So I saw the announcement for PR6, and I made a collection of 50 raw files taken over the years to run through PR5 and PR6 in order to compare the results. I ran it through PR5 and stored the resulting DNGs in a folder. Then I downloaded the PR6 trial version and tried to have it process my collection. Error: you can only process 20 images at a time with the trial version of PR6! Leave it to DxO to always find new ways to annoy its customers… I mean, what possible interest could they have to impose this limitation? Anyway, I ran my collection in three parts and will now carefully analyze the results. At first sight, and looking at only a few “difficult” (very high ISO, for example) images, it’s very difficult to tell the output of the two versions apart. More pixel-peeping is in order to see whether springing for this upgrade is warranted or not.
Here’s my 2 cents. I’ve compared PR5 XD2s with PR6 XD3 and even pixel peeping it’s hard to see much difference, but I give PR6 the ever so slight win. This is with Sony A7R V & A7 V RAW files. What pushed PR6 over the line for me was the compressed hi fidelity files. I pixel peeped those and they look equal to the uncompressed files (both from PR6). ~20MB compared to ~96MB sealed the deal for me.
What you say makes perfect sense to me. However my case is slightly different because I don’t save the intermediate (TIFF or DNG) files. I just use PR to create photos from my raw files (mostly RAFs) and then I typically move to another app to process the images. I always save the raw files (in my Lightroom Classic library), and sometimes the final output (usually in PSD format) in a different place. To me, then, it does not matter how big the intermediate files are.
From what I’ve seen so far, there does not seem to be a particular reason to upgrade. I’ve slowly weaned myself off DxO products: I’m not using PhotoLab anymore (my last update was to PL 6). I occasionally use the Nik collection (mostly Silver Efex Pro), but I think my version will remain at the current level 8. I also have FilmPack 6, but I don’t use it at all. ViewPoint 5 serves my current, and possibly future, needs well, so I may just stay with this version.
Yeah in your case I’d definitely say the upgrade isn’t worth it.