DxO v. 6.0 released

[causey]

For those interested... I checked their site for news about future pentax modules--unfortunately, not many--and read about the new version. It is supposed to do better optical and noise corrections. They also added new modules: Canikon, Sony, Olympus, no Pentax.
There's a 30% price reduction for new software purchases and a 40% reduction for upgrades until the end of 2009 (comes down to US $44 for upgrading my Standard version).
See HERE.

[Canada_Rockies]

Thanks for the heads up. It sure would be nice to have more Pentax modules.

[aybee]

Wow, perfect timing as I was about to purchase V5.

However after downloading the trial I cannot activate it. "your email address seems to be wrong", whatever email address I put in the box provided.

Perhaps it's their servers being busy - I'll try it again later....

[apisto]

Originally Posted by Canada_Rockies

Thanks for the heads up. It sure would be nice to have more Pentax modules.

I have come close a couple times to purchasing DxO, but everytime I hold off because it is unclear whether DxO is committed to future expansion of modules for pentax cameras.

It is not just the money. I do not want to dedicate the time learing the ins and outs of a new software program only to be forced to abandon it when they choose not to support my new K-9 (or whatever) camera.

[causey]

There's not much to learn, really, because one you've settled on a preset (or more), everything's pretty automatic, and you use DxO's output to fix white balance and noise in another editor.

[Canada_Rockies]

Originally Posted by causey

There's not much to learn, really, because one you've settle on a preset (or more), everything's pretty automatic, and you use DxO's output to fix white balance and noise in another editor.

That's basically how I use DxO. I just use it as a RAW converter to DNG, and dump it in a folder from which I bring it into LightRoom. It does clean up some minor colour variations in the sensor for all my lenses, and really works wonders with my DA lenses. Well worth it for me.

[apisto]

Originally Posted by Canada_Rockies

That's basically how I use DxO. I just use it as a RAW converter to DNG, and dump it in a folder from which I bring it into LightRoom. It does clean up some minor colour variations in the sensor for all my lenses, and really works wonders with my DA lenses. Well worth it for me.

So you don't use the lighting module and all that other stuff?

[causey]

I have three presets with combinations of degrees of highlight restoration and degrees of lighting effect and one preset with no lighting. They serve different purposes. You need to try various combinations until you get what works for you. After that, you might still want to adjust colors (and their lighting) as well as noise and other things in another editor. But (after the pain of getting your favorite presets) DxO greatly improves the workflow. And, more importantly, it brings your level to the next level (or perhaps two levels up).

[Canada_Rockies]

Originally Posted by apisto

Originally Posted by Canada_Rockies

That's basically how I use DxO. I just use it as a RAW converter to DNG, and dump it in a folder from which I bring it into LightRoom. It does clean up some minor colour variations in the sensor for all my lenses, and really works wonders with my DA lenses. Well worth it for me.

So you don't use the lighting module and all that other stuff?

I tried playing with the settings in DxO, and found that I prefer the defaults. What the program does for me is fix up the raw images by itself, using the modules as issued. It removes vignetting, distortion, and sensor based colour irregularities. The only times I do a manual input is for keystone distortion. Check out my Flickr shots for examples. I can produce some direct comparisons if you wish, just PM me.

[apisto]

Great advice. Thanks to you both.

Have you found that DxO does better with out-of-camera DNG or out-of-camera PEF?

[causey]

I use .pef, because it's smaller, and there's no difference of quality btw. pef and dng. But DxO's output is dng, which you can later convert/edit with another software.

[apisto]

Well, phooey, I installed the DxO 6 trial and DxO crashes when processing images or as soon as it is done.

Maybe I will try again after a few patches are in.

[aybee]

I'm now using the v.6 trial, thanks to DxO support. If anyone else is having a problem getting the demo version to accept your email address, don't bother. Simply make up an email address but but make sure it doesn't have more than one "." (ie someone@yahoo.com will work fine)

[giorgio]

isn't it possible to remove vignetting from lightroom?
does dxomark do a better job?

[causey]

DxO automatically removes vignetting for its modules comprising lenses and cameras.