Latest news with #IBIS
Stuff.tv
2 days ago
- Stuff.tv
Fujifilm X-E5 camera fixes my biggest issue with its predecessor
Fujifilm has made a lot of fantastic cameras in recent years, but it's fair to say 2021's X-E4 isn't widely regarded as a modern classic. Few could find fault with its retro style, compact size or general image quality, but the fact that it lacked in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) was a bit of a shocker for a mirrorless camera in its price bracket. The X-E4 was quietly discontinued in 2023, but it's now been given a successor in the gorgeous form of the Fujifilm X-E5. Launched today, the X-E5 has a striking rangefinder-style body (with silver or black accent colour), the very same 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor as found in the X-T5 and X100VI and, finally, IBIS. The new five-axis in-body stabilisation gives the X-E5 up to 7 stops of compensation, delivering sharper shots and steadier video when shooting handheld. And it's not the only first the Fujifilm X-E5 brings to the series, either. Construction quality has been given a glow-up too, with a new machined aluminium top plate replacing the plastic one of past X-E models. Formed from a single slab of metal, the top plate's new design not only looks a little more premium than that of older X-Es, but should make the twiddling the dials a more tactile and pleasing experience. There are three dials up top: one for shutter speed, one for exposure compensation and one enabling users to swiftly flick between Fujifilm's signature Film Simulation modes, immediately altering the look of photos and videos. The Fujifilm X-E5 can shoot 6.2K video at up to 30fps, features AI-assisted tracking autofocus and a tilting rear monitor capable of flipping up 180 degrees. In keeping with the X-E5's retro styling, the tiny EVF now features a stripped-back Classic Disply mode, which Fujifilm says replicates the simplified, clutter-free viewfinder experience of a 35mm film camera (it's still a tiny and outdated EVF, though – seemingly the very same one as was used on the 13-year-old X-E1). There's also a user-customisable control lever on the front, which can be set to adjust things like the view mode, digital zoom or image aspect ratio. And even the supplied shoulder strap is retro, with its fetching rope-style texture. Fujifilm is also launching a new ultra-compact and weather-resistant pancake lens alongside the camera: the XF23mm F2.8 R WR. The two together form a lightweight and highly portable team, with a combined weight of only 535g. The Fujifilm X-E5 will be available from August 2025, priced at £1299 body only or £1549 in a kit with the 28mm lens. US pricing is $1699 body only and $1899 in the kit, which seems to be a quite a premium over the UK price; perhaps that's a sign that the Trump administration's tariffs are beginning to have a marked effect on imports. For more information, head over to the Fujifilm site.
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Fujifilm finally just announced the X-E5 — here's everything that matters
Fujifilm has just announced the X-E5: the long awaited and much anticipated upgrade from the discontinued Fujifilm X-E4. More compact than the Fujifilm X-T line (some of the best mirrorless cameras you can buy), the X-E line is back with Fuji's 40.2MP sensor, plus a new film simulation dial, viewing modes and an OVF simulator. While it shares most of its internals with the Fujifilm X100VI, with interchangeable lenses, the X-E5 is pitched at anyone who wants the form of the X100VI, but more creative freedom, or who has so far missed out on that in-demand camera altogether. I got to test the X-E5 on some of the most beautiful architecture in Valencia and I'll be sharing my detailed thoughts in a separate article. We'll also be reviewing the camera fully very soon. But for now, here is everything you need to know about the Fujifilm X-E5. Unsurprisingly, the X-E5 has received significant upgrades from the X-E4. The most notable difference is Fuji's X-Trans CMOS 5 HR 40.2MP sensor and X-Processor 5 combo as we've already seen in the Fujifilm X-100VI and Fujifilm X-T50, where the X-E4 only had a 26MP sensor. The X-E5 also has in-body stabilization which is new to the X-E range. IBIS, new features and an improved build (such as the aluminium top plate and a better grip) make it 81 grams heavier than the X-E4 at 445 grams — not so ideal in a street camera but maybe worth it for the increased usability brought by IBIS. The X-E5 has a 0.39-inch OLED viewfinder with a 3-inch, 1.04 million dot LCD screen at the rear. The LCD screen of the X-E4 was actually 1.62 million dots, so we've lost some quality here, but the size and touch screen capabilities remain the same. That being said, neither of these are as crisp as the 1.84 million dot LCD screen of the X-T50. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The X-E5 does have a few tricks up its sleeve though, with its EVF and display, which I will get into later. The rear monitor extends and tilts 180° like the X-E4 to help achieve perfect angles without getting on the floor. It even flips up so you can get selfie-style shots too. The controls are, as with most Fujifilm cameras, tactile and about as user friendly as you can get. There are the typical retro dials on the top panel, with the addition of a new film simulation dial, that I'll cover below. The X-E5 uses Fuji's NP-W125 battery, the same as the X-E4. It has a battery life rating of 400 shots (CIPA), and I got 398 before the camera died on me. This slimmer battery allows the the profile of the grip to remain small. Unfortunately, like the X-E4, the X-E5 is not weather sealed, so while it's great in the sunshine and dry weather, it's not one to take out on rainy days. Most importantly, as I mentioned earlier, the X-E5 is the first in the X-E series to get IBIS, which is big news — if you've spent time dwelling on camera forums, this is something the community has been pining for. The X-E5 uses the same five-axis IBIS mechanism we've seen in other recent Fuji cameras like the Fujifilm X-S20, X-T50 and X100VI, for up to 7 