First look: DxO One promises to turn iPhone into DSLR quality camera

The DxO One Camera connects to an iPhone.(Photo: 1" aux:Firmware="1.1.3" ph)

NEW YORK — We take zillions of pictures with our smartphones and the cameras in recent vintage handsets have gotten really good. But they're not digital-SLR quality good.

DxO hopes to change that. The digital image processing company is putting the final touches on a clever pocket sized DSLR-quality camera called DxO One. Due out in the fall, DxO One can connect to the Lightning connector on iPhones and iPads, promising to turn your phone into a high quality shooter capable of delivering pictures that rival images shot with a DSLR.

Under such a scenario the iPhone or iPad becomes your viewfinder, but you can also use DxO One as standalone camera.

DxO One costs $599, and while that may seem pricey for what you might think of as an iPhone accessory, it is meant to compete against full-sized "mirrorless" type cameras. Still, at that price we're looking at something more likely to appeal to photo enthusiasts than mainstream photographers, at least at first. But everyone can appreciate stunning images. (Check out some of the samples posted here).

Shot with DxO ONE camera (Photo: DxO)

The camera weighs 3.8 ounces and stands just 2.65 inches tall, despite a 1-inch a 20.2 megapixel sensor and f/1.8 lens, 32mm-equivalent lens.

Through a free iOS companion app you can change the aperture from f/1.8 to f/8000s and the ISO from 100 to 51200. You can swivel the camera when it's connected to the iPhone or iPad, allowing shots from different perspectives, including, of course, selfies. You can also shoot 1080p videos.

The pictures you take can be transferred to the Camera Roll on the iPhone or iPad, from where you can edit them as is possible with images taken with the iPhone' or iPad's own cameras. Pictures and videos are otherwise stored on DxO One's own microSD card though.

For a limited time, DxO is including its own image processing software with the price of the camera, such as software that lets you process RAW files, and software that lets you reproduce the look and quality of analog film. The camera can capture a SuperRAW file resulting from four RAW files captured in quick succession. Those images are merged together when you connect DxO One to a PC or Mac.

Shot with DxO ONE Camera (Photo: DxO)

DxO One doesn't have its own flash, but it can leverage the iPhone flash. Whether you use the flash or not, the camera is meant to excel in low light. I haven't gotten to test the camera myself yet, aside from a couple of images I shot in my office. But I can certainly vouch for the quality of images that the company showed off while demonstrating the camera, some taken in dim light.

This low light image was taken with DxO (Photo: DxO)

I look forward to spending some time testing DxO One out in the real world.

Email: ebaig@usatoday.com; Follow @edbaig on Twitter

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