Photography News issue 26

Camera test 44

Photography News Issue 26 absolutephoto.com

DxOONE This device turns an iPhone into a 20-megapixel camera with a whole host of photo features including PASM modes and a fast lens, as well as the option to shoot Raw files. This is what the future could look like

Specs

Street price

£449

Sensor 20.2-megapixels, 5406x3604 pixels, CMOS BSI Sensor format 13.2x8.8mm (1in format) File formats JPG, DNG, DxO (SuperRaw), MOV (H.264) Lens 11.9mm f/1.8 (equivalent to 32mm in full-frame) with image stabilisation. x3 digital zoom Minimumfocusing 20cm ISO range 100 to 12,800, 25,600 (Hi1), 51,200 (Hi2) Shutter range 15secs to 1/8000sec Drivemodes Single frame Metering system 1024 multi-zone, centre-weighted and spot Exposuremodes PASM, auto, sports, portrait, landscape, night Exposure compensation +/-3EV in 0.3EV steps Monitor OLED screen on ONE. Focusing Auto, single-shot and continuous Focus points 256 Video Fuji HD at 30fps, slow-motion

results is excellent. It also proved itself immensely useful on occasions when I don’t usually take a camera with me but always have a phone. For me, this is when I amout pedaling onmy road bike. I don’t take a camera for obvious weight reasons but always, always have my iPhone. Stuffing the ONE in another pocket was no issue at all and if I saw a picture the extra seconds it took to set theONEupwas a chance to get my breath back so it was all good. The whole concept is good (at least for iPhone users) and I got some good pictures from the ONE, but there are niggling handling issues, some of which can be sorted in firmware, others perhaps not. For example, set-up is slow which means an opportunity might be history by the time you are ready to shoot, and you can’t really carry the ONE and phone linked together ready. It’s not comfortable nor secure and the phone locks after a period and the DXO goes into power save mode, too. The ONE’s battery also does not encourage having the camera powered up for extended periods. It drains quickly and it can’t be user-swapped so you can’t have a spare ONE handy. Aside from these fundamental issues there are aspects of handling that could be better. For example, on the ONE I’d like the option of having 1EV settings for aperture and shutter speed selection as it speeds handling up–thereisonly0.3EVatthemoment and scrolling through the f/stop range is slow. ISO speeds are in 1EV steps. The AF point can’t be locked in position. Having a touch screen means an unintentional touch of a finger can mean the focus point can be anywhere and that proved very annoying, causingme tomiss shots.

normally tucked away flush with the ONE’s body, pops out. When stowing the ONE, you need to ensure the connector’s safely parked and the process to do this is simple. It is worth noting that the connector can’t be pushed flush unless it is in its vertical position, so if you have used the camera at an angle the connector needs to be correctly aligned. Next, input the phone or tablet’s unlock code, plug the ONE in and the camera automatically fires up the camera app. If this is the very first time you have used the ONE, the camera tells the phone to download and install the app. With the camera connected and the app open you are ready to shoot, but the process has already taken several seconds. On a quick-draw comparison a compact, CSC or DSLR ismuch, much quicker. Intuitive controls The phone’s touch-sensitive screen becomes the monitor and control centre. On the right there are settings for image format, flash (the camera’s LED light), drive mode and exposure mode. On the left, you can set aperture, ISO, shutter speed, exposure compensation and white-balance. The virtual shutter and movie record buttons are here too. There is some shutter lag but it’s not much at all. It doesn’t take long at all to get to grips with using the controls. It is intuitive because the settings and terminology are photographic. Set A and you know that is aperture- priorityAE. Of course, it’s also the case that the iPhone/iPad’s screen is first rate giving a high-resolution, bright viewing image. Using the device’s

touch-sensitive screen is something users are very familiar with and that helps with handling, camera set-up and shooting. There is the option of shooting Raw, JPEG or both at the same time. You can choose to have images stored only onto the ONE’s Micro SD card, or transferring JPEGs to the phone as well. Also, if you have just shot a bunch of pictures, you don’t have to wait before removing the DxO from the phone and there is no data loss. SuperRaw SuperRaw is DxO’s own format while normal Raws are Adobe DNG files so readily editable in an imaging package. Both are available on the ONE. SuperDxOis specificallyaimed for high ISO use and is processable only in DxO OpticsPro 10 – buy the DxO ONE and you get a free copy of the software. In thismode, the camera takes four images in rapid succession – the four shots take place in 1/22sec if the exposure is 1/22sec or quicker. In practice, it’s so quick you don’t notice this happening. The ONE does have an algorithm to handle moving subjects and I used SuperRaw for people shots with no multi-imaging or blur problems. Incidentally, DxO 10 is an excellent software compatible with most Raw formats and its PRIME noise reduction feature is capable of amazing results, far superior to anything possible in Lightroom. Once you are back home, just as with any camera, files can be downloaded via a cable or by removing themicroSDcardandusing a card reader. I have to say I mostly enjoyed using theDxOONE and the quality of

Review by Will Cheung

Most people use their mobile phone’s camera to document their lives and, of course, its connectivity means you can take a shot and upload it to your favourite social media site very quickly. All that is well and good, but while phone picture quality is getting better it doesn’t match that of a high- resolution compact, CSC or DSLR. The DxO ONE, however, can deliver 20-megapixel Raws, has more camera functionality than a mobile phone, has a 32mm f/1.8 lens, and even lets you shoot Raws. Also, you can upload shots seconds after taking them thanks to the camera’s on-board processing. It sells for £449 and certainly offers an interesting option to iPhone users who want high-resolution files without the hassle of taking a ‘proper’ camera out with them. The ONE itself is quite small – about half the size of a iPhone 5C and a little over twice its thickness. It is self-contained with a microSD card, fixed 32mm f/1.8 equivalent lens, lens cover, battery, and connector. It has a two-stage shutter release too, though when it is connected youmight prefer the virtual release on the phone. It is worth noting that the ONE and does not draw any power from the iPhone or vice versa. TheDxOONEslipsintotheiPhone’s or iPad’s Lightning connector. On my iPhone 5C I had to remove the case to enable a connection. The ONE is switched on by sliding the spring-loaded lens cover all the way down until you encounter resistance. Push the cover further and the spring-loaded connector,

mode at 120fps Connectivity Micro USB, via phone Storagemedia Micro SD card Dimensions (wxhxd) 67.5x48.8x26.2mm Weight 108g Compatibility

iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6/5s/5c/5, iPad Air 2, mini 3, Air, mini 2, iPad (4th generation), iOS 8 or later Contact dxo.com

Above The ONE’s LCD panel has limited information as relevant camera settings are shown on the phone’s touchscreen.