Review
DxO PureRAW & PhotoLab review: the RAW quality benchmark
DxO's DeepPRIME XD noise reduction and lens corrections set the bar for RAW image quality. We tested PureRAW as a pre-processor and PhotoLab as a full editor.
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What it is
DxO PureRAW is a focused pre-processor that runs RAW files through DeepPRIME XD denoising and DxO's optical corrections, then hands clean DNGs to Lightroom or Photoshop. PhotoLab is the full editor built around the same engine.
Who it's for
Any photographer shooting at high ISO — wildlife, event, low-light, astro. Also Fuji X-Trans shooters who want demosaicing better than Lightroom's.
What we liked
- DeepPRIME XD is, frankly, the best RAW noise reduction available
- Lens correction profiles are measured per body+lens combo, not generic
- PureRAW integrates cleanly as a Lightroom plugin
What we didn't
- Processing is slow without a strong GPU
- PhotoLab's catalog is non-existent — it's a developer, not a DAM
Verdict
If you care about image quality at the file level, DxO is essential. Run PureRAW before Lightroom and you will see the difference at 100%.
What we love
- ✓Best-in-class RAW noise reduction
- ✓Measured lens corrections
- ✓Clean Lightroom round-trip
Where it falls short
- –Slow without a strong GPU
- –No catalog/DAM features
FAQ
PureRAW or PhotoLab?
PureRAW if you live in Lightroom and just want the DxO image quality. PhotoLab if you want a standalone editor with local adjustments.
Is DeepPRIME XD worth the upgrade?
For high-ISO shooters, yes — it preserves detail far better than DeepPRIME or any in-Lightroom denoise.
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