Once upon a time RAW converters were rare, exotic things. Now that everyone who’s serious about photography shoots RAW all the time – unless they’re taking snappy-snaps – RAW support is everywhere. To add to the fray, DxO has created a new converter and processing tool called Optics Pro. There are two versions: Standard, which sells for £99, and Elite, which we review here. The feature set is the same. The only difference is that Elite adds support for a selection of high-end camera bodies, including the Canon EOS 1x range and the Nikon 2DX. The features include a RAW converter, optical correction tool, noise remover, and fringe remover. These all produce good output, and can work on JPEGs and TIFFs. But for best results you’ll need a module matched to your particular camera.

This leads to the biggest problem, which is the limited range of camera and lens combinations supported. Photoshop’s RAW converter works with almost anything that’s on the market. DxO’s converter is less comprehensive. The approved list includes many high-end models, but mid-market cameras are under-represented, and there’s no support for any Fuji cameras at all. Lens coverage is mixed too, this time concentrated in the mid-end with some gaps at the pro level. If your camera isn’t supported you won’t be able to use the RAW converter at all, and the lack of lens support means the optical compensation tools can’t be used. However, DxO is working on new profiles all the time, so support is likely to improve over time.

Overall, the underlying technology is good, and Optics Pro really can dig out extra detail that Photoshop’s own converter misses. But the interface is a little quirky in places, and you’ll need to check camera and lens listings carefully before buying. Functionally, if you have Photoshop CS2 you’ll have most of what Optics Pro offers already. Add a better noise removal tool, such as Noise Ninja, and you’ll have something that’s very close indeed. But if you have a much older version of Adobe’s RAW plug-in then Optics Pro has a lot to offer.