DxO Photolab 8 Review - Effortlessly Excellent Image Quality

[@GregoryLopez1]

This is the most thorough review I've seen. Thank you!

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Thanks Gregory - appreciated.

[@DB-wx1zs]

The only thing that would impress me and have me dropping every other program for Photolab is if photolab had a AI precision masking tool, the other apps have it, but photolab is still behind in this? Why? It’s frustrating to see them focus on every other feature expect for AI masking. What’s the point of all these features if I can’t easily make a targeted selection?

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Hi DB - I agree. AI masking, at least subject, sky, and background masking has become almost standard and is very useful for quick wins. That being said, I find almost all AI masking technologies to be so unreliable that they become difficult to test and compare. But even in the worst case, they offer a head start for manual brushing.

[@DB-wx1zs]

@@silentpeakphoto1845 Yea, good point!

[@PoetryFilms]

I don’t care about, or care for AI in photo editors, but the terrible photo browser/management of PhotoLab (it can’t see into hierarchical folders) is a baffling omission in an otherwise excellent AP.

[@DB-wx1zs]

@@PoetryFilms I don’t care for AI as well, but they could at least have some selection based masking tools in there, other editors have had this for years now. If I can use a tool to select and mask a specific object or area, how do they not see that as helpful?

[@michaelwplant]

I do like that you are brand agnostic with your affiliate programs and can work with them all. it means you do not gain anything extra in recommending one software brand over another. That is to be commended so when you do recommend something then it has to be because it does as you say it does.

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Thanks Michael! This being 2024, most software is pretty good these days - but some apps suit some users better than others.

[@W_T.F]

Absolutely the best raw processing software I have ever used.

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

I think so :)

[@picklebird1261]

Thanks for your review. I especially enjoyed your comparison between DXO and LR--very helpful. I own both programs and find that I like the way that my files from my Canon R5 and R5 MII look when edited in DXO more than LR. I find the luminance tool in DXO very helpful and look forward to using the hue tool now and being able to use the luminance bar on the Tone graph. Catherine

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

You're welcome PickleBird. Good name :)

[@JohnIverJørgensen]

I can’t figure out if Pure Raw 4 already is included in Photolab 8 Elite? Or do you have to buy both?

[@nholmes86]

yes is included

[@JohnIverJørgensen]

@ thanks

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Just to elaborate - both PL8 and PureRaw 4 have DeepPRIME XD2s and produce similar/identical results. The workflow is quite different though.

[@Twobarpsi]

Excellent excellent review mate!!

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Thanks Twobarpsi - I put a lot of work into it.

[@oratrovovortaro]

Great review, thank you! I'm really curious how the new Camera Raw denoiser compares to DeepPRIME XD2s.

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Thanks - I really appreciate it. Do you mean Adobe Camera Raw? If so, a test could be arranged. DeepPRIME is certainly better than Lightroom's AI Denoise in terms of speed, flexibility, and image quality.

[@oratrovovortaro]

@@silentpeakphoto1845 Yes, if I understood reviews correctly, new Adobe Camera Raw 17 (not the Lightroom's one, but the one that comes with PS) have got new updated denoising technique. That got me curious as to how it now compares to the best denoiser - DeepPrime XD2s 🤔

[@hywel3143]

Thanks for this comprehensive review, Richard. Please may I ask whether you can import Lightroom .xmp presets into PL8?

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

I explored PL8 but could not find an option to import Lightroom Presets. Furthermore, I was unable to load *.XMP sidecar files - only *.dob sidecars. It's possible PL8 does not recognize XMP at all :(

[@hywel3143]

@@silentpeakphoto1845 Thanks for taking the time to check, Richard. Still, it's a first rate app overall, and it does have a useful set of built in presets.

[@dubstepzsi]

Hi richard can i ask once you pay that amount which i did with Affinity V1 when it came to V2 being released i had to pay again and thats when i left affinity behind and went to capture One which is yes a subscription base of 25 pounds a month so i guess my question is once Dx09 Photo Lab come's out will i need to pay again for the version update? Also i am loving the noise reduction tool as this is where Capture One really really really falls short. Also does it have an image sharpener tool?

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Hi Dubs! The DxO PL6/7 to PL8 upgrade costs US$109. Of course, there's nothing forcing you to upgrade, and you could continue using your older version for a very long time. PL8 has fantastic sharpening and can even correct lens softness. However, it can't fix motion blur like Topaz Photo AI.

[@christophermason7735]

I have an old canon 7Dii and because it has inbuilt GPS it adds GPS coordinates automatically as long as I enable it in camera. I'm on PL 7 and assume it's the same

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Yep - should do unless there is something weird with the 7Dii's metadata. You can try the trial (see description) if you'd like to make sure.

[@mere_mort4l]

Can it stitch panoramas well?

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

I'm afraid not.

[@martinlennon4673]

Excellent overview 👍

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Thanks Martin!

[@MacawAviculture]

Great review, thanks! I have been using Lightroom 6.14 and Photoshop CS6 because I refuse to pay monthly fees to Adobe. Lightroom has great folder-based import and export function. Does DxO use hard drive folder-based photo for importing and post-edit exporting? Can you explain how photos are imported into DxO? After editing can they be saved in folders on my hard drive? Do you offer fee based DxO photo editing support? Thank you!

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Hi Macaw. DxO leverages your existing file structure so doesn't really import at all. However, you can add images to projects for the sake of convenience. However, doing so doesn't move any files. I often do free DxO tutorials. Any requests :)

[@gunsentry8349]

You did not mention Photoshop and in in particular ACR editor which has all the same features and more. The price difference is also negligible, a sub for PS\LR is less than one off payment for a year that DxO8, DxO upgrade you have to pay again. PS\LR sub includes all upgrades.

[@v3rlon]

Except that a PS/LR subscription requires that you keep paying. You can choose not to buy DxO next year, or even ever again, and keep using it. That doesn't wok with an Adobe Subscription. If Adobe goes out of business, or decides to alter the terms and conditions to something you consider unacceptable (not that they would ever do such a thing /s), raises it rates to more than you can afford, or just quits updating LR, there is nothing you can do. As someone who was old enough to remember 2009, I well know that even companies you think of as reliable can make some financial missteps and just go away. Even their login servers could go down and lock you out of your own material despite you doing everything you agreed to. Ask me how I know. No, I would much prefer software where I can run it even if I move off grid due to a zombie apocalypse.

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Hi Gunsentry. I know what you're getting at and I see you're point. However, even if a DxO Photolab user upgrades each year, and many do not, they get to upgrade at a significant discount. Thus, depending on the Photolab customer's upgrade habits, PS/LR ranges between meaningfully more expensive and substantially so. Off course, if the user wants layer-based adjustments and the capacity for graphics design - Photoshop makes sense.

[@v3rlon]

@@silentpeakphoto1845 Or ON1 which has RAW layers

[@ryanvacation7319]

Not everyone needs the latest updates. I am quite happy with Photolab 2 and haven’t paid a single cent since 2019.

[@prokremelskidezolati1426]

Lightroom is MUCH more capable, than DxO, much more. Just try backlit people/faces or high dynanic range scenes - no contest at all, DxO in these cases just sucks, not to mention much better colors in LR most of the time! But, for not hdr scenes, DxO is great. PS: LR´s denoise is much better as well - no artifacts.

[@silentpeakphoto1845]

Hi - thanks for watching. I like Lightroom as an overall photo management and editing studio but when it comes to editing, my experiences with DxO are more positive. But, I agree that Lightroom is very good and the best option for some.