These cameras are between an advanced compact digital camera and a full-blown digital SLR. Compact interchangeable lens cameras give you the ability to change lenses, they are much more like a DSLR than an advanced compact; the major benefit is that they are not as big and bulky as a DSLR.

The reason compact interchangeable lens cameras aren't bulky is because they do away with the pentaprism and mirror that's found in traditional DSLRs. Instead, interchangeable lens compacts save space by removing the need for a mirror and allowing light to hit the sensor through the lens directly.

Not all of the major camera manufacturers have interchangeable lens compacts in this market yet. Some compact interchangeable lens cameras make use of a Micro Four Thirds sensor, which is smaller than the APS-C-sized sensor that can be found in a traditional digital SLR. A larger sensor helps capture more light and offers better performance in dim conditions, but the reality is that all of the cameras can produce excellent image quality and they all perform quite well in dark environments.