stops. It was a solid system to begin with, allowing sharp results at low shutter speeds as low as 2-secs in the X-S20. However, in the X-E5, the detection accuracy of the gyro sensor has been improved over previous models to enhance responsiveness to shake, according to Fujifilm. Continuing Fuji's trend of adding simulation dials to everything, the X-E5 has (you guessed it) a film simulation dial with a display window on top, and three of these can be programmed with your own recipe presets. There is now a toggle on the front of the camera that allows you to alter the aspect ratio visible through the EVF and in SOOC (straight out of camera) JPEGs. This operates the Surround View Function, too, which allows you to see outside the boundaries of your chosen frame/aspect ratio, to simulate an Optical Viewfinder (OVF). There's also a Classic Display mode, which tidies up the image's information at the bottom of the frame to provide a stripped back and more engaging experience. Could these features be a death knell for the X-Pro line, with its hybrid EVF/OVF and emphasis on purity of experience? Just like the Fujifilm GFX100 RF, the X-E5 comes with a rope strap included that is padded around the neck. So while it is a little heavier than the X-E4, it is still super comfortable. The X-E5 launch comes with the news of an interchangeable pancake lens — the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR. At 23mm focal length, this lens offers a slightly wider field of view than the 27mm pancake kit lens of the X-E4, making it a little better for wider street scenes or architecture. The minimum focal distance of the lens is a relatively short 20cm so I was able to get some great detail shots in my time with it. Following on from the X-E4 and its 27mm kit lens, the X-E5 camera body isn't weather resistant, but the lens is. The lens won't be available for purchase separately until November 2025. While the camera is certainly suitable for casual shooters who want a sleek street camera with film simulations, it's quite the investment, and is priced for enthusiasts, just like the X100VI. Available in all black or with silver accents, the camera is priced at $1,699 / £1,299 for the body only and $1,899 / £1,549 for the kit. The kit includes the camera body and the new pancake lens. The prices have been pretty significantly affected by the tariffs in America. This puts the X-E5 on the more expensive side of the X series cameras, with the X-E4 originally being priced at $849 for body only, so even without the effect of the tariffs, this is a stark price jump.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Ancient funerals may have included a ritual feast on a giant bird
Ancient humans living about 15,000 years ago in present day Morocco may have ritualistically feasted on some of the world's largest birds as they buried their dead. The butchered bones of great bustards (Otis tarda) that were recently discovered in one of the African continent's oldest cemeteries hint that these avians were culturally significant at the time. The findings are detailed in a study recently published in the journal IBIS. Roughly 14,700 years ago, a group of people were living and burning their dead in a cave located in what is now Morocco. Called Taforalt cave, or Grotte des Pigeons, this site contains graves of over 30 ancient humans. During this time, mammoths were still grazing the northern steppes and sheep would not be domesticated for another 5,000 years or so. This group was beginning a transition between a semi-nomadic and a more settled life. Studying the other objects found within their graves offers scientists an insight into their daily lives and culture as a community. Additionally, the environmental conditions in the cave preserved the bones, tools, and a huge range of biological material. Having access to this kind of DNA evidence allows for researchers to build a more detailed picture of their lives. Earlier work found that they were burning and consuming the medicinal plant Ephedra, along with other foods such as juniper and acorns. [ Related: Butchered skulls point to Europe's Ice Age cannibals. ] Recent findings suggest their death rituals included the great bustard. Bustards are among the largest flying animals on the planet, with males regularly weighing in at about 44 pounds. Bustards still exist today, but they were once more widespread across Europe, Asia, and parts of north Africa. The new evidence found in this cave confirms that the birds have a long history on the African continent–and have long been valued by humans. 'We see a strong cultural association with the great bustard because the people are not only depositing them in burials, but there's also evidence that they were eating them as well,' Joanne Cooper, a study co-author and senior curator of the avian anatomical collections at the Natural History Museum in London, said in a statement. 'We believe that was part of the funeral rites. It seems to be a feasting set up, which is a very specific type of ritual eating.' The bones of butchered and cooked animals have been found in the most high-status graves. Some hold the skulls of wild sheep, but one specific burial has the breastbone, a great bustard with cut marks. The team believes that this is evidence of a meal similar to the turkey eaten on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas now. The repeated presence of great bustard remains suggests that the avians were culturally significant. It would have taken a great deal of valuable time and effort to catch and prepare the animals, which suggests ritual feasting over routine behavior. 'This is a communal behaviour that involves special foods that people have to go out of their way for that is then consumed in some kind of special context,' says Cooper. 