SONY ALPHA 7S

Five years ago, the first mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (ILCs) were introduced with the hope that they could compete with larger, more expensive digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs). They couldn’t. Since then, manufacturers have been grinding away on the technology, adding bigger imaging sensors and better lenses. This year, Sony introduced a ILC that not only goes toe-to-toe with DSLRs on quality (at almost half the weight) but also does some things even better, namely shooting at night.

The α7S is the first camera—DSLR or otherwise—that can capture images in almost complete darkness. It has a full-frame sensor that’s only 12.3 megapixels—about half the typical pixel density. The lower density allows for larger pixels that can capture more light. Because the camera body is a trim 1.9 inches, the sensor sits closer to the lens, which also permits light from oblique angles. In the end, the α7S boasts a peak sensitivity of ISO 409,600, which means that photographing a moonlit beach is as simple as point and shoot. $2,500 (body only) Sony