Canon EOS Rebel T5i / 700D

This is a 2013 Canon DSLR. The 18-megapixel APS-C sensor and EF-S lens mount give a straightforward path into interchangeable-lens photography, and the optical viewfinder shows the scene directly while you learn exposure.

The body weighs 580g, and the flip-out screen lets you shoot from the hip or overhead without awkward bending.

Ownership is basic: no wireless transfer, a single card slot and no USB charging, so the battery is recharged away from the camera. It suits a learner or light-travelling hobbyist more than a demanding shooter.

The optics score of 40 is modest, and the T5i sits in the bottom 6% of cameras in our database for optics. Points were limited across the contributing specifications: in-body stabilisation is absent, and burst rate, autofocus points and maximum ISO all earned limited credit.

The APS-C CMOS sensor works alongside a Digic 5 image processor, and the EF-S mount accepts Canon's own EF-S lenses.

Autofocus uses nine points in total, and the burst rate reaches 5 fps at most, a maximum figure rather than a promise of sustained shooting. The top shutter speed is 1/4000s.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 12800, a range that spans bright and dim lighting conditions. There is no in-body stabilisation, so reducing camera shake handheld depends on a stabilised lens, a faster shutter speed or other physical support.

The video score of 43 is modest, and the recording options are equally limited. Recording resolution tops out at Full HD, while the maximum frame rate is 30 fps; footage saves as MOV files. These are separate limits rather than a confirmed combined mode, and there is no 4K recording.

The flip-out screen is the main practical aid for filming. You can hold the camera at waist level or overhead and still see the frame, which helps at crowded events, when filming children at floor height or when framing yourself.

A 30 fps ceiling rules out slow-motion capture, and there is no built-in intervalometer for time-lapse, so time-lapse sequences need another way to trigger frames.

The features score of 57 is modest, and the useful parts centre on the screen. The 3-inch LCD has just over a million dots, so playback and live view look crisp, and the touch interface lets you change settings by tapping rather than digging through menus.

The screen also flips out and rotates, which helps for ground-level macro work, overhead frames in a crowd and self-framed shots.

Both a built-in flash and support for an external unit are fitted, so fill light is available without extra accessories and a stronger flash can be added later.

Neither Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth is fitted, so there is no wireless transfer option. There is no weather sealing either, so the body needs shelter from rain and spray.

Storage is a single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot. That keeps card buying simple, but with no second slot there is no in-camera backup, so carrying a spare card for important shoots makes sense.

The LP-E8 battery is rated at 440 shots per charge, though the figure comes without stated test conditions. Real-world results will vary with how much you use the screen and built-in flash, so a second battery is a sensible buy for long days.

There is no USB charging, so you cannot top the battery up from a laptop or power bank while travelling. The limited section score of 24 reflects that absence, the single card slot and only partial credit for battery life.