DxO Optics Pro 9 recommendation: I don't do post processing, but sometimes I probably should. What I would ideally like is to start with the initial post processing already done...

amehta Loc: Boston

I don't do post processing, but sometimes I probably should. What I would ideally like is to start with the initial post processing already done, almost giving me the jpeg. And then I can tweak it as needed. Is DxO Optics Pro 9 the best answer for this?

I'm starting with NEF files, I like that it saves in DNG. Is there any disadvantage to this?

Any other thoughts about it would also be appreciated. Thanks!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

amehta wrote:

I don't do post processing, but sometimes I probably should. What I would ideally like is to start with the initial post processing already done, almost giving me the jpeg. And then I can tweak it as needed. Is DxO Optics Pro 9 the best answer for this?

I'm starting with NEF files, I like that it saves in DNG. Is there any disadvantage to this?

Any other thoughts about it would also be appreciated. Thanks!

Why do you want to start out with a jpeg, that is the worst to start out with?

amehta Loc: Boston

speters wrote:

Why do you want to start out with a jpeg, that is the worst to start out with?

I didn't say that right. I want to start an image which looks like the jpeg, since that is what I saw in the camera LCD and liked when I took the picture. I'll actually start with the NEF file.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

amehta wrote:

I didn't say that right. I want to start an image which looks like the jpeg, since that is what I saw in the camera LCD and liked when I took the picture. I'll actually start with the NEF file.

Sorry, I guess I did not pay enough attention when I was first reading it.

amehta Loc: Boston

speters wrote:

Sorry, I guess I did not pay enough attention when I was first reading it.

I know I want to do something most people don't seem to do, and wasn't sure quite how to phrase it, so I'm glad you made me explain it better.

Canikon Guy Loc: Baltimore, MD

amehta wrote:

I don't do post processing, but sometimes I probably should. What I would ideally like is to start with the initial post processing already done, almost giving me the jpeg. And then I can tweak it as needed. Is DxO Optics Pro 9 the best answer for this?

I'm starting with NEF files, I like that it saves in DNG. Is there any disadvantage to this?

Any other thoughts about it would also be appreciated. Thanks!

DXO Optics 9 is for RAW files, after post processing, you can save JPEG, etc.

I do have and use DXO Optics Pro 9. I use it when the photo needs a little bit of work. DXO 9 will download your camera and lens profiles and corrects the "weakness" of your camera / lens combination.
It works very well, but in my opinion, it is not a replacement to Photo Shop or Light Room.

Info on DXO Optics Pro 9
http://www.dxo.com/intl/photography/dxo-optics-pro/whats-new

Try it for free 30 days trial
http://www.dxo.com/intl/photography/download

amehta Loc: Boston

Canikon Guy wrote:

DXO Optics 9 is for RAW files, after post processi... (show quote)

Thank you.

Canikon Guy Loc: Baltimore, MD

amehta wrote:

Thank you.

You are welcome.:thumbup:

I would try it out for free first. If you like it (I did) then you can buy it.

I bought my copy from B&H. They had a special at that time.

amehta Loc: Boston

Canikon Guy wrote:

You are welcome.:thumbup:

I would try it out for free first. If you like it (I did) then you can buy it.

I bought my copy from B&H. They had a special at that time.

I started to try it last night, since they had it on sale through yesterday. It looked okay, so I got the standard. It turns out the standard doesn't work for my D800, and I wasn't really ready to spend $200 for the elite. But if I get convinced it's worth it, I will.

Since I got the standard, the key is registered, so I can't seam to go back to the trial (I uninstalled and cleared the registry). I go an idea of what it does. I especially needed the insights of people who do post processing, since I don't. Thanks for your input.

amehta Loc: Boston

Canikon Guy wrote:

It works very well, but in my opinion, it is not a replacement to Photo Shop or Light Room.

Could you please expand on this? Thanks.

Canikon Guy Loc: Baltimore, MD

amehta wrote:

I started to try it last night, since they had it ... (show quote)

I got the Elite because I will eventually upgrade to a 6D or 5D MKIII.

You may be able to upgrade to Elite from standard. I would contact them.

Somewhere in their website it states what the "Standard" and "Elite" versions would work on what type of cameras. I think all full frame cameras need the Elite version.

amehta Loc: Boston

Canikon Guy wrote:

I got the Elite because I will eventually upgrade to a 6D or 5D MKIII.

You may be able to upgrade to Elite from standard. I would contact them.

Somewhere in their website it states what the "Standard" and "Elite" versions would work on what type of cameras. I think all full frame cameras need the Elite version.

All that is much clearer to me now, then when I bought it. :-)
I found the page which listed the supported camera/lens combos, I didn't notice that a second tab on that page said whether the Elite version was needed or not. It definitely is for the D800, I should have known that, but since the trial worked, I thought I might be okay.

I have to decide if $200 is worth it for how rarely I do post processing. It just seems that, the times I do want something better than the camera's jpeg, this will do the most for me, especially by starting with some processing using their presets.

I already requested a refund less than an hour after I bought it, so I expect they'll give me my money back. And B&H has it cheaper than the DxO price.

amehta Loc: Boston

Canikon Guy wrote:

I got the Elite because I will eventually upgrade to a 6D or 5D MKIII.

You may be able to upgrade to Elite from standard. I would contact them.

Somewhere in their website it states what the "Standard" and "Elite" versions would work on what type of cameras. I think all full frame cameras need the Elite version.

Perhaps I can as a more specific question: can DxO Optics Pro 9 or Lightroom make any of these pictures better? If so, how? I'm not asking anyone to do it, just say if they think doing pp with either would make them better. Thanks.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-172326-1.html

Canikon Guy Loc: Baltimore, MD

amehta wrote:

All that is much clearer to me now, then when I bo... (show quote)

If DXO is the only PP software you have, $200.00 would be worth having it. It does help if you need it.

You can't use the Standard version.
I don't know if they will give a refund, but they should let you upgrade to Elite.

BTW, DXO is a French company.

Canikon Guy Loc: Baltimore, MD

amehta wrote:

Perhaps I can as a more specific question: can DxO Optics Pro 9 or Lightroom make any of these pictures better? If so, how? I'm not asking anyone to do it, just say if they think doing pp with either would make them better. Thanks.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-172326-1.html

Both DXO and Light Room would make those pictures look better.

DXO would be able to make those pictures better, especially in the sharpening and noise removal.