Canon T5 vs T5i: Pros & Cons and Verdict

What’s the first thing you look for in a new camera?

Your answer might be different from another photographer, but diversity is what makes the field so special. Your answers might be varied, but your goal is the same. You need a new camera, and we’re here to help. Canon is a respected brand, and many photographers prefer their products over anything else on the market.

If you’ve decided to go with Canon, then you’re not going to be disappointed. Both cameras are a part of Canon’s Rebel range, which is aimed at helping beginners.

That leaves us a with a few questions. What makes the T5 different from the T5i? Are those differences important? Which camera is better?

In this comparison, we’ll take a look at some of their features. After that, we’ll pit them against each other to see which pros and cons you’d have to deal with, as well as a brief summary based on customer experiences. At the end of it all, we’ll have a verdict and you’ll have a clear idea of what you want.

Canon T5 vs Canon T5i: Features

Each camera is unique. These differences might be small, or seemingly insignificant.

Since you’re the photographer, you get to decide which of those features are important or insignificant. Let’s take a look at what these cameras have to offer.

Build & Handling

Judging from appearances, the T5 looks like another classic all-black classic DSLR. Which means that you can expect a nice textured grip. Regular Canon fans will find that nothing much has been changed body-wise. If you’re upgrading from an older model then you’ll feel right at home.

The body is light and easy to carry around. Some users find fault with the feel and complain about it feeling “cheap”. The good news is that it won’t be difficult to carry it around all day.

You’ll also be happy to know that the grip is comfortable and the textured finish should keep your hands surgeon-steady. The mode-dial gives away the camera’s novice status and features a few helpful settings such as Smart auto, PASM, and movie, as well as four general scene options to help you practice (Macro, Sports, Landscape, and Portrait).

You’ll find the optical viewfinder and LCD screen at the back, we’ll talk about these two features later. The back is also home to a few buttons that are commonplace among DSLRs. They’re well-marked and you should get the hang of them in no time. The left side hosts the USB, mini HDMI, and remote control connections.

The T5i has the same body design as its predecessors with minimal changes. For example, this camera has a slightly enlarged grip which is great news for big-handed photographers. Once again, the body is lightweight, and although there are still complaints about the plastic, the body is sturdy.

The camera is advertised as having an “up-market” finish, but honestly, it doesn’t make much of a difference. Although, we do admit that it’s shinier than the T5. You can also expect a range of connectors including HDMI, USB, cable release sockets, space for an external microphone, as well as a receiver for infrared remote control.

You can find the main controls on top of the camera, such as the power button and the fully-loaded mode dial. It should be noted that the mode dial rotates continuously, which is a change from the T5.

This camera also does well with a range of optics, handling lenses as heavy as the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens. The camera is also built in such a way that most controls are easily within reach, making it a joy to use. You’ll quickly get used to this well-designed camera.

Viewfinder & Screen

The T5 has a small viewfinder when compared to other DSLRs. There’s no way to say whether this is good or bad since viewfinder size is all about personal preference. Since the T5 has such a small body, it only makes sense that the viewfinder would be small.

Having a viewfinder is such an asset, that size doesn’t really matter. Viewfinders stabilize the camera against your eyebrow and are especially useful when shooting in bright sunlight. Once you get used to a good viewfinder, you can never go back. The viewfinder will block out everything except for what you’ll see in your image.

The T5 has a viewfinder with 95% coverage, this means that you’re going to see more subject in your image. You get used to cropping the extra elements out when you review the image, but a few users find this annoying.

The T5 uses a pentamirror vs. pentaprism for the viewfinder, which is a Rebel tradition. The pentamirror viewfinder is lighter and cheaper, but a pentaprism is brighter.

The T5 also features a nice LCD screen, which is unfortunately difficult to clean and you can’t see clearly when using it in bright sunlight. The Screen is 3-inches and fixed-mount, it’s rated 460k which is a vast improvement from its predecessors, but it does lack detail. Be sure to set the brightness up to max (7) before going out because the default is 4.

The LCD screen on the T5i is touch sensitive which means that you can select a number of controls from the screen. A good change to the screen is that it is more intuitive and features several useful upgrades.

