DxO Optics Pro 8 review: is this the perfect Photoshop alternative?

jmeyer | Accessories | Reviews | 11/02/2013 11:00am

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DxO Optics Pro 8 Review: Performance

DxO works on both raw and JPEG files, but these must be unedited.  The raw conversions are of a very high standard, and are particularly good at reducing noise in high ISO shots.

It also uses advanced lighting controls to maximise the dynamic range of raw files and balance the lighting in high-contrast scenes.

But it’s not an image editor as such, because although it offers various preset ‘looks’, it doesn’t support layers, or any kind of manual, localised adjustments.

This means DxO Optics Pro is a tool you’d use right at the start of your image-editing workflow to maximise the quality of your original images.

If you never manipulate your images anyway, that could be enough, but you’re almost certainly going to need some other image-editor to go with it.

The Standard version isn’t that expensive, but if you have an advanced SLR you may need the Elite version, which is twice the price.

The tools are the same, and it all depends on what camera you use. If you have a Nikon D7000, for example, the Standard edition is fine, but if you have a D800, you’ll need Elite.

PAGE 1: DxO Optics Pro 8 Review – what’s new
PAGE 2: DxO Optics Pro 8 Review – performance
PAGE 3: DxO Optics Pro 8 Review – the interface in detail
PAGE 4: DxO Optics Pro 8 Review – how it scores