With its integrated lens and extensive exposure-control features, the R1 straddles the fence between point-and-shoot and D-SLR. The 10.3-megapixel sensor produces images to rival any top-end SLR, yet with the built-in lens (not interchangeable) the R1 is surprisingly light by SLR standards; it weighs just 37 ounces. And make no mistake: The lens is among the best out there, thanks to the Carl Zeiss coated glass and an impressive 24–120mm (film equivalent) focal length. www.sonystyle.com
Bonus: The integrated lens eliminates noisy shutter click, resulting in absolutely silent shooting—sweet for capturing jumpy wildlife, like the trailside bighorn sheep I encountered in Alberta’s Jasper National Park.
Bummer: The noninterchangeable lens limits creative framing.