The Canon EOS Rebel T5i (Body only, $7499.99) appears very similar to its predecessor the T4i. You'll see that the two are almost identical if you look closer. The T5i, aside from cosmetic and firmware differences, is the rebadged T4i.
Both are excellent cameras, so it's not bad. Its 18-megapixel sensor has been proven. The rear LCD, which is hinged and sharp, is touch-sensitive and is sharp. The T5i was not as popular as the Nikon D5200 ($248.98 on Amazon). This is an entry-level DSLRS that performs better at high ISO settings.
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Features and Design
T5i ($899.00 on Amazon) is a compact entry-level DSL camera that measures 3.9x5.2x3.1inches (HWD), and weighs just 1.1 lbs without lens. The Pentax K-30 ($693.00 Amazon) measures 3.8x5.1x2.8 inches but is slightly smaller. It weighs in at 1.4 pounds.
Its solid glass pentaprism pentaprism viewfinder is brighter and larger than that found in the T5i. It may not be a problem if you are used to using the rear LCD on a point and shoot to frame the viewfinder's size, but it will bother users who have been using 35mm SLRs with larger finders.
Experiential shooters want a camera with easy access to all settings. You can access a variety of scene modes by using the mode dial located next to the power switch. These allow you to set up your camera for shooting sports, macros and landscapes. You can also use manual, automatic, program and aperture priority modes. A variety of scene modes are available to make it easier for shutterbugs moving up from compact cameras.
Although the T5i has only one control dial, its control layout is very good. To get dual dials for a Canon camera, you will need to upgrade to the EOS-60D. The Pentax K-30 SLR is the only mid-range model with two control dials.
You will find the dial at the top, just behind shutter release. You'll also find the ISO control button on the top, but the bulk of the controls—exposure compensation, white balance, drive mode, autofocus mode, and JPG color settings—are located on the rear.
The button for previewing depth of field is located next to the lens. You can hold that button down to bring the lens iris back to its current setting. This will give you an indication of how much your image will focus. However, it is in an awkward place that you must remove your thumb from lens barrel.
The Q button is also located on the back of the camera. The Q button on the rear of your camera opens a touch-sensitive menu that allows you to adjust shooting settings. Tap the icons to open a dialogue that explains what each function does. Pressing it again will allow you to dig deeper into setting adjustments. You can disable this Feature Guide from the menu. It will not appear if the Q menu is navigated using buttons instead of touch.
Displays with a resolution of 1,040k dots are extremely bright and sharp. The display is housed in an articulated arm that allows you to view the LCD from either above or behind. You can also face it forward when taking self-portraits. Live View mode shows the LCD the area of active focus. It can be moved by just touching the screen.
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Performance and conclusions
T5i is able to start up and take photos in 0.5 seconds. It also records a 0.1 second shutter lag and can ramble shots at four frames per second. This rate is just short of Canon's 5fps claimed for the camera. How long it can keep up the latter pace depends on your file format of choice—it is limited to 7 shots at that speed when shooting Raw, but manages to keep up the pace for 39 shots when shooting JPGs.
One of our fastest cameras, the Sony Alpha 65 is one that can start and fire shots in just 0.8 seconds. It matches the shutter lag of 0.1 seconds and produces shots at 7.7 frames per sec. However, it takes only 14 shots to keep up this pace.
The optical finder allows the camera to focus very fast. It can focus on a shot that is very out of focus and get it back in sharp focus within 0.2 seconds. In dim lighting, it takes 1.4 seconds to bring the image into focus. The camera can focus in Live View in 0.8 seconds. However, it struggles to fire the shot in darkness. The focus took 2.4 seconds to lock in this scenario.
However, the T5i's Live View focused system was able to focus the camera twice as fast. If you prefer to use Live View, you'll get better performance from the Sony Alpha 65—it uses a fixed mirror that allows for very fast focus regardless of whether you use the camera's rear LCD or OLED viewfinder to frame shots.
The T5i was reviewed as a single body. However, it can also be purchased in a set with either the EF-18-55mm f/3.5-55.6 IS STM lens ($79.00 Amazon) or the EF-18-135mm f/3.5-55.6 IS STM (374.99 Amazon.) for less than $1,100. T4i came with an older 18-55mm lens. It did not have an STM motor. The STM motor is nearly silent when focusing, and is especially useful for shooting video—it provides a smooth focus experience, rather than the choppy one you'll get with non-STM lenses.
Imatest was used to test for image noise. This can cause photos to appear grainy or lose detail as the camera's light sensitivity increases. T5i noise is below 1.5 percent in ISO 1600 and just 1.7 percent in ISO 3200. JPG files are very detail-oriented at ISO 1600. ISO 3200 is acceptable. Raw can be used comfortably by the camera up to ISO 6400, but images will exhibit a noticeable, tight noise pattern.
Nikon D5200 has a 24-megapixel image sensor and does better at noise control. It is generally accepted that sensor with a lower pixel density are better at handling noise. However, the Nikon D5200 keeps noise below 1.5 percent in ISO 3200 and ISO 6400. Side-by-side photos taken on NEC MultiSync PA271W calibrated displays show them being neck and neck in detail at similar ISO settings.
QuickTime video recording is possible with the T5i at 1080p30 or 1080p24 resolutions, as well as 720p60 and 480p30 resolutions. It records video in excellent quality and the camera is able to focus continuously while recording. This makes it look a lot like a camcorder. Although it can do this faster than traditional SLRs it is slower than a fixed mirror model such as the Sony Alpha 65, or a mirrorless camera such as the Olympus OM–D E-M5 ($200.00 on Amazon).
The focus is quiet and smooth if you are using an STM lens. If you are using an older lens, such as the majority of the Canon catalogues, then the focus can be a little choppy. This is because it is very audible. An external microphone can be connected to the mic input. A port is available for wired remote controls, mini HDMI outputs, and mini USB data ports. All standard SD and SDHC memory cards can be supported.
In all aspects, the T5i has exactly the same camera features as its predecessor. The T5i's image quality is great, even though it isn't the most in its class for low light. However, the rear LCD with articulating is very sharp. Canon's touch capabilities and physical controls have been well integrated by Canon, making it easy to interact with the camera the most natural way possible.
The pentamirror is perhaps the most disappointing feature. Although it is a standard feature in low-end D-SLR markets, the Pentamirror viewfinder has not been as popular as the Pentax K-30's pentaprism. If you are looking to upgrade your Canon Rebel, or to buy a full-frame camera like the EOS 60D (7D at Amazon for $829.95) than to jump from one Rebel to another.
Video autofocus works well for D-SLRs. However, you will need an STM lens in order to fully benefit from it. As of writing, there are just three available. We recommend the Sony Alpha 65 to video. The EVF is used instead of an optical finder.
It provides quick autofocus and smooth transitions between using both the rear LCD or finder. We found the Nikon D5200 to be the most cost-effective and feature-rich model in its class. However, it does have a poor optical viewfinder. The Nikon D5200 remains Editors Choice for DSLRs under $1,000.