Canon still thinks that DSLRs are the best cameras in the world, and that mirrorless is just a fad that’ll be over on no-time. Accordingly, the company would rather have every conceivable product niche filled with a DSLR rather than let go of that mirror. The Rebel T5 (EOS 1200D) is Canon’s entry-level DSLR, and it is unmistakably aimed at photography amateurs and those looking for a camera that’s a step up from their point-and-shoot. Which is exactly where most entry-level mirrorless offerings are aimed at, too.

In that regard, the Rebel SL1 is a direct competitor to the Sony Alpha 5000, the Olympus PEN Mini, the Panasonic GM1 or the Samsung NX2000. Too bad, then, that all of its mirrorless competitors are so much better in almost all regards according to the recent findings from DxOMark. But let’s concentrate on image quality right now, because that’s what the company has just tested.

Compared to its predecessor, the Rebel T3, the T5 hasn’t really gained anything in regards of image quality. Its overall score is 63 points, which is a single point more than the T3 received from DxOMark. And while dynamic range is improved by a third-stop, low light image quality is even slightly worse than the T3’s. And when compared to its main DSLR competitor, the Nikon D3300, the T5 looks like it’s based on technology from two years ago. But see for yourself below.

But what must be like a huge slap in Canon’s face is the fact that even the tiny Olympus E-PM2 fares so much better in DxOMark’s test. Overall score: 72 vs 63. Color depth: 22.7 vs. 21.9 bits. Dynamic range: 12.2 vs. 11.3 EV. That’s almost a whole stop more! And finally: 932 vs. 724 in the ISO ranking. But that’s not even the best part yet. Here it comes: according to DxOMark, even Canon’s own mirrorless offering, the EOS M, has better image quality ratings than the Rebel T5.

Yes, we admit, it’s just DxOMark’s sensor ratings, and there’s more to a camera than just the theoretical capabilities of its sensor. But in all seriousness, would you rather go for a bulky DSLR with mediocre image quality, or for a truly pocketable camera with a great lens lineup that is capable of taking images that knock your socks off? We think the answer is pretty evident. And it should be even to the people responsible for Canon’s product strategy.

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