Davethehiker Loc: South West Pennsylvania

I have been a fan of a raw image processing program called "DxO Optics Pro" since it first came out many years ago and have been updating to the latest version every few years. They are now up to version 11.

This latest version interfaces very well with Adobe Light Room and it also has a lot of artificial intelligence "AI" built into it. The original idea behind DxO was to make mathematical correction transfer functions / modules for every popular lens-camera combination. It corrects for aberrations in the lens and camera. The AI controls the tone, color, contrast, etc to optimize the image. These changes/improvements are quick and easy to make. It is not at all like PhotoShop in that the user can not make as many changes as PS but it's much easier to use.

LR also likes to work with the raw image file. LR's strength is in it's ability to catalog images so they can be quickly located. LR also automatically makes it's version of the optimum corrections. Both programs will accept input from the user to make adjustments to the image.

This latest version of DxO has face recognition. It found the face and adjusted the image to preserve the face. I then added macro-contrast contrast adjustments to bring out detail of the earth strata in the background. DxO as smart enough to know to know NOT to apply this adjustment to the face.

BTW, I considered the image below as a throw away until DxO saved it. If you enlarge the images below you will be able to read the text on the sign explaining the color of the water in the lake. It's almost impossible to read the sign in the LR version.

I did nothing to adjust the LR version. Maybe some of you LR experts will be able to make the LR version look as good, or better than the DxO version but I would be surprised if you could. The AI built into DxO is remarkable in that I put very little manual effort into optimizing the image.

I hope you found this interesting.

DxO

(Download)

LR

(Download)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks. Nice processing.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

DXO was much sharper, thanks for posting.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Good comparison, thanks.

Davethehiker Loc: South West Pennsylvania

Thanks for all the thanks. DxO should pay me for the plug. :-)

We photographers are all fortunate that that both of these excellent programs are out there and compete with each other and complement each others strengths.

Linckinn Loc: Okatie, SC and Edgartown, MA

Thanks for your comments. I have spent the last several months looking at various RAW processors in anticipation of Aperture no longer working with the next OSX.

For my needs and abilities, I have found both DxO and Capture One to be way better than others I have tried. My question/problem is with Lightroom held in such high regard and a clear leader in market share, I wonder if I am making a mistake and would be better to just try harder with Lightroom. My pp is quite basic, just tone, color, sharpness, highlights, etc.

Your 2 posts mirror my experience; I just cannot get the Lightroom processing to look as well as he other two.

Comments from anyone, especially those experienced with both Lightroom and DxO or Capture One would be appreciated.

Tom Iskiyan Loc: Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Hi Davethehiker,
I found your demonstration very interesting. I have never done any post processing and was thinking of getting into it. Do you have any suggestions for a novice who doesn't particularly enjoy computers, but wants to tweek photos?
Thanks,
Tom

Davethehiker Loc: South West Pennsylvania

Like you, I was dragged kicking and screaming away from Aperture and towards Lightroom. I have made a concerted effort to learn LR. It has a lot going for but pulling the best image possible out of the RAW file is not it's forte.

If you can afford both LR and DxO, they can be made to work well together. I'm so disappointed in Apple in that they abandoned Aperture. I must admit that LR cataloging data base is more user friendly than Aperture's.

Davethehiker Loc: South West Pennsylvania

It depends how much you are willing to spend. Personally I find Post Processing part of the fun of photography. Options for PP include NIK filters that are now free! Obviously I like DxO but that is an expensive piece of software. I frequently take an image that was processed in DxO and move it into PhotoShop and use many other tools on it, including NIK filters.

Tom, if you are serious about photography as a hobby, you will get into post processing.

Tom Iskiyan Loc: Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Dave,
Thanks for your comments.
When I make the jump into PP, what is the best way to learn the process?
Thanks,
Tom

kd7eir Loc: Tucson, AZ

This is exactly why I use DxO OpticsPro 11 - there is simply NOTHING better in my opinion.

Davethehiker Loc: South West Pennsylvania

Tom, Here is another example of another photo that was saved by DxO, and NIK filters. I'm not going to take the time to show the original drab jpg photo that the camera spit out. Trust me tweeking photos is fun and worth the effort.

Warning:
Put on your sun glasses prior to opening this image. It was bright up there! LOL This is the kind of thing that can be done best with post processing.

(Download)

Davethehiker Loc: South West Pennsylvania

Get on youtube http://youtube.com/ and watch the free tutorials.

Linckinn Loc: Okatie, SC and Edgartown, MA

I don 't really need the cataloguing features of Lightroom. The Apples Photo app is quite good for that. It automatically arranges by date; one can easily add keywords, titles, captions, descriptions, geotags. And it is searchable by any of the above or maps for instant locating of images.

Thanks for your help.

Tom Iskiyan Loc: Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Dave,
That picture is phenomenal ! I think you just made a PP convert out of me. Do I have to shoot in RAW to get that kind of result?
Thanks,
Tom