You could compare the T5i’s touchscreen to that of a smartphone. Like the T5, the screen has great detail but is difficult to keep clean. A useful tip is to compose images in the LCD when focusing manually since you’ll get more precision. The viewfinder on this camera matches the lightweight frame and also only gets 95% coverage.

Sensor & Processor

The T5 features an 18MP APS-C sensor (5184 x 3456 pixels), which is a decent upgrade from the T3’s average 12MP imager. The camera uses the older DIGIC 4 processor, which means that it doesn’t have the fastest performance on the market.

The camera’s top speed is about 3 frames per second, but you can get to about 69 JPEGS before it starts lagging.  This number drops to about 6 if you’re shooting RAW. These aren’t serious limitations, but they’re good to keep in mind before buying the camera.

The T5i offers the same sensor as its predecessor, but you’ll find a few upgrades in performance since it has a DIGIC 5 image processor.

Autofocus System

Both cameras feature a standard continuous auto-focusing (continuous-Servo AF-C), single-servo (single-shot auto-focusing) and manual auto-focusing. This isn’t as advanced as the autofocus systems found on more up-market cameras, but it will do a great job.

The T5i stands out, however, because it has a hybrid auto-focusing system. This system works with the newly launched STM (Stepping motor technology) powered lenses which can give it quite a boost. It’s something that’s a big bonus on a DSLR.

Both cameras have 9 AF points. Once again, the T5i stands out because while the T5 has 1 cross-type AF point (the center one), all AF points on the T5i are cross-type.

The center point of the T5i is a dual cross-type f/2.8 one. The dual cross-type allows the camera to focus more efficiently and easily even in low light conditions by increasing the sensor’s sensitivity.

Both the T5 and T5i shoot in full-HD (1920 x 1080p) with 30, 25, and the preferred 24 fps. You can choose to shoot at 1280 x 720p HD but at a higher frame rate of 60 fps and 50 fps. This is perfect for when you want to shoot fast action and then play it back in slow motion for impressive effects.

Battery Life

The T5’s battery can get 600 shots on a single charge if you’re not using the flash. Keep in mind that this number is much lower when using Live View, and you’ll only get about 190 shots. These numbers are okay, but not great. It would be better to keep spare batteries or a battery pack on you.

You can get about 470 shots on a single charge with the T5i, but only about 270 with 50% flash. You can also get about an hour and a half with Live View. Once again, it would be a good idea to keep spare batteries on you. No-one wants to come back after an hour because their camera died on them.

Connectivity

The T5 doesn’t have built-in Wi-Fi, which is a problem for more than a few users. It should be noted that the camera does have a few useful connections such as a USB and mini HDMI port. This might not be enough for tech-savvy photographers. As you become more experienced, you might find yourself longing for Wi-Fi.

The T5i does have the ability to connect to Wi-Fi, as well as a few other helpful connections. You can download the Case Air Wireless Tethering System and use it to access a number of features such as GPS. You can also use this app to use the camera remotely.

You could also connect the camera to any Android or Apple device that supports the app. This isn’t the camera of the future, it’s the camera that will introduce you to the world of modern photography. Share all your best pictures on social media, so that all your friends can support you.

Video

In the past, the video feature was saved for home movies. Professional videographers would look for a different type of camera. That was in the past, now we live in the age of YouTube. Most people want to make videos, and not just any videos, good videos. This means that a lot of people are interested in video quality.

Both the T5i and T5 are able to create sharp video that is worthy of praise. This isn’t much of a surprise since Canon has a reputation for creating cameras that are great at capturing videos. There are a few differences in quality differences between the cameras, especially when it comes to video specific technology.

For example, the T5i comes with a stereo microphone, the T5 doesn’t. Video sound is quite good, but sometimes you can hear the sound of the lens motor working. The T5 also doesn’t have continuous autofocus capabilities which means that you can get a lot of blurry photos. Meanwhile, the T5i gets excellent sound quality when you use an external microphone.

A novice photographer probably won’t pay much attention to these features, but any aspiring videographer will.

Lenses

Both cameras are cropped body cameras, this means that if you’re going to fit a lens on them, they won’t match their focal measurements. If you’re a beginner, then you don’t need to worry too much about that.

A cropped camera, has a smaller sensor than a full-frame camera. This sounds like a bad thing, but when you think about how much a full-frame camera costs, then it isn’t too bad.

