Sony A450 Press Release

The Specs as Per sony

Suggested selling price
(With 18-55mm lens)

$TBC
$TBC
Body material Plastic exterior
Sensor • 23.4 x 15.6 mm APS-C Type CMOS Exmor Sensor
• RGB Color Filter Array
• Built-in fixed low-pass filter
• 14.6 million total pixels
• 14.2 million effective pixels
Image sizes *
3:2
• 4592 x 3056 (L)
• 3344 x 2224 (M)
• 2288 x 1520 (S)
16:9
• 4592 x 2576 (L)
• 3344 x 1872 (M)
• 2288 x 1280 (S)
File qualities / formats • RAW (.ARW)
• RAW + JPEG Fine
• RAW + JPEG Standard
• JPEG Fine
• JPEG Standard
Dust reduction • Charge protection coating on low-pass filter
• Sensor-shift dust reduction mechanism
Lenses • Sony Alpha lenses
(also compatible with Minolta and Konica -Minolta AF lenses)
FOV crop 1.5x
SteadyShot INSIDE • CCD-Shift 'SteadyShot Inside' system
• Claimed equivalent to 2.5 – 3.5 steps in shutter speed
Auto Focus • TTL CCD line sensors (9-points,with center cross sensor)
• EV 0 to 18 (ISO 100) detection range
• Predictive focus, Focus Lock
AF area selection
• Wide AF area
• Spot AF area (center)
• Focus area selection (any of 9)

Focus modes • Single-shot AF
• Continuous AF
• Automatic AF
• Manual focus
AF assist
illuminator

• Yes (using built in flash)
• Range approx 1m - 5m
Eye-start AF Yes, selectable from menu
Shooting modes
• Programmed AE (Auto, Flash off, P)
• Aperture priority AE
• Shutter priority AE
• Manual
• Scene Selection
Scene modes • Portrait
• Landscape
• Macro
• Sports
• Sunset
• Night view/portrait
Sensitivity
• Auto (ISO 200-1600)
• Manual ISO 200- ISO 12800 in 1 EV steps

Metering modes • Multi-segment (40 segment Honeycomb pattern)
• Center-weighted
• Spot
Metering range • TTL metering
• 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC
• EV 2 to 20 (Multi-segment / Center-weighted)
• EV 4 to 20 (Spot metering)
(at ISO 100 with F1.4 lens)
AE Lock • AEL button (customizable, hold or single-press)
• Half-press shutter release
AE Bracketing • Single or continuous bracketing
• 3 frames
• 0.3 or 0.7 EV steps
Exposure compen. • -2.0 to +2.0 EV
• 0.3 EV steps
Shutter Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane Shutter
Shutter Speed • 30 to 1/4000 sec
• Bulb
Flash X-sync • 1/160 sec
Aperture values Depends on lens, 0.3 EV steps
DOF preview No
White balance
• Auto
• Daylight
• Shade
• Cloudy
• Incandescent
• Fluorescent
• Flash
• Color temperature/filter (2500 - 9900 K)
• Manual (Custom)

White balance fine tuning
• Auto (none)
• Preset WB: -3 to +3
• Fluorescent WB: -1 to +2
• Color temperature WB: G9 to M9 (Magenta to Green)

White balance bracketing • 3 images from 1 exposure
• Hi / Lo level selectable
Dynamic range optimizer
• Off
• D-Range Optimizer (Auto, Lv 1-5)
• Auto HDR (Auto, Ajustable up to 3 EV betwwen 1.0-3.0 EV in 0.5 EV steps)

Color space • sRGB
• Adobe RGB
Color modes • Standard
• Vivid
• Portrait
• Landscape
• Sunset
• B&W
Image parameters • Contrast (-3 to +3)
• Sharpness (-3 to +3))
• Saturation (-3 to +3)
Noise reduction • Long exposure for exposures longer than 1 second
• High ISO NR at ISO 1600 or higher
• User controllable: On / Off
Viewfinder
• Eye-level fixed optical glass pentamirror
• Spherical Acute Matte focusing screen
• Magnification approx. 0.80x
• 95% frame coverage
• Dioptric adjustment (-3.0 to +1.0)
• Eye-relief 19 mm from eyepiece, 15 mm from frame
• Eyepiece cup removable
• Viewfinder info bar
Live view (MF Check Live View) • Live View with CMOS sensor Exmor
• Metering varies according to shooting mode
• 100% frame coverage

