The DxO One: The iPhone-Connected Camera You Just Might Need

Introducing DxO One 

DxO One Overview

While DSLRs have the capacity to take great pictures, they are bulky items you would much rather leave at home. Although there are cases when they are much better to use than your phone’s camera, you have to admit that it’s not quite fun to carry them around all day – unless of course it’s related to your job. But for those who just love shooting everyday life but don’t want the hassle of bringing along several items and find their phone’s camera a bit lacking, the DxO One might be what you’re looking for.

Although priced at a rather hefty $599, you might start to think if it’s really worth it. After all, there are some decent cameras you can get at that price range, DSLRs even. But if you’re looking for convenience (i.e. not having to lug around tons of equipment), the DxO One might be worth the shot.

The One is DxO’s first foray into hardware 

DxO is best known as a company that developed a rating system for image sensors. The One is their first venture into hardware and they have come up with an exceptional product.

The phone-connected camera isn’t an entirely new concept either as Sony was one of the first to release their version, the QX series. Olympus soon followed suit with their Air A01. But these devices were big and clunky and these days, people are looking for small and easy to store. This is exactly what the One is all about: it’s small (about one inch wide and about three inches tall), it’s light (it weighs less than four ounces) and it takes great photos. Basically, it’s a camera that’s meant to fit in your pocket.

Features 

DxO’s phone-connected camera works on Apple devices with the Lightning connected. Essentially, you just have to plug this in and your phone will serve as a display.

The One has the capabilities of a high-end camera packed into the size of a bar of soap. The camera is a 1” sensor, f/1.8 max aperture, 20.2 megapixels and 32mm equivalent beauty.

The f/1.8 lens is sharp and is great for shooting in low-light conditions. Although hardly bigger than a GoPro, its sensor is similar to those in the Sony RX100 and Nikon’s J1 and V1; and it’s bigger than the iPhone 6 camera’s sensor.

DxO’s One can shoot 20.2 megapixels in DNG raw and JPEG and its video capabilities go as high as 1080p. Although Apple devices cannot display DNG or RAW format files, the One flashes a JPEG preview instead.

With its advanced image processing system, your photos will be enhanced automatically.

Even better, the One has it’s own memory card and battery. This means it won’t steal precious storage from your phone or drain its battery.

The DxO One is also made of durable materials like precision grade aluminum. As such, you have a device that is not just convenient to carry around but also long lasting.

How it works 

As mentioned earlier, all you need to do is connect the camera to your iPhone and it’s display transforms into a viewfinder. You can swivel your phone to compose a better shot or get the angle you want.

Of course, the real magic lies with the companion app which can be downloaded for free from the App Store. Through the app, you can change viewfinder and capture modes, change camera controls with just a touch and share photos from the iOS interface instantly.

Being connected to the Lightning port is one of the major selling points of the DxO One because you no longer have to perform file transfers. The companion app automatically starts when you attach the device to your phone.

Some of the bad 

Every great device comes with a set of flaws, its inevitable. Then again, there are future releases (hopefully) that will correct the mistakes of the past. One of the biggest flaws of the One is shooting in DNG or RAW. Why is that? Well, it takes a moment to render which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to capture a fast-moving subject.

Also, the connection is somewhat loose so you really have to use both hands when using the device. Although durable, the last thing you want is to wreck your camera before you’ve had fun with it.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the DxO One is a great camera: it’s small, it’s light and it captures great photos and videos. However, one of its major drawbacks (apart from the functional issues) is its price tag. But if for the moment you are looking for portability and great image quality, then the One is a good choice.

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