{Picture Perfect} Review of the Canon EOS Rebel T5i

Ever since I purchased my new DSLR, the Canon EOS Rebel T5i, I have received numerous questions about how I’m liking it as my first DSLR experience. So, I thought I would go ahead and do a proper review for anyone who was considering their first DSLR, or may be looking to upgrade from an older model to something new! When I first introduced this camera on my blog, I made something of a bold statement. I suggested that the camera could possibly be the best camera for bloggers out on the market currently, and after weeks of using the camera and taking it on multiple day trips to get some good shooting experience in, I am actually prepared to defend this statement! But before I do, I am going to have to amend it. You see, the Canon EOS Rebel T5i isn’t just a great camera for bloggers, it’s also a great camera for scrapbookers, project lifers, parents, students, and anyone else who is looking to take great quality photos without having to spend extra time and money!

The Canon EOS Rebel T5i is an awesome camera with some very useful features that make DSLR photography seem simple, even for beginners or those who don’t have the time or interest in learning the ins and outs of photography, but still want to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to taking great photos. Here’s what I love about this camera:

3.0 inch Touch Screen LCD Display with Live View and Touch Shutter: The touch screen display on this camera is an absolute lifesaver and makes the T5i a breeze to use! First off, the display moves and tilts so when I am taking portrait shots of myself or using the camera’s video mode, I can keep an eye on everything and make sure I am in frame and properly composed. It also helps when I am taking shots from high or low angles because I can see everything in the shot from practically any position. The fact that this display is touch screen is almost an afterthought, something you wouldn’t necessarily mention, that is, unless you are using a previous generation model that lacks a touch screen. Then, you miss the convenience a touch screen display brings, especially now that we are all so used to touch screen devices- it’s like second nature to touch a display to manipulate it! Not only is this display touch screen, but it also has an awesome touch shutter feature which allows you to take a photo just by tapping on the display. It’s great when you are using a tripod to shoot and really using that display to compose your image, because it means you don’t have to wait to take the shot, you can just tap the screen and capture your image. Finally, the fact that this display has full live view preview means that what you see on-screen is what you get when it comes to your images. When using the creative filters built into the camera, you actually get to see those filters in action before you take the shot. Again, this sounds like child’s play to anyone who has an iPhone, but this sort of technology is still relatively new to entry-level DSLRs.

Built-in stereo mic: You ‘d think that a built-in microphone would be a standard feature in a digital camera that was made to capture video, but you’d be surprised at the number of DSLRs that actually lack them. Although I didn’t buy the Canon T5i to use for videography, it was definitely a feature I wanted in my camera for occasional use. Now, it’s not the greatest mic in the world, and if you do plan to use your DSLR for videography, you will certainly need an external mic if you want to get top-notch audio, but something is better than nothing when you are in a pinch.

18.0 Mega Pixel CMOS Sensor with Hybrid AF: The sensor of any digital camera is probably the single most important feature because it is what captures the images. 18 mega pixels may not be the highest number of mega pixels available, but it is more than enough and certainly nothing to laugh about! What is really important about the sensor, however, is the hybrid AF system that basically makes all the cool live view features possible. It makes live face detection and auto focus possible with nine all cross-type auto focus points.

Aspect Ratio Function: Now this function may be a minor one, but it tops my list of my favorite features on the Canon T5i because it makes my life as a blogger and Instagram enthusiast much, much, easier! The standard aspect ratio for a digital camera is 3:2 and that’s the ratio of the LCD display, however, through the magic of technology built into this camera, you can actually change the aspect ratio for your images to 16:9 or even 1:1. Why is this important? Why can’t I just crop my images in post production? Well, glad you asked. Yes, I can crop my images in post production, however, when it comes to properly composing an image, it’s much easier when you can see your final product while you are shooting. So, if I am taking a picture that I plan to use on my Instagram account, I can switch to 1:1 aspect ratio and compose an image that is perfectly square. If I were to take all my photos in 3:2 aspect ratio, I would have to make a visual guess as to whether or not my image is composed in a square, which I may or may not get right, it’s basically up to chance! Same goes with 16:9 aspect ratio that is standard for YouTube cover photos. Normally, I would crop those down to the right size, but thanks to the aspect ratio function built into my camera, I can take the right picture from the start and not have to mess around with the crop in Photoshop!

Compact body: DSLR cameras come in many shapes and sizes, but the Canon EOS Rebel T5i has a relatively compact body that contains all those glorious functions I mentioned above! Now, it’s not the smallest DSLR in Canon’s lineup, however, when you take into account the fact that it is such a full featured camera in such a compact body, you really begin to appreciate the fact that you get so much power without having to lug around a huge camera.

Overall, I am very pleased with this camera and I think I made an excellent decision with this purchase. It really is very easy to use and a great camera for someone looking for quality without needing to know the ins and outs of DSLR photography! If you are interested in picking up this camera, here is a link to where I purchased mine for a very good price! Also, in case you were wondering, I purchased the body of the camera alone, and then also purchased this 50mm 1.8 lens to use with it, since I knew the kit lens wouldn’t be useful to me. If you would like to know more about why I chose the 50mm lens, let me know in the comments or send me a tweet. I may very well make it the subject of a future post in this photography series, especially if I know people are interested in the topic!