One of the best RAW converter and photo developers in the market ...

There are remarkably many specialized RAW converter and photo developers in the market. In addition, DxO Optics Pro (Standard and Elite), there are also Adobe Lightroom (and Photoshop), Apple Aperture, Bibble 5 Pro, Capture One, Silkpix Developer Studio, the manufacturers own RAW converter and RAW Therapee (freeware) and a number of plug-ins (for example: UFRaw as Gimp plugin) and some others (this list is not complete!).

DxO Optics Pro do I use since version 5 and am amazed at how many additional new camera models and lenses every year. This comes as worthy of attention, as it is in Optics Pro is not only a very good RAW converter, but - if this measured camera / lens models - even distortions, vignetting, lack of sharpness, unsharp masking, keystone distortion, lateral chromatic aberration and much the same is corrected with. This can be reliably done just only with calibrated camera / lens combinations. Apart from the fact that this leads to excellent automatic corrections, but this means as well that it probably will not ever be any combination can be recorded. A glance at the list of supported camera / lens options on the DxO website is worthwhile in any case. If we are to believe the information of DxO, then the end of 2011 over 5,000 combinations and supported by the end of 2012 it should be even 10,000. Without being familiar with the procedure of the measurements (inputs), it would be a really huge effort. According to the essentials camera / module plug-ins must be downloaded after installing the program. This limits - if you are staying within the purchased program version (the "Elite" version basically provides all the modules) - not to a single combination, but this is read with reference to the EXIF ​​information of the images and compared with the installieten modules.

Functional difference between the two versions "Standard" and "elite" only in that in the "Elite" version professional cameras and lenses are supported. For this reason, to find out the correct choice between the two program versions for your own use, taking a look at the website of DxO worth to avoid disappointment on unsupported versions.

Something, however, is very surprising is that the automatic systems used to achieve already such good results that are manually to beat any more. Sure, with Photoshop, the images can manipulate almost unlimited, but this is not the essential object of Optics Pro. In addition to the RAW formats of various cameras and JPEG images are supported for editing.

Who calls his own a lot of pictures which should seineigen a powerful PC for development in batch mode in any case call (fast CPU and 8GB RAM are already recommended); according to a 64-bit operating system. Supporting be in addition to the Windows versions (XP), the Apple platform from OS X 10.5. In addition - also very nice, the purchased version can be installed on two workstations.

In principle, working with Optics Pro is relatively easy, since the processing / development is divided into three steps: Organize, Edit and Develop. For the first time you can use the appearing at startup wizard, which supports the first steps. Subsequently, all further controlled by pallets (histogram, exposure and color corrections and, if installed (sold separately), the film pack and can then be appraised after a short calculation.

With "DxO HDR Lightning" from RAW images can be a "pseudo HDR" create. While this feature can with popular HDR Photos by far not compete (especially not in terms of producible effects), but brings good results.

As output formats JPEG, DNG and TIFF are available. More presets for the Internet and the print edition are available as well.

Something caution, since a setting found in the program settings, the "I accept to participate in an anonymous Product Improvement Program" is called. For those who do not want this, this option is deselected but.

Who wants to get acquainted before a possible acquisition (download a trial version, there is - as with the other manufacturers as well, on the manufacturer's website), should do so on the manufacturer's website and continues to be a mitgeschnittener webcast is also on youtube have been published and made available. Not in all respects Professionally, however, a good insight into the operation and the features is given.

The registration on the manufacturer's site I think is a good thing, because you is kept on the latest updates of the program and the Model extensions to date.

Personally I Lightroom example too bulky - even if the results are equally outstanding. Regarding the workflow I find DxO comfortable, the rate still in the eye of the beholder and in Adobe proverbial "home" is, which is certainly rather see with Lightroom, the program of his choice.

Due to the long-standing good results (I program used with a Canon G10 and the Nikon D5100, so far as the standard version for me is currently sufficient), the improved speed and Worklflows and the superior in my view automatics earned this program five stars , And then there's always the film pack as an option ... I can only say try, try ...