Canon EOS Rebel T5

Canon

Given how conservative Canon has been with its entry-level dSLR models over the past several years, perhaps Canon should think about retiring the “Rebel” brand. (Updated February 13, 2014 with some tweaks based on the released specifications.)

The EOS Rebel T3, which at 2 years old has lagged behind more modern entry-level dSLRs for quite a while, remains wildly popular; as I write this, it’s Amazon’s second most popular dSLR. There are only 2 reasons I can imagine this might be the case. One, its age means it’s more deeply discounted than competing models, and the body is currently available for an unbeatable sub-$400 price tag. The other is that it’s so bare bones that step-up buyers find it unthreatening. Why does this matter? Because Canon obviously doesn’t want to mess with the success of the T3. Its replacement, the EOS Rebel T5, has barely any changes; the only major updates are mostly just for specsmanship. It gets bump to an 18-megapixel sensor — I doubt any camera manufacturer ever lost a sale over more pixels — and an increase in video frame rate to 1080/60p.

(Credit:

Canon)

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised given the negligible changes Canon made in its last product cycle between the T4i and the T5i. The T5′s body remains fundamentally the same as the T3, but more importantly it has the same generation of image processing — circa 2009 — as the T3 and the same outdated-for-years 9-point autofocus system. Given how much of the heavy lifting of image quality is done in the processing that’s pretty disappoining. And since it’s a new camera, it won’t be as cheap as the T3, and therefore faces much steeper competition from models that aren’t quite as much of a dumping ground for old technologies. In fact, the T5 is basically the 4-year-old T2i, which (if you can find it) costs about the same and has a higher-resolution LCD; the T3i adds an articulated LCD and runs just $50 more. Even the last-generation D3200 offers better overall specs where it counts than the T5 for the same money.

Seriously. Big sigh.

  Canon EOS Rebel T3 Canon EOS Rebel T5 Nikon D3200 Pentax K-500 Sony Alpha ILCE-3000

(A3000) Sensor (effective resolution) 12.2MP CMOS 18MP CMOS 24.2MP CMOS 16.3MP CMOS
(12 bits) 20.1MP Exmor HD CMOS 22 x 14.7mm 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.2 x 15.4mm 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm Focal- length multiplier 1.6x 1.6x 1.5x 1.5x 1.5x Sensitivity range ISO 100 – ISO 6400 ISO 100 – ISO 6400/12800 (exp) ISO 100 (exp)/
200 – ISO 6400/ 12800 (exp) ISO 100 – ISO 51200 ISO 100 – ISO 16000 Continuous shooting 2fps raw/3 fps JPEG
5 raw/ unlimited JPEG 3fps JPEG

6 raw/ unlimited JPEG 4fps
(unlimited JPEG as tested) 6fps
8 raw/30 JPEG 2.5fps
5 raw + JPEG/ 13 JPEG
(3.5fps with fixed exposure) Viewfinder (mag/
effective mag) Optical

95% coverage

0.80x/ 0.50x Optical

95% coverage

0.80x/ 0.50x

Optical
95% coverage
0.80x/ 0.53x

Optical
100% coverage
0.92x / 0.61x EVF
0.5 inch/ 201,600 dots
100% coverage
0.70x/ 0.59x
Autofocus 9-pt AF

center cross-type 9-pt AF

center cross-type 11-pt AF
center cross-type 11-pt AF
9 cross- type
(SAFOX IXi+) 25-area contrast AF AF sensitivity 0 to 18 EV 0 to 18 EV -1 to 19 EV -1 to 18 EV 0 – 20 EV Shutter Speed 1/4,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync 1/4,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync 1/4,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync 1/6,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/180 sec x-sync 1/4000 to 30 seconds; bulb; 1/160 x-sync Metering 63 zones 63 zones 420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II 77 segment 1200 zone Metering sensitivity 1 to 20 EV 0 to 20 EV 0 to 20 EV 0 to 22 EV 0 – 20 EV Best video H.264 QuickTime MOV
720/30p/ 25p
(17 min max) H.264 QuickTime MOV

1080/30p/ 25p H.264 QuickTime MOV
1080/30p/ 25p/24p; 720/60p/ 50p H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p/
24p/25p; 720/50p/ 60p AVCHD
1080/60i @ 24, 17Mbps, 1080/24p @ 24, 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440 x 1080/30p @ 12Mbps Audio Mono Mono Mono; mic input Mono Stereo Manual aperture and shutter in video No n/a Yes Yes Aperture only IS Optical Optical Optical Sensor shift Optical LCD size 2.7 inches fixed
230,000 dots 3 inches fixed
460,000 dots 3 inches fixed
921,000 dots 3 inches fixed
921,000 dots 3-inch fixed
230,400 dots Wireless flash No No Yes Yes No Wireless connectivity None None Optional
via WU-1a ($59.95) None None Battery life (CIPA rating) 700 shots (VF); 220 shots (LV) 500 shots (VF); 180 shots (LV) 540 shots 710 (AA Lithium); 410 (Lithium Ion) 480 shots Size
(WHD, inches) 5.9 x 3.9 x 3.1 5.9 x 3.9 x 3.1 5.0 x 3.8 x 3.1 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8 4.0 x 2.3 x 1.5 Body operating weight (ounces) 17.5 16.9 (est) 17.6 23.2 (est) 14.2 Mfr. Price $400 (est, body only) n/a
n/a n/a n/a $449.99 (with 18-55mm lens) $549.99 (with 18-55mm lens) $549.95 (with 18-55mm lens) $599.95 (with 18-55mm DA lens) $399.99 (with 18-55mm lens) n/a n/a n/a $699.95 (with 18-55mm DA and 50-200 DA lenses) n/a Release date May 2011 March 2014 April 2012 July 2013 September 2013

Canon EOS Rebel T5