Anyone using DXO Photolabs?

If so, what are your observations?

I've been with DxO since 2008. I think its PRIME noise reduction is the best in the business. Another huge plus for me is that it doesn't try to organize my files for me. It assumes that I'm an adult and can handle that simple task. PhotoLab adds the ability to make local adjustments. Since I've had it, I went looking for files that needed local adjustments and applied Gradient to one and did some brushing on another. It's intuitive to me, but I've been using it almost a decade. Try the free trial to see if you like it.

I've maintained a license across several version but hadn't used it extensively. But last week i tested it out on a RAW image, and was pleasantly shocked at the noise reduction results with the PRIME noise reduction. I have a very noisy image as a test, (a friend shot at ISO 6500 at sunset on an older Olympus mirrorless camera). It just vaporized the extensive color and luminance noise, with minimal detail loss. I have several different noise reduction plug-ins and options and none came close.

I've maintained a license across several version but hadn't used it extensively. But last week i tested it out on a RAW image, and was pleasantly shocked at the noise reduction results with the PRIME noise reduction. I have a very noisy image as a test, (a friend shot at ISO 6500 at sunset on an older Olympus mirrorless camera). It just vaporized the extensive color and luminance noise, with minimal detail loss. I have several different noise reduction plug-ins and options and none came close.

 

I was a dedicated DxO user, well before they introduced PRIME noise reduction, but that addition has solidified my addiction. The image below was taken at ISO 25600 and run through PRIME:

 

Big Buck After Sundown by David Stephens, on Flickr

 

You can put the Chrominescence slider at 100% with no fear of killing detail. With Luminescence, I move the slider down to 30 from 40 and boost the Microcontrast to around 30, because too much luminescence will crush fur and feather details.

Edited November 8, 2017 by dcstep

I tried out the trial of the newest version Photolab recently...my observations was that it was somewhat slow but not that bad. It did a really good job of processing my images. The one problem I had with the program was that it caused my Mac computer to lock up after installing it. Don't know why it did it but after uninstalling it I had no more problems. I will try it again down the road to see if this issue is resolved. Overall, I liked it.

I tried out the trial of the newest version Photolab recently...my observations was that it was somewhat slow but not that bad. It did a really good job of processing my images. The one problem I had with the program was that it caused my Mac computer to lock up after installing it. Don't know why it did it but after uninstalling it I had no more problems. I will try it again down the road to see if this issue is resolved. Overall, I liked it.

 

There's a minor update that just came out. Without looking back, I think it cleared up some Mac issue. (I'm windows).

 

Don't run PRIME noise reduction on every file. The Default is plenty good until you get in the range where you camera starts generating visible noise. I'm surprised that you find it slow, but I've got 16GB or RAM and 4-mhz processor, so maybe I'm spoiled.

Yes, I've used it for years to batch process images taken in abysmal light. I like that it lets me decide where my files are and where they will go once processed. The PRIME noise reduction engine lets me shoot dimly lit field hockey games with an ancient camera. I also like how it renders colors for my images. One final bonus: it is not subscription based and I can decide when it's worth to upgrade - I just did: local adjustments seemed worth the money, previous upgrades seemed not.

The new "Photo Lab" version is noticeably faster when running PRIME noise reduction - at least on my laptop.

There's a minor update that just came out. Without looking back, I think it cleared up some Mac issue. (I'm windows).

 

Don't run PRIME noise reduction on every file. The Default is plenty good until you get in the range where you camera starts generating visible noise. I'm surprised that you find it slow, but I've got 16GB or RAM and 4-mhz processor, so maybe I'm spoiled.

Thanks for pointing out the update. I will try the program again in the near future.

GR

A friend of mine has it and just upgraded to PhotoLab Elite. He says it is set up like Lightroom. His only issue was that the image data did not reflect effective focal lenghts correctly when ling lenses were used with Nikon teleconverters. He will be trying out the Local Adjustments and Control Points features in the next couple of days. He used Nikon Capture NX2 so he is familiar to U point technology or control points. I downloaded the manual for PhotoLab Elite and scanned it I wish other manuals were as well layed out. I might give it a try as it is free for 30 days.

Terrible support for Fuji. Ended my looking at it for anything.

Now that DxO is using Nik technology, I am curious about whether this DxO Photolabs has feature that was called D-lighting better quality in Nikon Capture NX2?

In DXO Photo Lab, Smart Lighting is the setting to use to accomplish what you did in Active D lighting in Nikon NX2 and now in NX-D.There are also Presets that can be applied to an image that may provide all of the changes that you need. Download the manual for DXO and review it. It is a very well organized and written manual.

 

I have not used DXO yet so I cannot make any direct comparison with Active D lighting in Nikon software programs.

cancelled and re-posted in Lightroom Replacement. Edited November 18, 2017 by Gerald Cafferty