ilc

After a bit of a rough start in the interchangeable-lens compact game, Samsung went back to the drawing board, starting fresh with the NX200. A 20.3MP model, with a body that rivals the competition in terms of size and snazzy looks, the NX200 ($750, street, with 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 OIS II lens) looks very nice—on paper.

Sony has a tendency to develop certain technologies, then apply them wherever it can—often to good effect. Last month, we saw the latest iteration of its transmissive mirror technology paired with a new 24.3MP CMOS sensor and a lovely OLED electronic viewfinder in the Alpha 77. Now Sony’s taken those two new features and paired them with a completely revamped NEX body for the most impressive ILC we’ve seen to date, the NEX-7 ($1,200, street, body only; $1,350 with 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 lens).