@photonewspn | photographynews.co.uk
GEAR / 33
Specifications
Sensor 40.2-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS 5 HR Image processor X-Processor 5 Image formats 14-bit Raw, JPEG, 10- bit HEIF, 8/16-bit TIFF (via in-camera Raw conversion only) Storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, UHS-II compatible ISO range Stills: 125-12,800, expansion to 64-51,200. Movie: 125-12,800, expansion to 25,600 Shutter Mechanical: 15min to 1/4000 sec. Electronic: 15min to 1/180,000 sec. Bulb mode up to 60min. Flash sync to 1/180sec Monitor 3in tilt-type 3:2 LCD touchscreen, 1.04m dots Viewfinder 0.39in OLED, 2.36m dots Focusing Single and zone AF. Face/ eye detection, subject detection for animal/bird/automobile/motorcycle and bike/aeroplane/train Drive modes Mechanical shutter to 8fps, electronic to 20fps (1.29x crop). Pre-shot 8/10fps, 10/13/20fps (1.29x crop) Video HEVC/H.265, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, 6.2K (16:9) 6240×3510, DCI4K (17:9) 4096×2160, 4K (16:9) 3840×2160, Full HD and Full HD High Speed (17:9) 2048×1080, Full HD and Full HD High Speed (16:9) Battery NP-W126S; 400 frames in economy mode, 310 frames in normal Connectivity HDMI Type D, USB-C, 3.5mm stereo mini connector, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, hotshoe mount Dimensions 124.9x72.9x39.1mm Weight 445g (with card and battery)
To see the action, there’s a 0.39- inch, 2.36-million-dot EVF that’s the same as the X-T50’s, although the rear LCD is lower resolution, at 1.04-million dots compared to X-T50’s 1.84 million. And while the X100VI has a hybrid viewfinder, it’s all EVF on the X-E5. It would be nicer to have more detail, but the X-E5’s screens get the job done. The rear screen does tilt up and down and even flips up and over the top-plate to make it ideal for selfies or vlogging. The camera uses the same NP- W126S battery as the X100VI and X-T50 instead of larger NP-W235 from the X-T5 and X-H2, but there isn’t room for a chunky high-capacity battery. The X-E5 does offer a number of new features – the most obvious being the new Film Simulation dial on the top-plate. This redesigned control is integrated into the body of the camera, with an indicator window showing the selected profile. Alongside the default simulations – Provia, Astia, Velvia, Classic Chrome, Reala Ace and Acros – there are three custom slots where you can assign Film Simulations and image quality settings, giving you instant access to your own custom Film Sim recipes.
Serious video shooters might overlook the X-E5 for something like the X-H2, but don’t write it off as it has features that content creators and YouTubers will love. The headline is that it can shoot 6.2K in up to 30fps, and either C4K or 4K oversampled from the 6.2K signal for even higher quality. The camera can record in H264 8-bit Long GOP, H.265 10-bit All-Intra and various bit rates from 200Mbps to 8Mbps – ideal for livestreaming to social media. And there’s little to no overheating. But there is a catch, as many of the higher video resolutions and frame rates do involve a crop. Shoot 4K and all is good up to 30p with no crop, but 6.3K or 4K HQ downscaled from 6.2K has a 1.23x crop. Go above 30p in native 4K – up to 60fps – and there is a 1.1x crop. Even in HD, there is a 1.1x crop at speeds faster than 30fps. If you do feel the need for some super slow-motion, HD does offer frame rates up to 240fps but with a 1.23x crop and there is no audio recorded. For rolling shutter artefacts where vertical lines appear to bend over when recording fast pans, in HD or normal 4K then it’s not too much of a problem. But shoot 6.2K or 4K oversampled from 6.2K, and things do go a bit awry. It’s best to avoid these settings if you’re shooting lots of fast movement or whip pans. The camera offers all the film simulation modes in video, if you want a straight-out-of camera look built in. Or select Log settings to widen dynamic range in post. Video spec is up to the job
For the ultimate, you can also output 6.2K to an external Atomos or Blackmagic monitor-recorder for Raw video. The AF generally works well, but our biggest gripe is when shooting a lens wide open for a shallow depth- of-field, it can hesitate a little when pulling focus. It’s almost like a two-step motion rather than one smooth move. If you notice it, switch to manual focus. The image quality is what it’s all about – and it’s excellent, with low noise and smooth tones. To see samples of video, go to the review section on photographynews.co.uk .
LOW PROFILE If you’re taking pics on a trip abroad or your local shopping mall, the X-E5 makes sense, as it’s small and doesn’t look threatening to security guards
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