In this DxO PureRAW 3 review, we’re looking at the latest version of DxO’s outstanding Raw conversion tool. And overall, DxO PureRaw 3 is easy to use, very fast, and armed with some of the best noise reduction on the market today.
However, DxO PureRaw 3 does bare some drawbacks. First, PureRaw 3 is only a marginal update of the already wonderful DxO PureRaw 2. And like its predecessor, PureRaw 3 cannot denoise JPEGs, whereas competitors such as Topaz Denoise AI and ON1 NoNoise AI can. Nevertheless, DxO PureRaw 3 is hugely impressive and a must-try. Jump to Conclusion | Try DxO PureRaw 3 Now.
DxO PureRAW 3
BUY DxO PureRAW 3
One-off Payment
Flexible Payment Options
$129
Try DxO PureRAW 3
Try DxO PureRAW 3 for 30 days
No Credit Card is Required.
$0
Table of Contents
- What is DxO PureRAW 3
- What does DxO PureRaw 3 do?
- How much does DxO PureRaw 3 cost?
- DxO PureRaw 3 Trial
- How to use DxO PureRaw 3 Tutorial
- DxO PureRaw 3 Test
- Is DxO PureRaw 3 worth it?
- DxO PureRaw 3 Compared
- Conclusion – Is DxO PureRaw 3 worth it?
What is DxO PureRAW 3
DxO PureRAW 3 is a standalone raw conversion and noise reduction application for PC and Mac OS. And being a standalone application, DxO PureRaw 3 works independently of your favorite photo editor. Alternatively, you can operate DxO PureRaw 3 as a plugin for Adobe Lightroom.
But you should not confuse DxO PureRaw 3 with typical photo editing software. For instance, you cannot use DxO PureRaw 2 to boost exposure, tune white balance, or adjust color. Instead, DxO PureRaw exists to prepare and polish your raw file before editing. And in this regard, DxO PureRaw 3 is outstanding.
What does DxO PureRaw 3 do?
DxO PureRAW 3 is a raw conversion tool. Specifically, DxO PureRaw 3 denoises and sharpens your image, corrects optical distortions, and removes chromatic aberration and vignetting.
Hands-off Raw conversion.
DxO PureRaw 3 is almost entirely automated. Aside from specifying a few preferences – DxO PureRaw 3 will do all the work without you spending your time clicking buttons and nudging sliders.
Key to this automation is DxO PureRaw 3’s Optics Modules which are optimized for each camera and lens combination you shoot. For instance, PureRaw 3 will download an Optics Module for photos taken with a Nikon D750 and a Nikon AF-S 50mm F1.8 lens and another for photos taken with an Olympus OM-D M1ii and a 40-150mm F2.8 Pro.
As a result, each of DxO PureRaw 3’s adjustments is tailor-made for each specific image, and as the sample below demonstrates, the results speak for themselves.
Noise Reduction
Although DxO PureRaw 3 is much more than a noise-reduction tool, PureRaw 3 is equipped with some of the best noise reduction on the market today. Perhaps, even the very best.
And thanks to DxO PureRaw 3’s automation, denoising a large batch of photos with PureRaw 3 is a breeze. For this reason, I consider DxO PureRaw 3 the best noise reduction software application for batch processing.
Raw Only
As the name suggests, DxO PureRaw 3 is a raw conversion tool and utterly incapable of processing or denoising JPEG or TIFF files. If you want a noise reduction application that can handle raw and JPEG, check out my Best Noise Reduction Software guide.
How much does DxO PureRaw 3 cost?
US$129. Buy
DxO PureRaw 3 Trial
You can download and use DxO PureRaw 3 free for 30 days. Download.
How to use DxO PureRaw 3 Tutorial
DxO PureRaw 3 Test
In this part of this DxO PureRaw 3 review, we’ll compare images processed in PureRaw against out-of-camera raw files. Due to DxO PureRaw 3’s optical distortion correction, you will notice a slight difference in size between the before and after images.
Test 1
As the sample below demonstrates, DxO PureRaw 3 handles portraits with ease.
DxO PureRAW Test 2
I tend to shoot Micro Four Thirds these days – often with the excellent but dark Olympus 14-150mm F4-5.6. DxO PureRaw 3 did a great job processing this otherwise noisy slightly-soft image.
DxO PureRaw Test 3
DxO PureRaw 2 rescues another noisy image of a bird.
Is DxO PureRaw 3 worth it?
DxO PureRaw 3 is fast, responsive, and a breeze to use. Furthermore, DxO PureRaw 3’s hands-off automated mode is consistently reliable, producing excellent results every time.
