However, as now more and more people shoot Raw, the demand for something that offers not only conversion but also editing capability has never been higher. There are, of course, the camera manufacturers’ own software, which usually come bundled with individual cameras, and then there’s Adobe’s ACR (Adobe Camera Raw), probably the most widely used engine around.

I cannot stress how important it is to choose the best Raw converter out there for the equipment you use – although, strange as it may seem, I haven’t seen one that definitively excels for any particular camera system. This intangible software engine is what translates the ones and zeroes into what you see on your screen, and eventually on your prints. To get the best out of the Raw data from your cameras and lenses, you will need the best Raw image engine. In the digital world, especially for those who are Raw shooters, things are not so clear cut. However, the parameters of the development process were set by physical components like chemicals, films and paper. DxO’s latest software promises powerful Raw image correction, but does it deliver? Jimmy Cheng fires it up to find out Click here to buy DxO Optics Pro 10 Elite Editionīack in the days when working in a physical darkroom was the only way to get an image out of a camera, developing photographs took time, patience and skill to create something outstanding.

Dxo viewpoint database