You can get the 18 – 55mm 3.5-5.6 IS from Canon for the T5. They’re not exactly top-of-the-range since they were launched in 2007. This doesn’t mean that they don’t take good pictures. In fact, they should help you take some of your best shots.

When paired with the T5 you can get a focal length of twenty nine to eighty eight mm. They also include image stabilization technology which means the end of blurry pictures. The kit lenses are made of plastic, but they’re more durable than you’d think.

The kit lens  advertised for the T5i is the 18 – 55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM. It was launched in 2013 and it’s an incredible upgrade upgrade from both the lenses offered with the T5i’s predecessors. The kit includes Stepping Motor Technology (STM) and offers better optical performance. The lens is wonderful for aspiring videographers, since the STM lens is more silent when recording video.

The T5i also got the 8-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens and it’s the ideal choice if you’re looking for an all-round lens.It’s also a lot cheaper, which means you get great quality without breaking the bank.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Now that we know which features each camera bosts, let’s look at the good and the bad. We’ll also feature a brief summary of each camera before we make our final choice. It will be a chance to see what other users also think about the cameras.

Canon T5 Summary:

This camera does well with users and scores high in customer reviews. It’s user-friendly build and great images mean that you’ll have a smooth transition into the world of photography. It’s a good camera and you get great value for money.

Even negative reviews have something positive to say before digging into the cons. Unfortunately, some of the items included with the camera are a bit flimsy.

It’s important to remember that this is just an entry-level camera, it won’t keep up to professional standards. When you take it as it is, then it works fine. It’s when you start expecting it to do more that it falls short.

Canon T5i Advantages and Disadvantages

Let’s discuss the pros and cons of Canon T5i since it’s important to know the strong sides and shortcomings to make the final decision.

Canon T5i Summary

It’s hard to find something seriously wrong with this camera. Most reviews consist of five or four stars, people love the camera. It’s a great camera to upgrade to if you’ve been using Canon products.

This isn’t a surprise since Canon has a reputation for their devices’ compatibility. This camera is more expensive than the T5, but to be fair, it has a lot more to offer as well.

Unfortunately, all these extra features drain the battery much faster than other cameras you might be used to. Remember to take extra batteries along when going out. Besides that, the camera does well for its range.

Bottom Line

We’re taken a good look at both cameras. They have a lot to offer and each has their own merits. That being said, we also took a look at where they’re lacking. It’s up to you to decide which of these cameras will suit your needs best.

The T5 is a decent camera, and you get good value for money. Unfortunately, there are cheaper cameras out there that do more. It’s reasonable, and comes from the esteemed Canon brand. We’re sure it was a great option a few years ago, but the modern photographer needs Wi-Fi.

Sure, you can take great photos without Wi-Fi, but it’s become a necessary function for many. The modern camera needs to take on a variety of functions, and video is also something that many people want. If this is something that you want, then this isn’t the camera for you. If it’s just about taking good photos, then it’s a great choice for the beginner photographer on a budget.

Speaking of modern photographers, it’s hard to create a good entry-level camera when smartphones are evolving with better and better cameras. Canon’s answer to this problem was to offer a DSLR with features that are better than the average smartphone.

For example, the touchscreen is intuitive and efficient. It takes excellent photographs thanks to the sensor and processor.

It’s true standout feature is Movie Mode. Any aspiring Youtuber or videographer will be more than happy with the results. It also has a bunch of controls for those photographers who know that pointing and shooting simply isn’t enough.

We’ve spoken about the touchscreen, but we can’t overstate its usefulness. It ensures that using the camera is a more fun than work, which is an amazing feature when compared to other cameras.

Besides that, a shooting rate of 5 fps, in-camera lens corrections, multi-shot noise reduction, stereo microphones and a maximum ISO sensitivity of 25600 all makes for a camera that will be a joy for both beginners and seasoned DSLR users.

The ‘hybrid’ AF is a big disappointment though. It’s an improvement from the T5, but when compared to competitors, it falls spectacularly short.

Now that each camera has had their say, have you found your winner? We always say this, but all photographers are unique. What you want, probably won’t match another user’s needs. Only you can pick a true winner, but we can make a suggestion.

To that end, we’ve decided that the T5i is the winner. A modern photographer needs a modern camera, especially with all the useful features that can expose you to a fuller world.