Regarding cost, DxO’s claim of 2.5 stops worth of noise reduction seem entirely warranted. And I cannot think of another way of getting a 2.5-stop advantage for $129. Thus, comparatively speaking, DxO PureRaw 3 is an utter bargain.
Overall, DxO PureRaw 3 is an outstanding Raw conversion tool and one of the best noise reduction software applications you can buy.
DxO PureRaw 3 Compared
DxO PureRaw 3 vs DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite
DxO PhotoLab 6 full-blown photo editing application with the Elite edition featuring PureRaw’s DeepPrime noise reduction built-in. Therefore, there is no practical reason to buy DxO PureRaw 3 if you own DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite. Read DxO PhotoLab 6 Review.
DxO PureRaw 3 vs Topaz Photo AI
DxO PureRaw 3 and Topaz Photo AI will work wonders with your images. However, DxO PureRaw 3 corrects distortion, chromatic aberration, and vignetting, whereas Topaz Photo AI does not.
However, Topaz Photo AI can correct poor focus, remove motion blur, and upscale images. Finally, Topaz Photo AI can denoise JPEGs and Raw, while DxO PureRaw 3 is limited to raw files.
But, if you don’t care about any of that, DxO PureRaw 3 is faster and cheaper, and its noise reduction is at least as good. Read Topaz Photo AI Review for more information.
DxO PureRaw 3 vs Topaz Denoise AI
Topaz Denoise AI is a dedicated noise reduction application that is much cheaper than DxO PureRaw 3. In terms of noise reduction, Topaz Denoise AI is a match for DxO PureRaw 3. But unlike DxO PureRaw 3, Topaz Denoise AI can denoise JPEGS and Raw.
However, Topaz Denoise AI is more hands-on than DxO PureRaw 3. On the one hand, this means Denoise AI gives you more freedom to tune your photo to taste. But, on the other, it results in a much slower workflow.
Plus, Topaz Denoise AI lacks DxO PureRaw 3’s image correction functionality. For this reason, DxO PureRaw 3 is more likely to produce superior results. Overall, so long as you don’t need to denoise JPEGs, I think DxO PureRaw 3’s speed and output are worth the premium. Read Topaz Denoise AI Review for more information.
DxO PureRaw 3 vs ON1 NoNoise AI 2023
ON1 NoNoise AI is one of the best noise reduction applications. Furthermore, it’s fast, performs optical corrections, and includes AI image sharpening. Regarding bang-for-buck, I consider ON1 NoNoise AI the best noise reduction software application you can buy today.
But, taking price out of the equation, I prefer DxO PureRaw 3’s automation and the aesthetic of the images it produces. Read ON1 NoNoise AI Review for more information.
Get Discounts on Photo Editing Software
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter and be notified of deals and discounts on photography software from ON1, Adobe, Luminar, and more. Spam Promise: Just one email a week, and there’s an unsubscribe link on every email.
Conclusion – Is DxO PureRaw 3 worth it?
DxO PureRaw 3 is the best raw conversion application I have tested. Regarding noise reduction, DxO PureRaw 3 is extremely impressive and at least as good as the best.
But what makes DxO PureRaw 3 my new favorite noise reduction application is two-fold. First, its automated workflow produces reliably excellent results with very little effort on my part. And second, DxO PureRaw 3’s Optics Modules transcend its DeepPrime noise reduction resulting in an image beyond the reach of a standalone noise reduction application.
Of course, DxO PureRaw 3 is not perfect. Judged solely as a noise reduction application, PureRaw 3 is considerably more expensive than equally effective denoisers such as ON1 NoNoise AI and Topaz Denoise AI. Furthermore, unlike PureRaw 3, both alternatives denoise Raw and JPEG.
But if you don’t care about JPEG and want the fastest, laziest route towards a spectacularly enhanced and denoised image, DxO PureRaw 3 is without equal. Highly recommended.
If you liked this post, subscribe to my weekly newsletter and receive deals and discounts on DxO PureRaw 3 and other photography software and gear. Subscribe
DxO PureRAW 3
BUY DxO PureRAW 3
One-off Payment
Flexible Payment Options
$129
Try DxO PureRAW 3
Try DxO PureRAW 3 for 30 days
No Credit Card is Required.
$0
Read more about DxO and Noise Reduction
DxO PureRAW 3 Review – Overhyped?
Discounts on DxO – $30 off PureRaw 2
DxO PhotoLab Review 2023 – PhotoLab 6 Tested and Compared
ON1 NoNoise AI Review 2023 – Better, Faster, and Easier to Use.
Best Noise Reduction Software 2023 – We have a new winner!
Recent Posts
DxO PureRAW 3 Review – Overhyped?
Discounts on Luminar Neo – Save 85%
Olympus 14-150 mm F4-5.6 II Review – Worth buying in 2023?
