Is it worth buying the Canon T5i for $599?

I've been interested in purchasing my first DSLR camera. I didn't want to start off with an entry-level camera which was why I chose this camera, also because it's a good deal. It's usually $929 in Canada, the features and image quality on this thing look pretty good. The only thing I don't like about it is that it's 18 megapixels and doesn't include Wi-Fi or bluetooth. I was also considering the Nikon D5300 which is 24 megapixels and includes Wi-Fi and bluetooth, but it's an extra $200. Other cameras I've considered were the Nikon D3400, D5600 and the Canon T7i. Professional photographers please help, thanks!

Sorry to disappoint you, but the Canon T5i and Nikon D5300 are both entry level digital SLR cameras. They are defined as cameras costing less than $1,000 with a kit lens. My guess is that the $600 T5i is either used or is being sold by a "bait and switch" company

Professional photographers rarely use any of the cameras you have listed. They are just not robust enough to survive the riggers placed on them by a working pro

If you want the highest performing sensor, you need to visit DXOmark.com to compare those cameras

I'm a working pro and I use a Nikon D500 and D800e most of the time.

Here are samples of images created using those two cameras. The Nikon D500 has a 20 mp sensor, the D800e, 36 mp

Continue your research and eventually, you will fine one which fits your needs

Any camera is worth buying providing that you'll use the features that you're paying for. Why spend an extra $1,000 for a 7D Mark II with 10fps shooting if you never take the camera out of single shot? You just paid a boat load of cash for a feature that you don't need or use, thus making it not worth paying any price for that specific model. If, on the other hand, you're a sports shooter who shoots sports every weekend, then it's most definitely worth the extra money if not more.

You can get the features that you want from other brands such as Sony and their mirrorless cameras. The sensors in Sony's mirrorless cameras are as good as anything in a full-sized DSLR. In fact, many of the sensors in Sony's cameras are the same as what's in professional Nikon DSLRs such as the D800 and D810. The new Sony A7R ii has an upgraded version of this sensor.

Don't make the mistake into thinking that the camera is what generate image quality. It's the lens that does that. The big mistake first-time buyers make is placing all of their attention to the body and nothing on the lens. A great lens on the worst DSLR will produce better image quality than a kit lens on a top-of-the-line camera costing 10x more.

So if you need Wi-Fi, and the Canon T5i (or any other model for that matter) doesn't offer it, then it's not the camera for you and not worth buying. Why spend money on a tool that doesn't do what you need it to do? That would be a waste of money, would it not?

If you like the T5i for what it does, minus the lack of Wi-Fi, then that's okay because you can always add a Wi-Fi card (a.k.a. Flu Card) to the T5i and get Wi-Fi that way.

Until you have an understanding of lenses and have a specific need, a bridge type camera would be the one to get. It will have a zoom lens and lots of features that you will eventually learn to use. Most people never go beyond the kit lens on a dslr which means they wasted a lot of money to not get a bridge camera instead. It's your money. You seem undecided between being practical and needing snob appeal.