• Display: Real-time image adjustment display (White balance, Sunset/ B&W of Creative Style, Exposure Compensation)
• Zoom (x7.0/x14.0), Grid line display
LCD monitor • 6.7cm (2.7") TFT Clear Photo LCD
• 230,400 dots
• Auto Brightness Control (auto setting in 2 steps)
• Manual settting in 5 steps
Flash • Built-in pop-up flash (manual release)
• Metering: ADI, Pre-flash TTL, Manual flash control
• Guide number 12 (ISO 100/m)
• Angle of coverage 18 mm
• Flash sync 1/160 sec
Flash modes
• Off
• Auto
• Fill Flash
• Rear Sync
• Slow sync
• Wireless/High Speed Sync. (with External flashes listed below)

Flash Bracketing 3 exposures in 0.3 and 0.7 EV steps
Flash compensation -2.0 to +2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps
External flash (optional) • Sony HVL-F58AM
• Sony HVL-F56AM
• Sony HVL-F42AM
• Sony HVL-F36AM
Drive modes • Single-frame
• Continuous
• Speed-Priority
• Self-timer (10 or 2 sec)
Continuous
shooting • Approx 5 fps max
• Speed- Priority: 7 fps max
• RAW: Up to 14 frames
• RAW+JPEG: Up to 7 frames
• JPEG (Fine): 32 frames
• JPEG (Standard): 116 frames
Self-timer
• 10 sec
• 2 sec

Orientation sensor Yes, for shooting, playback and control panel display
Connectivity • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mass storage, Multi-LUN or PTP)
• DC-IN
• Remote terminal
Remote control • Wired: with optional RM-S1AM or RM-L1AM
Video out • AV (Selectable NTSC or PAL)
• HDMI
• 'PhotoTV' HD settings applied with BRAVIA.
Storage • SD/ SDHC
• Memory Stick Pro Duo / Pro HG Duo
• Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Power • NP-FM500H Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (1650 mAh)
• Battery charger included
• Optional AC adapter
• Batter life Approx 1050 shots (CIPA standard)
Vertical grip • Yes (model tbc)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 81mm (5.5 x 4.2 x 3.2 in)
Weight (body) 520 g (1.1lb)

--
http://www.sonyprophoto.com

Contact me at [email protected]

barry is it actually a thing you have ever considered..... ie stop moaning... lol

Looking at a photo of the back on LetsGoDigital, the proximity sensor for the VF has been moved on top of the exit pupil.

The only reason I can think they changed this was to accommodate the VF magnifier - as it will no longer be blocking the sensor if it's above the VF surround.

--
http://www.dvincentphotography.com
http://www.kefkafloyd.com

I might be wrong, but was not the AEL (toggle)-button left out of A230/330/380/500/550? And now back in business again?

I very much insist on the AEL-toggle-button.

Ladybug

Ladybug said:

I might be wrong, but was not the AEL (toggle)-button left out of A230/330/380/500/550? And now back in business again?

I very much insist on the AEL-toggle-button.

Click to expand...

AEL was in the 500 and 550. It was only omitted on the 230/330/380.

--
http://www.dvincentphotography.com
http://www.kefkafloyd.com

Ladybug

Also I see it has 2 sec timer - I assume this is 2 sec MLU?

Depending on the price you see a pretty good ISO range 100 to 12,800 - 5/7 FPS - in camera HDR up to three stops - DRO 1 through 5 - Live view manual focus check with up to 14X with grid lines - etc.

What exactly do people expect for $600 or $700? Seems smart to me for Sony to get shelf space and give people a choice when they buy a camera.

To me this camera bodes very well for the A7XX which obviously will have to be way higher spec-ed than this.

I think for a mid level consumer camera which will be shot on Auto by 90% of the people who buy it this camera offers a lot of potential. For the few that want to try out some real photography and experiment with some manual settings it will be available for them. Isn't that how an entry level camera is supposed to work?

No it is not a D300/A700/D7 but one heck of a camera for $600 or $700 dollars. I hope people here can quit whining about Sony's plan not exactly fitting their needs and wait for the the new A7XX before they condemn this low end strategy that Sony is pursing to gain entry level users. I think it might turn out to be very smart on their part. Will not please camera snobs though and maybe these people belong in the Canikon camp and were foolish to ever be here.
--
tom power

If this has 2 sec MLU. Then i'm a Dutch man

andy forey said:

barry is it actually a thing you have ever considered..... ie stop moaning... lol

Click to expand...

