DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?
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#1. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 0
mpage Registered since 28th Jun 2004Fri 31-May-13 03:28 AM | edited Fri 31-May-13 04:21 AM by mpageRichard,
The version of DxO Optics Pro 8, Standard or Elite, depends on your camera's make and model. You can use the following link to determine the correct DxO Optics Pro version:
http://www.dxo.com/scripts/resources/refcaf/en/dopcafs/index
Select the "Standard or Elite" button at the top of the page and then enter your camera model.
The better cameras require the Elite version to get the most out of the software. There are profiles created by DxO for your various individual camera model and lens choice. With the Elite version you get access to the vast database of camera/lens profiles. These are a joy to use.
If you downloaded the demo version, the Elite edition is running on your computer and you are able to use custom profiles. Here is what goes into creating one of these camera\lens profiles according to DxO technical support:
"They (DxO Technicians) put a lot of work into thoses modules. A prime lens requires something pushing a few thousand target shots & analysis. A zoom lens probably 10,000 target shots & analysis. Plus a bunch of measurement made on the lenses themselves and camera plus lens combinations to include secondary effects due to the sensors. You can easily burn one to a few person-weeks making these. The logistics can get shall we say interesting, when you are talking about older lenses because ideally you want brand new lenses (think finding one or two of each in the backrooms of camera stores still in unopened boxes)."
DxO Optics Pro Elite is the first stop on my digital workflow. I can make the rough adjustments to a large number of images quickly. Check out one of my other post about processing with DxO Optics Pro:
https://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=196&topic_id=67315&mesg_id=67315&page=-Mark-
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#3. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 2
I see that both Standard and Elite versions are on a summer discount. In the UK the Elite is £149 (US$225) and the Standard version £73 (US$110) I would need the Elite to cover both my D7100 and D800. The question now is do I buy, or wait for the launch of Lightroom5 to chose between the two. I must admit playing about with both, I still think Lightroom is ahead...just. Any views on that statement please?
Richard-
#4. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 3
GiantTristan Registered since 08th Jan 2006Sat 08-Jun-13 08:01 AMI have DxO 8, and have also tried LR5 beta. My cameras are D800 and D700. In my opinion, each program has its advantages:
DxO: Better Raw Conversion, superior lens correction (provided a camera/lens module is available), sharpening via "lens softness" superior to USM, superior high iso noise reduction, excellent batch processing. Also has unique wide angle correction to restore correct dimensions at the edge of picture (volume anamorphosis)
LR5: Excellent UI, excellent archiving and searching capability, excellent correction brush, good automatic geometric corrections. Has "clarity slider" which DxO is lacking.
If I have the suitable camera/lens module, I usually do my entire PP in DxO and use LR only for archiving and searching. Unfortunately, DxO has no Nikon/Zeiss modules and I have to use the LR lens corrections for Zeiss lenses. Looking at the equipment in your profile, I believe there are DxO modules for all of your camera/lens combinations.
I suggest you try both programs and then draw your own conclusions.Tristan
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#6. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 4
pdekman Registered since 16th Nov 2005Sat 08-Jun-13 10:48 AM>DxO: Better Raw Conversion, superior lens correction (provided
>a camera/lens module is available), sharpening via "lens
>softness" superior to USM, superior high iso noise
>reduction, excellent batch processing. Also has unique wide
>angle correction to restore correct dimensions at the edge of
>picture (volume anamorphosis)
>
It's been some years since I've tried DxO, but am surprised to see batch processing as an advantage over LR given LR's speed in AutoSync mode. How does DxO apply edits to multiple files in the latest version?
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#8. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 6
GiantTristan Registered since 08th Jan 2006Sat 08-Jun-13 02:24 PM | edited Sat 08-Jun-13 02:25 PM by GiantTristan>It's been some years since I've tried DxO, but am surprised to
>see batch processing as an advantage over LR given LR's speed
>in AutoSync mode. How does DxO apply edits to multiple files
>in the latest version?