'The habitat for the great bustard isn't really the kind of the mountainous area around the cave in which the remains are found. They would have had to trek down to the plains to catch the bustards, carry them back up to the cave, prepare them, cook them and eat them. The special context is that they're associated with these burials.' Great bustards are typically found in open grasslands and farmland, requiring large areas of undisturbed land for breeding and living. Their breeding typically occurs in March, when males will reveal themselves to females. They compete for female attention with elaborate displays and violent fights in an area known as a lek. They were already naturally vulnerable to human disturbance because they need so much space, but have also been hunted for both food and sport. This hunting and habitat destruction has significantly fragmented their population. The only population seen in Africa today is in Morocco, where the species is considered critically endangered. This group is closely related to a population in Spain, but also genetically distinct. Still, there has been some debate among biologists about how long great bustards had lived in north Africa. In northwestern Morocco, about 70 birds live in two small areas, but this new evidence indicates that their presence goes back generations. The team hopes that the discovery showing the ancient human connection to great bustards spurs more conservation efforts to keep this population from going extinct.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Not sure if you're eligible for unemployment? Here's what to know about benefits in Illinois
Though the experience of being laid off is one many Americans can relate to, the process can be daunting and confusing and differs from state to state. The multiple websites, application portals and eligibility requirements only add to the stress of those trying to find work. Unemployment insurance is a state-operated insurance program designed to partially replace lost wages when you are temporarily or permanently out of a job, out of no choice of your own, or if you work less than full time because of a lack of work. The program ensures that those who are eligible can receive a certain level of income while seeking work. You can find information about such eligibility requirements, the claim filing process and benefit payments below. To qualify for unemployment insurance in Illinois, you must be involuntarily out of work entirely or working less than full time because it's not available. You also must have earned at least $1,600 during a recent 12-month base period and at least $440 outside of the base period quarter in which your earnings were the highest. Your employer must be subject to the state's unemployment insurance law, and you must be not only able and available to work, but also actively seeking work and willing to accept any suitable job offered. Those who were discharged for misconduct, were charged with a misdemeanor or felony related to their work, voluntarily quit without good cause or are out of work because of a labor dispute are not eligible. Others are reading: US jobs report: Employers add 143,000 jobs in January as unemployment rate sits at 4% Make sure to file your claim for unemployment insurance benefits during the first week after you become unemployed. You can file for benefits by creating an account with the Illinois Benefits Information System (IBIS) system or in person at a local Illinois Department of Employment Security office. To file, you need your social security number, your driver's license or state ID and the name, mailing address, phone number, employment dates and separation reason for all the employers you worked for in the last 18 months. You also need the social security number, date of birth and name of any dependents you claim. Additional records are required for those who received pension payments, noncitizens, recently separated veterans and former civilian employees of the federal government. You must finish your application in one sitting, as any entered information will be lost if you step away for more than an hour. Those who are approved will receive a UI Claimant Wage Information Sheet, or UI Finding, in the mail 7-10 days after filing, which contains information including your weekly benefit amount and certification day. Story continues after photo gallery. Individual Illinois residents can receive a minimum of $51 and a maximum of $605 per week in unemployment benefits. Those with a spouse can receive between $66 and $721, while those with a child are eligible for $77 to $827. You can receive benefits for up to a maximum of 26 weeks in a one-year period. If you believe you've been wrongfully denied benefits, you can write a letter or complete the Request for Reconsideration of Claims Adjudicator's Determination form within 30 days. Mail, fax or deliver this to your local IDES office. You will then attend an appeal hearing, where you will present your case to an IDES administrative law judge, who will determine whether unemployment insurance benefits are payable. Any documents entered as exhibits must be faxed or mailed to the judge and any other parties in time to ensure receipt of the documents before the date of the scheduled hearing. Files may be inspected by submitting a completed Review File Request to the local office where the claim was filed or the agency's main office at 33 S. State, Chicago, IL. After the hearing, you will receive a decision. If you miss the hearing, you can request to reopen the hearing within 10 days after the hearing date. Those who collect more unemployment insurance benefits than they are eligible for are committing fraud. To avoid this, follow the rules on the IDES website, report income from part-time or temporary work while looking for a full-time position and report gross wages in the week you work and earn them, not in the week you are paid. Examples of fraud include falsifying dependency information and providing false and/or inaccurate information to IDES. Those who commit fraud are subject to serious penalties, including prosecution by government authorities, jail or prison sentences, force repayment of unemployment insurance benefits collected, plus penalties and fines, forfeiting future income tax refunds and losing eligibility for future unemployment benefits. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Here's how to apply for unemployment insurance in Illinois
