Still loving the M6II, even more with new DXO

Larry Rexley wrote:

MAC wrote:

R2D2 wrote:

The quintessential basketball photo that turned the tide for me!

indeed!!!

Canon M6 Mark II + EF-M 32mm. 1/1600 second @ f/1.4, ISO 1600.

might have been able to go ss1/800 or ss 1/1000, but iso 1600 worked with the faster ss

DxO Photolab 5, Deep Prime Noise Reduction (the original processing).

Full size image (jpeg converted at 100% Quality). Large file! Click on "original size"...

DxO PL 5, Deep Prime. Luminance: 45. Lens Sharpness: Global .23, Details 50, Bokeh 50, no USM

DxO PL v6.1.1, Deep Prime XD. Luminance: 50. Lens Sharpness: Global -.50, Details 50, Bokeh 50, no USM. Full size image (jpeg converted at 90% Quality)

The DPXD settings I used resulted in noticeably less noise, yet a bit more detail here (check the player in white's face, and the stippling on the ball). Using other settings can give you about equal noise, but substantially more detail.

I've noticed that the balance between noise and detail (Luminance and Lens Sharpness) will vary depending on the type of scene captured and the intended look that you're after. It pays to experiment.

Overall, DPXD sets the IQ standard a notch higher (IMHO), and gives you one more tool in the toolbox that can be utilized as needed, or not.

I couldn't tell at the image level

so I pixel peeped in photoshop using the side by side comparator at 300%

well, unfortunately I found more artifacts on the face of the player with the ball when dpxd was used

and for the closest player in maroon on the left, I'm see to much watercolor like blur with dpxd vs dp

so for my tastes, I don't see the extra benefit at the image level and I'm not preferring the DPXD when I pixel peep on the faces - and the extra time to process would be an added negative

but I did see more stipple detail in the ball as you said -- so for a photo of objects where one wants more detail the upgraded version may be the one to use, but for faces, I dunno ...

This is a tough one... processing images like this and comparing them is tricky. There are so many variables. The settings from PL5 and PL6 using different types of de-noise are going to be likely different... in my experience changing the subtle sharpness and exposure settings in conjunction to the de-noise will give you optimal results.

Each of us processes differently and has a different eye. It's so hard to compare using someone else's already processed images...

yep - well said

I'm going to have to spend some time reprocessing some of my own images to really understand what's different about PL6 and how much better it may be.

exactly

for me I stay with PL5 for now

R2