DxO Photolab 8 - InDepth Review - One RAW Editor to Rule Them All?

One of the most anticipated software updates of the year is here - DxO have released the latest version of their lauded RAW editor - Photolab. In this release there's a brand new AI denoising algorithm, new lens softness corrections, an advanced live loupe tool and tweaks to the tone curve. I've been putting it through its paces over the last couple of weeks, testing the new features and I was impressed by what I found.

DxO supplied me with a serial for Photolab 8, but had no input whatsoever on the content of this review.

00:00 Introduction
01:34 TL;DR
02:28 Asset Management
04:10 New preview Loupe
05:27 RAW Editing
06:01 Smart Lighting
07:14 Luma Tone Curve
08:19 Calibrated Colour Profiles
09:23 AI Denoising
13:52 Lens Softness Correction
16:45 Hue Mask
18:40 Conclusion
21:24 Recommendation
23:12 Closing

[joseph-boza]

Another excellent review - thank you! I've been only working in PhotoLab 7 for the past several months and as I've learned the nuances and capabilities of the suite I've come to really, really appreciate the approach. PhotoLab 8 seems evolutionary in nature, building on DxO's philosophy and approach and likely offers more value than initially may seem to be case. At least that's my hope, we'll see how I feel after I upgrade. ;)

[garycralle]

Every reviewer, including you Andy, portrays Photolab 8 as a more hands on slower-paced imaging program, but I think having the PL8 choice of presets automatically applied to images together with auto camera/lens corrections provides speedy high quality imaging even if no other corrections are applied. And if they are, it's a bonus. Thanks for the review!

[InfluHamster]

I ditched Adobe a little while ago after using it for about 20 years. For a short while I filled the gap with (free) Darktable. But I'm so happy DxO PhotoLab 8 crossed my path. I'm so happy with the purchase, the processing (and output) of raw pictures is amazing!!

[michaelwplant]

I always love your Ironic approach to discussing photography software, I also love the Luma curve for what it does. good video Andy.

[jogey]

Very intelligent reviews, so nice to get educated by someone who actually knows his stuff.

[rogerefird]

Yes, Andy. I'm surface level in photo editing....LRc...not so much PS. You pointed me to DxO....Ok...thanks....no more needed; it was a new (necessary) tool for you!

[Seymourphotos]

Ive used DxO Raw Software for years, I have now upgraded from Photolab 6 to PL8 and up to now all is good, Great review by the way.

[joeytranchina]

I appreciate this introduction to DxO Photolab 8. I've been frustrated with Adobe for the common reasons but only just began to search for an alternative... As an American who lives in France, I'd like to say Thank You & "Go Cats."

[hywel]

Thanks for another balanced and in depth review, Andy.

My main issue with Photolab 8 is that you still have to purchase the Nik collection in order to access DXO's HDR Efex module separately.

I've been using PureRaw 4 for three months or so and as you say it is excellent. Again, though, we see a fragmentation of DXO products presumably to hike profit margins in that my copy of DXO Optics Pro for Apple Photos has both Smart Lighting, lens corrections, Prime Denoise and Clearview (not Clearview Plus) all for £9.99 (!), whereas PureRaw 4 just has Smart Lighting.


It's a similar story with the Essential vs Elite versions of Photolab 8, with Smart Lighting in the Essential edition but not Clearview Plus...

[anthonyverolme]

Thanks for the review Andy, great alternative to Photoshop/Camera raw/Lightroom I believe, greetings from The Netherlands!

[EricGross]

Excellent review. Very much appreciated.

[tomdearie]

Thanks, Andy. Lucid and efficient.
I’m a wildlife photographer who generates thousands of frames per expedition and use Photolab for NR and lens profile sharpening before jumping to Lightroom.
I’d drop Lightroom entirely for Photolab — meaning buying every version — if they added intelligent object detection tools along with boolean functions. I don’t mind spending time on fine tuning my best images but, at present, Photolab simply doesn’t complete the picture.
I wish it did — I’m seriously considering dropping Adobe entirely after 40 years.

[WillNewcomb]

I always smile hearing your accent!

Since I'm a relative beginner Lightroom Mobile user on my phone so I won't bother changing.

[ernreeders]

What a clear and articulate presentation.
Love the Rainbow Lorikeet.
I've used PL7 & 8 on Z8 files at ISO 50, 000 and the denoise and sharpen functions work really well.

[hanahoeo]

Thanks Andy, just got chance to watch. Currently using V7 since its release. May wait on this one, maybe. As always great video, thanks

[weddingbells]

Thank you Andy for an exact and Informative review. I use DxO Photo Lab 7, but I'm considering upgrading to DxO Photo Lab 8 for the Hue Mask and Deniosing capabilities. Thank's again.

[neutrinostorm]

Thank you for this review! As an “old” DxO user with licenses for PureRaw 3 and 4 and since PhotoLab6 was released, the update from 7 to 8 is a given for me. Nice upgrade feature: All presets created in the older version 7 are automatically imported into version 8. But as with any new software, there's a small bug: after optimizing a RAW photo and trying to save it as a JPG, a random error occurs, indicated by a red exclamation mark in the bottom right corner of the thumbnail. Shutting down PhotoLab also causes a crash. However, after restarting the software, JPG export works.

[julianpaxton]

Thanks, nice video. I use DXO pure raw for the lens correction and noise reduction, then edit in lightroom/photoshop. There are so many choices 😊

[gregmcray]

Great review, Andy. I use both LR and PL, but always seem to come back to PL even though LR has better masking technology. I always enjoyed driving a stick shift car, so maybe that explains it :) .

[EricGross]

I've been using DXO for nearly five years and I find that it still falls far short of LR. The ability to select subjects, using AI in LR is an exceptionally powerful feature that is nonexistent in PL8. Factor in the ability to intersect masks and to add and subtract from them, then LR just destroys PL8 and local adjustments are far more important than global ones, at least in my experience.