When LR4 was first introduced, there were as lot of complaints in this forum regarding insufficient speed. I have never had any complaints with DxO in this regard, but then I have a fairly powerful computer. I have never made a direct comparison of processing speeds for the two programs. All I can say - they both put fairly heavy demands on RAM and CPU usage, especially if d800 files are processed.
If I want to apply certain edits to multiple files, I make a preset that incorporates these edits.
Tristan
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#5. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 3
walkerr Registered since 05th May 2002Sat 08-Jun-13 10:19 AMI have had DxO since version 3.0 and LR since the beta that preceded 1.0. What I actually use is LR. Several things have been mentioned already, but I'll just offer these thoughts:
- DxO has improved a lot in recent versions. I used to hate it because sharpening would vary so much beyond specific lens/modules and some were quite poor, but it's pretty good at this point. (BTW, LR doesn't use USM sharpening) Other conversion issues are kind of a toss-up if you know what you're doing in both programs.
- At least in my opinion, DxO has always been intended to be used in auto mode for settings, with manual as a secondary. LR has always been intended to be used in manual mode, with auto as a secondary. DxO's auto mode is pretty good, but I've often felt that it fights me when I want to go manual (better than it used to be, though). LR's auto mode is okay, but not quite as good, but I love the directness of its user interface. Being a control freak, I like a simple, direct manual mode.
- I don't use things like the web module or slide show feature in LR often, but the mapping feature is great. That plus overall image management makes it a winner for me.
- The slowness of DxO's conversions drives me nuts. There's nothing else out there as slow as it is, and that bugs me. I know I can defer processing until the end, but it's not how I like to work.
- I like the volume anamorphosis feature a lot, but prefer using the DxO Viewpoint tool for that feature. It can run in conjunction with LR or Photoshop. The latter is where I use it, most often as a smart filter against a smart object.
- That last item is the killer difference for me. Being able to migrate images from LR into Photoshop and retain the ability in many situations to redo the raw conversion parameters in a "Photoshopped" file is huge. It's what separates LR and ACR from everything else, and it becomes the ultimate tie-breaker with many good programs: DxO, Capture One, NX2, etc.
All of the above is based on my own biases, prejudices and style of working, coupled with the kind of photography I do. I absolutely agree with the idea of trying both and seeing what you prefer. I plan to continue doing the vast majority of my work in LR and PS for the foreseeable future.Rick Walker
My photos:
GeoVista Photography-
#7. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 5
Tristan, Rick, Paul. Thanks for your comprehensive replies. I have now tried DxO and Lightroom 5, I already have Lightroom 4 which I have used extensively since the original Lightroom I owned way back.
My conclusion now is that although DxO seems to have many attributes which work in a different fashion, Lightroom 5 will be my weapon of choice. Somehow I found myself looking at DxO as an upgrade to Lightroom, but I find DxO less intuitive and brings less to the post processing table. So, later this month when LR5 is launched I shall upgrade from LR4.
Thanks for all your inputs and very valuable comments
Richard -
#9. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 5
mpage Registered since 28th Jun 2004Mon 24-Jun-13 05:01 AM | edited Mon 24-Jun-13 05:26 AM by mpageRick,
>- The slowness of DxO's conversions drives me nuts. There's
>nothing else out there as slow as it is, and that bugs me. I
>know I can defer processing until the end, but it's not how I
>like to work.
I have a Windows 7 64-bit system, and it takes around 22 seconds to process a single D600 Raw file. Individual image in a batch process much faster. I processed a batch of 350 images in just over an hour.
My CPU is strong, but far from a top-of-the-line Intel Processor. I have the Intel Core i7-3820 CPU, 3.60Hz with 16 Gigs of RAM.
I like processing a batch of images at a time. This allows me to comb back through already edited images if I discover something else that can be enhanced. I am also able to continue to edit images while DxO is processing if I choose.
