Canon T5 vs Sony ZV-1

The Canon EOS Rebel T5 (called Canon 1200D in some regions) and the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2014 and May 2020. The T5 is a DSLR, while the ZV-1 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (T5) and an one-inch (ZV-1) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 17.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 20 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon T5		Sony ZV-1
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Canon EF mount lenses		24-70mm f/1.8-2.8
17.9 MP, APS-C Sensor		20 MP, 1" Sensor
1080/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800)		ISO 125-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0 LCD, 460k dots		3.0 LCD, 922k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel touchscreen
3 shutter flaps per second		24 shutter flaps per second
500 shots per battery charge		260 shots per battery charge
130 x 100 x 78 mm, 480 g		105 x 60 x 44 mm, 294 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS Rebel T5 and the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon T5 and the Sony ZV-1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony ZV-1 is considerably smaller (52 percent) than the Canon T5. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the T5 nor the ZV-1 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the ZV-1 has a lens built in, whereas the T5 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the T5 and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the T5 gets 500 shots out of its LP-E10 battery, while the ZV-1 can take 260 images on a single charge of its NP-BX1 power pack. The power pack in the ZV-1 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon T5	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	480 g	500	n	Feb 2014	449
2.		Sony ZV-1	105 mm	60 mm	44 mm	294 g	260	n	May 2020	799
3.		Canon G5 X Mark II	111 mm	61 mm	46 mm	340 g	230	n	Jul 2019	899
4.		Canon G7 X Mark III	105 mm	61 mm	41 mm	304 g	235	n	Jul 2019	749
5.		Canon T100	129 mm	102 mm	77 mm	436 g	500	n	Feb 2018	399
6.		Canon T6	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	485 g	500	n	Mar 2016	449
7.		Canon T6i	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	555 g	440	n	Feb 2015	749
8.		Canon T6s	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	565 g	440	n	Feb 2015	649
9.		Canon SL1	117 mm	91 mm	69 mm	407 g	380	n	Mar 2013	549
10.		Canon T5i	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	580 g	440	n	Mar 2013	649
11.		Canon T4i	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	575 g	440	n	Jun 2012	849
12.		Canon T3	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	495 g	700	n	Feb 2011	449
13.		Canon T3i	133 mm	100 mm	80 mm	570 g	440	n	Feb 2011	599
14.		Canon T2i	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	530 g	440	n	Feb 2010	699
15.		Sony RX100 VII	102 mm	58 mm	43 mm	302 g	260	n	Jul 2019	1,199
16.		Sony RX100 III	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	290 g	320	n	May 2014	799
17.		Sony RX100 II	102 mm	58 mm	38 mm	281 g	350	n	Jun 2013	749
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon T5 features an APS-C sensor and the Sony ZV-1 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the ZV-1 is 65 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 2.7. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the ZV-1 offers a higher resolution of 20 megapixels, compared with 17.9 MP of the T5. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 2.41μm versus 4.31μm for the T5). However, it should be noted that the ZV-1 is much more recent (by 6 years and 3 months) than the T5, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Sony ZV-1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the ZV-1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon T5 are 25.9 x 17.3 inches or 65.8 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 20.7 x 13.8 inches or 52.7 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 17.3 x 11.5 inches or 43.9 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS Rebel T5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 are ISO 125 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon T5	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
2.		Sony ZV-1	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon G5 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
4.		Canon G7 X Mark III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
5.		Canon T100	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.4	695	63
6.		Canon T6	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
7.		Canon T6i	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.7	12.0	919	71
8.		Canon T6s	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	12.0	915	70
9.		Canon SL1	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.8	11.3	843	63
10.		Canon T5i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	681	61
11.		Canon T4i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
12.		Canon T3	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	720/30p	21.9	11.0	755	62
13.		Canon T3i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	793	65
14.		Canon T2i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	784	66
15.		Sony RX100 VII	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	21.8	12.4	418	63
16.		Sony RX100 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	12.3	495	67
17.		Sony RX100 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.5	12.4	483	67

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the ZV-1 provides a better video resolution than the T5. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the T5 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the ZV-1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon T5 and Sony ZV-1 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon T5	optical	n	3.0	460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
2.		Sony ZV-1	none	n	3.0	922	swivel	Y	1/2000s	24.0	n	Y
3.		Canon G5 X Mark II	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30	Y	Y
4.		Canon G7 X Mark III	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30	Y	Y
5.		Canon T100	optical	n	2.7	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
6.		Canon T6	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
7.		Canon T6i	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
8.		Canon T6s	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
9.		Canon SL1	optical	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.9	Y	n
10.		Canon T5i	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
11.		Canon T4i	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
12.		Canon T3	optical	n	2.7	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
13.		Canon T3i	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.7	Y	n
14.		Canon T2i	optical	n	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.7	Y	n
15.		Sony RX100 VII	2359	n	3.0	921	tilting	Y	1/2000s	90.0	Y	Y
16.		Sony RX100 III	1440	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
17.		Sony RX100 II	optional	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The T5 has one, while the ZV-1 does not. While the built-in flash of the T5 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the ZV-1 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Sony ZV-1 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The T5 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the ZV-1 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The ZV-1 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the T5 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS Rebel T5 and Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon T5	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Sony ZV-1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
3.		Canon G5 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon G7 X Mark III	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
5.		Canon T100	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Canon T6	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon T6i	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Canon T6s	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Canon SL1	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon T5i	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon T4i	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon T3	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Canon T3i	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Canon T2i	Y	stereo	-	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Sony RX100 VII	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
16.		Sony RX100 III	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX100 II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the ZV-1 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the T5 does not provide wifi capability.

The ZV-1 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the T5 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the T5 was succeeded by the Canon T6. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Canon T5 or the Sony ZV-1 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS Rebel T5:

• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (500 versus 260) on a single battery charge.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2014).

Advantages of the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20 vs 17.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 6%.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 460k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (24 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the T5 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (105x60mm vs 130x100mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the T5).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More modern: Reflects 6 years and 3 months of technical progress since the T5 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the ZV-1 is the clear winner of the contest (20 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon T5 and the Sony ZV-1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Travel-Zoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the T5 and the ZV-1 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon T5	3/5	+	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	449
2.		Sony ZV-1	4/5	..	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	May 2020	799
3.		Canon G5 X Mark II	4/5	+	82/100	..	4/5	Jul 2019	899
4.		Canon G7 X Mark III	..	+ +	81/100	4/5	..	Jul 2019	749
5.		Canon T100	..	o	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	399
6.		Canon T6	4/5	o	73/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2016	449
7.		Canon T6i	5/5	..	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	749
8.		Canon T6s	5/5	+	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	649
9.		Canon SL1	4/5	+	78/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549
10.		Canon T5i	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2013	649
11.		Canon T4i	4/5	+ +	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	849
12.		Canon T3	..	80/100	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	449
13.		Canon T3i	3/5	o	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	599
14.		Canon T2i	..	+ +	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2010	699
15.		Sony RX100 VII	4.5/5	..	..	4/5	5/5	Jul 2019	1,199
16.		Sony RX100 III	5/5	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2014	799
17.		Sony RX100 II	5/5	+ +	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	749
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Canon T5 vs Sony ZV-1

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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