxO. I don't do any wired-tethered shooting anymore though.
Lightroom still works .... I'm not interested in learning a new program
DxO Photolab is an example of an easy to use SW. I have been using it for more that 2 years and had to refer to the manual only very few times. Doing basic adjustments is intuitive and self-explanatory, no need to study the manual.
I do not think that I am a "serious photographer". I am just a hobbyist who cannot afford expensive gear just to obtain nice photos in low light conditions. Here, DxO Photolab helps a lot due to its excellent noise reduction.
As of this date, Fujifilm photographers should be aware:
"X-Trans RAW files are currently not supportedby DeepPRIME XD2s"
True, but it works pretty well for X-trans RAW now, sort in-between (in how aggressive it is) LrC and Topaz AI, and the lens profiles are really good. It depends on the image what works best in the least amount of time, but sometimes it's just variations of the image, not much better or worse. And, they claim that DeepPRIME XD2s is coming for X-trans RAW "soon".
it works slower than c1 on my m4
and no theatering
I see no difference in speed on my PC.
yes
I switched from lightroom to capture one due to the slowness of the first one a few years ago
That's so weird. Do you guys all have slow machines? I get no lag at all with DxO PL. Even if I did, I would put up with it for the superior DxO Optics Modules. C1, LR, and others all excessively crop photos based on a generic correction applied across the entire focal length range of a zoom. Not so with DxO, which correctly applies lens corrections.
I no longer have C1 but the following screenshots show the difference with the generic lens correction applied by Lightroom and DxO. I also find Lightroom raw previews are under-exposed. When I had C1, I had exactly the same issue
These are screenshots not exported JPEGs. No adjustments made. LR above, DxO Below.
I'll see if I can get a colleague with C1 to show the same file.
Thanks for your input. It's fascinating to hear your views.
I apply lots of global adjustments adjustments and experience almost no lag. I don’t apply local adjustments much.
M1 Max Mac Studio (32gb/512gb) and M1 Pro MacBook Pro (16gb/512gb).
You admit that PL6 is the last version you tried, but then go on to say that PL8 “is slow even on an M4” and it’s “speed, feature sets, and quality are lacking”. How do you know, and why are you so unwilling to accept the reports from those of us who actually use PL8?
c) Yeah, I hear that. LRC also doesn't have customizable keyboard shortcuts...and they change from mode to mode. Boo, hiss.
e) Yes, if you turn on auto cropping, it works with leveling. I always have it on as part of my custom preset.
f) I never have to "draw the crop". See e) above.
g) I have never seen a "pinkish-pasty-washed-out look" with my Sony files over the past 5 years or my Panasonic files over the 8 years before that. Probably a wrong setting that's gone unnoticed.
As for speed, it does NR as better and faster than LRC on my M-series Macs. I haven't tested C1, but it's not reputed to be a real contender in this department.
Sounds like your work and workflow are quite different from mine, so not surprising we'd draw different conclusions.
"You have to take extra step(s)"
Not really. The only extra step was customizing a preset. Thereafter, it's automatically applied to every import. Nice to have the option to turn off auto cropping and leveling when images don't need it. For my event work, "on" is the appropriate default, but for other kinds of work it might not be.
"It's not very intuitive"
NONE of these apps are intuitive. That said, a lot of new PhotoLab users report appreciation that it's relatively easy to learn. And, now that I've created a few presets and have a thought-out workflow, PhotoLab is very efficient for me, which makes a huge difference given that my work covers wildly changing light, lots of ISO values, lots of angles, lots of subjects, and 800-2000 RAW files per day of coverage.
I haven't tried C1, so I can't compare it to PhotoLab. But, using LRC and PhotoLab side-by-side, I'm quite certain that PhotoLab is the better RAW processor for my work.
just turn off dxo smart lighting on start )
i have mac m4 i dont know how dxo work on windows
but C1 have better performance than dxo, lightroom and NX studio
As a weekend warrior, an "enthusiast", Photolab 8 is hands down the best I've used: intuitive, (almost too) many creative options, ability to "backtrack" and start over from a given point. I consistently get great results with just a few clicks. And I feel like I've just touched the surface. Excellent support for Canon and Olympus bodies and lenses, except for (in my personal view) one glaring exception: Canon's G5X Mark II.
Well... I've got a lot of respect for DxO, I must say - Having said that I'm a Capture One fan boy for sure - I was very disappointed when a financial firm purchased Capture One a few years back, I guess it is - However, there are improvements and I'm ok with subscription-based programs as long as they continue to reinvest in the product - Yea, C1 pricing has and is changing but at the end of the day going into the photography business tends to be a less expensive endeavor when compared to many, many businesses - I may demo this app at some point in time but I do think I'm probably staying with a C1/Photoshop work flow - Throw in HeliconFocus and NIK when appropriate.
I'm a longtime DxO user, having started with an early version of OpticsPro and ridden all versions of that and its renamed version, PhotoLab. (I'm currently using the Elite version of PhotoLab 8.)
I've gotten very annoyed by DxO's reluctance to create profiles for the Sigma RF-S lenses for Canon's RF mirrorless cameras. Of the six of them released last year, only one profile has been issued, for the 18-50mm f/2.8. There are an f/2.8 10-18mm zoom and four fast primes. I've been banging on their support email to support the excellent f/1.4 56mm prime since early December - it's approaching three months. (It took two months and having Sigma France send them a copy of the 18-50mm lens for them to issue that profile.)
All of my support emails - for the past several years - are responded to by one person ("Riley") who is totally unsympathetic and won't even agree to let me know when a profile has been released, telling me just to keep checking their support page - even though you can't even request a profile without giving your email address.
Suffice it to say that I've gotten quite dissatisfied with DxO's customer relations, and their apparent reluctance to issue profiles for RF-S versions of lenses they've already profiled for other mounts - even lenses they've profiled for EF-M cameras with sensors the same size and resolution. (The EOS M6 and EOS R7's sensors are the same size and resolution.) At least half of the value of DxO comes from the profiles, which improve sharpness and correct optical flaws. Without them, DxO's software is "ordinary," not special.
I consider myself to be a funny photographer, with just a dash of sarcasm… sadly the software isn’t for me.
I don't like editing photos in one piece of software and transferring images across to another program to finish off that would be like cooking in one house and then driving down the road to cook the final parts of a meal. No thanks. I'll do it all in one place.
I'm one of those people that wants to do my editing in one place. I don't like editing in one program and then transferring images across. I find that process really annoying and it takes time. I can do everything I need to do in the one program I use and this wall has some nice things. It doesn't have anything that's groundbreaking new for me that I need to change over.
I'm a weekend warrior, an "enthusiast", and PhotoLab 8 is finally the program I've adopted as my standard editor. I find I can get great results with fewer clicks than any other editor, including Canon DPP, OM Workspace, SilkyPix, and Adobe Photoshop. Intuitive and easy to use, and yet I feel I have just touched the surface. My only wish: lens support for Canon's G5X Mark II.