How long does it take to process a D800 Raw file? Are you using an Apple or Windows OS?
I'm hoping to get a D800 or D800E during the Christmas season, when there are traditional discounts, unless there is a D900 by that time. I wonder if this might change the way DxO Optics Pro process my images.-Mark-
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#10. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 9
walkerr Registered since 05th May 2002Mon 24-Jun-13 05:44 AM | edited Mon 24-Jun-13 05:58 AM by walkerrI don't have D800 images on my laptop at present and I'm traveling, but I do have some D600 ones. It takes DxO 49 seconds to convert a D600 NEF to a 16-bit TIFF, whereas it's about 9 seconds for ACR or LR to do it. Capture One takes about 13 seconds. NX2 takes about 7 seconds, which is a remarkable improvement over its performance in the past (the 64-bit change helped a lot). I'm running on Macs, but I saw the same relative performance when I used DxO on Windows machines in the past. For me, that slowness disrupts how I like to work, especially when I take images into Photoshop. I want to work an image start to finish and not segregate raw processing from finishing touches.Rick Walker
My photos:
GeoVista Photography-
#11. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 10
mpage Registered since 28th Jun 2004Tue 25-Jun-13 07:48 PM | edited Tue 25-Jun-13 08:25 PM by mpageRick,
I asked my friend Peter Beckett for a D800E RAW file. The one he sent used the Adobe Color Space. The D800E RAW file size is 44.8 MBs. The D600 RAW file size is 28.8 MBs, also using the Adobe Color Space.
It took about 36 seconds to process the D800E RAW file into a 16-bit Tiff file (202 MBs), while it took 24 seconds to convert the D600 RAW file into a 16-bit Tiff file (130MBs). I believe that it took around 30 percent of the time to write the image onto the disk drive. This means that disk speed is just as important as CUP power.
With my Windows system, I do not need to wait until the current image is processed before I can move to the next image if I want. I'm not sure if Apple systems allow you to do this.
Here is Pete's image:
Attachment#1 (jpg file)
-Mark-
My Nikonians Gallery-
#12. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 11
walkerr Registered since 05th May 2002Tue 25-Jun-13 08:03 PM | edited Tue 25-Jun-13 08:28 PM by walkerrMark, the product works the same on Windows as it does on a Mac. I own a D800e in addition to the D600, so I know it takes even longer to process an image from that camera than it does a D600 image. It's the slowest product out there, no matter which camera you are using. Again, I dislike the length of time it takes me to get an image ready for Photoshop. It has nothing to do with the next image and prepping it in parallel. BTW, the other products have that ability, too. It just happens faster.
Also, raw images don't have a color space like Adobe RGB. That's something you apply during the conversion process.Rick Walker
My photos:
GeoVista Photography-
#14. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 12
mpage Registered since 28th Jun 2004Wed 26-Jun-13 01:50 AM | edited Wed 26-Jun-13 02:35 AM by mpage>Also, raw images don't have a color space like Adobe RGB.
>That's something you apply during the conversion process.
Does this mean that the Color Space choice under the Shooting Menu only affects JPGs in-camera?
The file Pete provided had a leading underscore character in the name (_D8E1182.NEF). I thought this indicated an AdobeRGB Color Space file. I also select AdobeRGB in the Shooting Menu on my D600 and the system ads an underscore to my RAW file names.
What is the purpose of the camera adding an underscore character to indicate an AdobeRGB RAW file if Color Space is handled in post processing?-Mark-
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#16. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 14
walkerr Registered since 05th May 2002Wed 26-Jun-13 02:45 AM
>Does this mean that the Color Space choice under the Shooting
>Menu only affects JPGs in-camera?
