FStoppers: Can DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite Knock Lightroom Classic Out of the Ballpark?

From the article Can DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite Knock Lightroom Classic Out of the Ballpark?

"It’s rare that I review something and am persuaded to abandon what I use and adopt something different...Most of my work only happens in raw development, and image quality is of prime importance. Consequently, DxO PhotoLab 6 is now my top choice. " - Ivor Rackham

The article gives you a brief overview of PhotoLab 6 Elite, then talks about DxO lens correction: "Photolab 6 has access to DxO’s extensive lens test data. This makes a significant difference to the way profiles are applied for cameras and different lenses."

Rackham then goes on to test RAW files from Nikon, Canon, Sony, OM System and Fujifilm.

Nikon: " As I found with Capture One, the details were much better defined in PhotoLab than in Lightroom. There was a clear definition in the green pine needles on the tree in the test image that was better than Lightroom and on par with Capture One."

Canon: "Canon raw images were brighter than in Lightroom, and less noise was visible. It was on par with ON1’s results."

OM System: "With PhotoLab, the image was much sharper than with Lightroom Classic too. Furthermore, there were no ugly over-sharpening artifacts. Pushing the shadows slider up introduced clean details in the shadows with no noise. In comparison, in Lightroom, there was that unpleasant purple tint in increased shadows."

SONY: "The results with Sony images were like those I found with the OM-1. With PhotoLab, the resulting pictures were clearer, with better colors than either Lightroom or Capture One. Skin tones were good. Photos of people of color had better skin colors, although there was a slightly more yellow tint than with Lightroom. "

Fujifilm: "started testing using images from an X-T3 and an X-T4. At default values, the images opened in PhotoLab 6 were very similar to those produced by Capture One and far superior to Lightroom’s, through which the photos seemed bleached in comparison. Green foliage in PhotoLab was far better defined and overall crisper.

Moving onto the image I used in the earlier programs from the X-T5, there was a stark difference in results at default values. The grass, which was in shadow, was far brighter, and the detail in the leaves did not show the strange artifacts that were visible in Lightroom."

Go read the entire article and see if PhotoLab 6 Elite is a RAW editor you might use.