Verdict

The a450 excites and perplexes. It’s a decent DSLR, but when considered against the saturated Alpha range it becomes a little harder to place, predominantly due to the subtle price differences between the next models up and down the range.

Performance is identical to the a550 where features match, despite the notable lack of Quick AF live view – arguably one of Sony’s foremost features – and the smaller 2.7in, 230K-dot screen.

For some potential buyers it will wrap up exactly what’s on the wish list for under the £500 mark, so it does have some marketplace spread.

Yet, with some competitors’ more entry-level models offering more features, with the exclusion of super-fast 7fps continuous shooting, it’s not necessarily top of its game.

Certainly good, but worth considering if the a450 has all you’d want when pitched up against other closely-specced and similarly-priced models.