DxO is well known to our readers. They have led in camera and lens optics testing, and they have provided software such as DxO PureRAW preprocessing software and PhotoLab 6, a full-featured raw editor.
Now, DxO is announcing the immediate availability of 1,700 new DxO Optical Modules, including three new cameras and 18 optics, including the Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5- 6.3 IS STM is highly anticipated. The total number of DxO Optical Modules now exceeds 78,000 camera and lens combinations. These updates apply to the latest version of Photolab 6.1, which is also available now.
For example, there’s the new Canon RF 15-30mm lens at 16mm: DxO says normal raw conversion software will crop 10% or more of the image. For photographers who want to avoid losing precious detail from the edge of the frame, DxO’s corrections maximize the lens’ field of view while providing superior corrections for sharpness and distortion.
Here is an example. The first is the unprocessed raw image, with some distortion clearly visible:
Then the DxO treatment of the same material. The blue box represents the cropping that Lightroom will perform:
The company also claims another unique benefit of working with the DxO Optical Module is the ability to fully automatically correct for lens sharpness inconsistencies across the entire image. DxO uses proprietary lens sharpness correction that delivers tailored adjustments and corrections across each lens’ field of view. Unlike competitors, sharpening is applied at different levels, specific to the unique characteristics of the lens. For example, sharpness can be increased towards the edge of the frame to balance out any radial softening. This achieves superior results when compared to applying general sharpness across the entire image — a method implemented in inferior software.
The release also includes these new cameras:
Fujifilm X-H2
Nikon D100
Sony FX30
And these camera/lens combinations:
● Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
● Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR
● Fujifilm XF 18-120mm f/4 LM PZ WR
● Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR
● HD Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW
● M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400 f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO with TC x1.4 Zuiko
● M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400 f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO with TC x2.0 Zuiko
● Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f/1.8
● Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD
● Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
● Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5–6.3 Di III RXD
● Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
● Zeiss Milvus 15mm f/2.8 ZE
● Zeiss Milvus 15mm f/2.8 ZF.2
● Zeiss Milvus 18mm f/2.8 ZE
● Zeiss Milvus 18mm f/2.8 ZF.2
● Zeiss Milvus 135mm f/2 ZE
● Zeiss Milvus 135mm f/2 ZF.2
DxO continues to push the boundaries of photo editing with their software far beyond the competition in terms of lens correction and optical restoration. I’m not sure why these updates only apply to PhotoLab 6.1 and not to their excellent DxO PureRAW package. Maybe one day soon.
DxO PhotoLab 6.1 (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on DxO website with the following prices:
- DxO PhotoLab 6.1 ESSENTIAL Version: $139
- DxO PhotoLab 6.1 ELITE Edition: $219
A 30-day free trial is available. DxO PhotoLab 6 owners can update for free from within the software.
Plus, throughout December, DxO has a special holiday giveaway: photographers save 30% when they buy two or more DxO software titles.