>
Yes. It also places a tag on the file that triggers ViewNX2 or Capture NX2 to process it in that color space (unless you have the defaults in those programs set to use a different color space). Similarly, the jpeg preview in the file is rendered in that color space. The raw data is unchanged. You can make it sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto RGB - whatever you want - in post-processing. That tag that says what the camera was set to does nothing at all in most programs, including DxO.
>The file Pete provided had a leading underscore character in
>the name (_D8E1182.NEF). I thought this indicated an AdobeRGB
>Color Space file. I also select AdobeRGB in the Shooting Menu
>on my D600 and the system ads an underscore to my RAW file
>names.
>
>What is the purpose of the camera adding an underscore
>character to indicate an AdobeRGB RAW file if Color Space is
>handled in post processing?
It's for the reasons above. It doesn't mean the actual raw data is different - it's not.Rick Walker
My photos:
GeoVista Photography
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#13. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 11
This has absolutely nothing to do with this thread, but I saw your picture and thought that's Cambridge! Of course it isn't, but just to show how across the pond wine merchants have the same ideas
Richard
Attachment#1 (jpg file)
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#15. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 13
mpage Registered since 28th Jun 2004Wed 26-Jun-13 02:18 AM | edited Wed 26-Jun-13 02:20 AM by mpageRichard,
>I saw your picture and thought that's Cambridge! Of course it isn't,
>but just to show how across the pond wine merchants have the
I believe that Peter Beckett took the image on a recent trip. I'll get the specific location and post it later.
-Mark-
My Nikonians Gallery-
#17. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 15
Richard, Mark,
The picture of the "Gentlemens' Groomer" was taken in the old part of Norwich (on a wet 'n windy day) late in May.
After a bit of perspective correction, general cleaning up and cropping, I find this to be a pleasing image. It's just around the corner from Norwich Cathedral.
Very interesting to see the comparable "company vehicles" parked outside these two establishments - I wonder how common that is nowadays!
Pete-
#18. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 17
Ah well, perhaps it's because my picture was taken pnly 70 miles away from Norwich! I should have noticed the telephone number
It's a small world.
Richard
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#19. "RE: DxO Software - Elite or Standard Edition?" | In response to Reply # 11
Shene Registered since 29th Dec 2013Mon 03-Feb-14 05:16 PMStd does not support D610. They have a page where you put in your camera and lens and it will show you which program you need.
Maybe it's just me thinking too much, but I tried a couple of conversions of raw files from my Nikon D610. The resulting tiff just looked better to me from the DxO conversion than from the NX2 or Lightroom conversion. Maybe it is the lens-camera adjustments or the other DxO automatic adjustments or my system but it took about 13 seconds for the file to export as a 16 bit Tif and appear on the drive as an icon. I have not figured out yet how to batch process but I'm sure it will be at least as fast if not faster. I don't need speed since I am not a pro with tons of photos. It probably works fast due to the SSD drives and the fast intel processor with 16 gig memory. I am sort of searching for the best workflow. Right now it looks like:
1) move files from the card to a folder on desktop
then
2)run them thru DxO to convert to tiff and do auto adjustments and store them in a file folder.
After that is done,
3)import the raw and the Tiff folders into Lightroom.
I would consider importing the raw images into Lightroom directly from the camera card and use DxO 9 to then convert them to tiff using DxO from within Lightroom but Lightroom does not show DxO 9 as an "Edit in" option. Maybe it should but I don't know how to get it to do that. It finds DxO Filmpack 4 and DxO Viewpoint 2 but not DxO 9 pro elite. I also cannot seem to do anything in DxO 9 with D100 images (my old camera) in raw format (they are not supported) or do any lens module fixes on the D100 on Tiffs even though the module for the D100 and lens combination is shown in DxO and downloaded. I wrote to DxO support to see if they can explain it to me and am awaiting a response.Visit my Nikonians gallery.
G
Could any user who has either version comment on the virtues of Elite v Standard and where it stands in your view against Lightroom4/5 please.
Thanks
Richard