Sony α450

Product news

10 February 2010 10:02

Plugging a gap in the already extensive leet of Alpha DSLR models comes one of the fastest offerings for less than £500.

We anticipate a potential flood of new DSLRs in 2010, and the first release comes from the Sony stable in the form of the α450. This 14.2MP DSLR slots between the α380 and α500 models in the Sony range. It’s an odd specification when you look at the models either side of it, as it is better in some ways than in others.

The core difference is tailored to the action photographer, as the α450 has a high speed shooting ability of up to 5fps or 7fps in speedpriority – which is better than the two models either side of it. The latest Alpha also offers some of the benefits found on the α500, like the versatile sensitivity range from ISO 200-12,800, SteadyShot Inside (built-in stabilisation) and a dual anti-dust system, but the resolution is far better.

The design resembles the α500 from the front, but on the back of the camera the 2.7in LCD is a fixed screen rather than a flip-out offering. For around £480, the α450 appears to be well-specified and pitched towards the photographer who wants a fast performance without a heavy price-tag being slammed on for the privilege.

Unfortunately the autofocus system is only a 9-point offering, so it will be interesting to see how this handles tracking fast subjects. It’s all very well offering a fast frame rate, but you need an autofocus system that can handle that pace too. The broad ISO range will pay dividends for the action photographer, as it will enable you to keep a fast shutter speed selected even when light is low. Sony claims that this latest DSLR provides superbly detailed low noise images, but at such lofty heights as ISO 12,800 we remain skeptical until we get a sample to play with. Other features include a built-in flash, internal technology to create auto HDR images and a good mix of shooting modes, but there’s no movie capture.

The optical viewfinder offers 95% viewing coverage and using the LCD screen with Live View enabled provides a manual focus check. This neat tool allows you to digitally zoom in close on the subject you are shooting to get your focus pin-sharp. One of the other great features of a Sony DSLR is that you benefit from the brand’s wealth of experience in battery technology. The Stamina batteries provide up to 1000 shots per charge, so you’re unlikely to get caught short. Another Sony advantage is the compatibility with the Bravia HDTV panels, as you have HDMI connectivity and can control the camera via the TV remote for slide shows. We’ll leave the ratings until we see what the camera delivers, but on paper it looks like good value for the asking price.

Key Feature

The one obvious thing that stands out on this camera, but is not unique to this model, is the fast frame rate. At 7fps when set in Speed-priority mode, this is one of the fastest DSLR bodies under £500. Normal shooting is still at an impressive 5fps, which is still faster than most other models at this price bracket.

Key Spec