Canon Digital Photo Professional Digital Lens Optimizer
This module is utterly fantastic.
Canon's Chuck Westfall on DLO:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Westfall
A new feature called Digital Lens Optimizer processes RAW images to achieve ideal optical characteristics for all types of optical aberration or diffraction, effects of a low-pass filter in front of a CMOS sensor, etc. This function improves image quality particularly in the image periphery in addition to the image center. This function is made possible because the entire design-through-manufacture process, for camera, CMOS sensor, EF lens, and DPP, is carried out entirely at Canon. Images are processed optimally using lens information in the image files (focal length, subject distance, and aperture) and lens data specially for the Digital Lens Optimizer. (However, the size of a .CR2 file will be two to three times larger after applying the Digital Lens Optimizer.) Adjustments are made for such aspects as spherical aberration, chromatic aberration, astigmatism, curvature of field, sagittal halo, chromatic aberration of magnification, axial chromatic aberration, diffraction, and the effects of a low-pass filter in front of the CMOS sensor. DPP’s Digital Lens Optimizer will be usable with any of 29 compatible lenses initially. It works with .CR2 files from EOS models released since 2006 (EOS 30D and forward).
I used it on a sample image from the "lowly" 17-40mm f/4L USM lens that I took in New Zealand last September.
The shot was taken at 1/6s f/16 at 17.0mm iso100 and is a crop from the extreme right of the frame.
The image is otherwise as-is out of camera with no processing applied.
The image on the left is without DLO, and, on the right, after DLO has been run on it.
I'm very impressed by the way it handles the /entire/ image, however. The function is more prominent at the edges and in the centre, and, just massages itself elsewhere in the image, removing all chromatic aberration. DPP always had the ability to remove CA, but, it's now even better.
One trick to take note of is to set the initial sharpness setting to 0 before running DLO. Once you're satisfied with the results, then, return sharpness slowly, one click at a time, so that you don't introduce artefacts. With the example image above, I didn't even have to return sharpness -- it just came out that sharp after running DLO.
I think this might be something half new (at least in this arena)
I am guessing (but dont know) they are using typical known and determined PSFs (Point Spread Functions) of lens aberrations to closely approximate the actual PSF of your particular lens and then run their algorithm to refine that PSF and then deconvolve.
Plus apply corrections to other sorts of aberrations and even possibly using different PSFs across the image to more accurately correct it.
One day some bright cookie will create something that can do this for all your lenses by imaging test targets and then accurately analysing properly and correcting. Meaning that an imperfect lens might be capable of taking a near perfect picture (after processing).
Quite possibly in the camera !
Which may in fact mean that lenses could be made much more cheaply as they dont have to be perfect, just be able to be analysed for their errors and then corrected.
Of course that might be expecting more form the technology than is currently possible, but I think in theory its possible.
BTW - While I can see the improvement in detail and contrast between the 2 versions of your image that the software has provided, I have to say that I actually prefer the first one !
It has that wonderful hand painted and aged toned look about it.
The second one just looks like a sharp landscape photo rather than a scene with mood and personality !
I know that deconvolution and PSFs have been around for some time.
I do think it's great of Canon to put that functionality into their software, though. Each module is about 20-30 MB in size -- one module per lens. So, there's obviously something going on under the hood, more than just a simple algorithm.
My goal has always been to make photographs that resemble paintings. Church, Turner, Bierstadt, et. al., are my heroes. The only way to get the look is to photograph in the appropriate light. But, I still think the image post-DLO resembles a painting, just a bit sharper.
That's a nice improvement H. As cameras get even more resolution and sharper that tool will become even more valuable as new cameras start showing up the weaknesses of existing lenses more and more.
Interesting stuff H, DPP has always been a fantastic tool, not just for processing either, I found DPP would print correctly to my Epson R1800 while PS was all over the place and wouldn't produce consistent repeatable results.
I've been sorely disappointed with my 16-35 it's terribly soft at the edges, hopefully this update will show a big improvement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg
How/where do we get a hold of the new version of DPP with this new DLO feature.
Sorry I didn't reply earlier, Greg. Phil's got the address for you.
Phil, I recall you've mentioned that DPP got the printing right for you on a couple of occasions. I still use Photoshop for printing because I run sharpening routines as well as brightening curves over the files before I print them.
One point to note is not to expect great results from DLO on very high ISO images. It introduces a lot of edge artefacts.
I would love it if people posted their before and after results in this thread.
It is an excellent module.
I will continue to extoll the virtues of using native proprietary software over and above reverse-engineered third party software.
Regardless of the fact that Canon provides an SDK for developers to write their own tools to decode the RAW files, none of them produce natural results that DPP does. I have always felt that we spend thousands of dollars on gear, why should third party software let you down? When I was uninformed I used to use Lightroom. I stopped using Lightroom because it kept aping the skin tones in my wedding images. People often say they use camera profiles for ACR to mimic DPP. Why should you have to? You've got a tool that does everything. If more work needs to be done on an image, there's an export to Photoshop menu item.
I, for one, expect to see on my computer screen what was on the back of the camera when I took the image. Not what Adobe et. al. thought the camera saw. DPP is the only tool that shows you exactly what your investment captured.
What a difference H! Looks like a very handy tool. I can see why you often head over to NZ with stunning views like that!
Thanks for the update link Phil.
After reading your info on DLO, I downloaded the update last night and yes, you need to download further each lense module.
Anyway, here is a sample from my job up in the Pilbara. The region of interest is to the extreme left of the original with text and fence wire to add complexity to the image.
For me this is fantastic as I often need to photograph detail wiring installations, model numbers etc.
Camera : 7D, ISO 200, 1/400th Firmware 1.2.8
Lense : 16-35mm F2.8L @ F5.6 & 20mm
Other Info : Polarising filter fitted. Shot in RAW (of course!)
DLO Setting : 50 (default when you select the checkbox)
Has made a noticeable difference and for me, this is a great module from an engineering use point of view. I also agree with the high ISO number impact.