Barry is right to complain. New Sony Alpha cameras are becoming more and more P&S cameras. Fortunately I invested just small amount of money in Sony system and am really glad I didn't invested more.

--
Always having fun with photography ...

Starting a new gallery: http://lucaspix.smugmug.com/

Dayd3 said:

andy forey said:

barry is it actually a thing you have ever considered..... ie stop moaning... lol

Click to expand...

Barry is right to complain. New Sony Alpha cameras are becoming more and more P&S cameras. Fortunately I invested just small amount of money in Sony system and am really glad I didn't invested more.

Click to expand...

While I do think everyone is entitled to moan and whine, I don't see how Sony's line is becoming more and more like P&S cameras. How?

The sensor size certainly hasn't shrunk.

The viewfinder is still there.

The shutter lag, I expect, is in a whole different league than P&Ses.

The 7 FPS at full resolution is something not all P&Ses can achieve.

It doesn't even have video, at that.

The handling should be better on the A450, too, compared to P&Ses.

Of course, that's not even mentioning better dynamic range, high ISO quality, the hot shoe (only higher-end P&Ses have this), the Av, Tv, and manual modes, and the bevy of lenses available to use on Sony's DSLR line compared to your garden-variety point and shoot.

While I will agree that Sony's unnecessarily inundating the market with models, they certainly are distinctly different and no closer to P&Ses like you suggest.

It's probably just because a lot of people here are serious photographers that they think DSLRs should all be advanced enough so only they can use them. Well, that's a losing proposition for them, really. It's the mass market that allows camera companies to keep investing in R&D for the higher-end models and lenses. I actually like how DSLRs today are within easy reach for more and more people. But that's just me, a mere hobbyist who some people here might want to push out of photography.

P.S. For the record, I actually own no Sony gear.

So correct me if I'm wrong...

A450 vs A500
slightly smaller LCD
slightly higher res sensor

A450 vs A550
slightly smaller LCD
lower resolution LCD

Why?

VLampa said:

It's probably just because a lot of people here are serious photographers that they think DSLRs should all be advanced enough so only they can use them. Well, that's a losing proposition for them, really. It's the mass market that allows camera companies to keep investing in R&D for the higher-end models and lenses. I actually like how DSLRs today are within easy reach for more and more people. But that's just me, a mere hobbyist who some people here might want to push out of photography.

Click to expand...

Feature stripping..that's what I call it ;-)

I expect the A100 and Km5d to be matched spec wise. For a 5 year old crusty DSLR, that is not a big ask! Only in FPS and a better sensor do they meet this, they have a very slim basic feature set.

It's not odd when you talk to enthusiasts, they are DSLR buyers, and they will look at what's on offer, and we have 3 very similar models..

Yawn... lol

Sony USA has not announced the a450 ... so far, at least.
And Sony Canada says they will NOT be marketing the a450.

Perhaps it's only for other countries.

I think building a wider user base before launching too many higher spec bodies and high grade lenses is a wise strategy, and will on long term also benefit the advanced users. By the way, Sony already has the A850 and A900 for serious amateurs and professionals, and I would be very surprised if they do not launch one or more higher spec bodies than the A500/A550 within this year. Sony are already offering a lot more than could be expected from Minolta or KonicaMinolta if they continued their camera business, so I think they serve us old Minolta users pretty well.

Most DSRL buyers are NOT advanced users. I don't think it is more complicated than this.

VLampa said:

While I do think everyone is entitled to moan and whine, I don't see how Sony's line is becoming more and more like P&S cameras. How?

Click to expand...

Removing more and more buttons with every new upgrade of "older" model, menus which allows just some basic changes, removing Program shift mode, removing MLU from all new APS-C cameras...

More megapixels, better video, face and smile detection, Live View, video, etc. are things which are already part of P&S world. I take dSLR because I need more complex camera with more buttons, more customization, and not big P&S cameras.

ultimate confusion - confuse the competitions and deliver the final blow later and confuse new DSLR users with lots of offerings that they won't have time to think of Canikon anymore, LOL.

Some from Sun Tzu:

"All war is based on deception."

" Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate."

"For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill."

"Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack."
------
Cheers,
gil - San Jose, CA
Cheap Lens, JPG and 100% Handholding Provocateur
Like happiness, photography is often better created than pursued.

Nordstjernen said:

Nordstjern wrote:

Click to expand...

think building a wider user base before launching too many higher spec bodies and high grade lenses is a wise strategy, and will on long term also benefit the advanced users. By the way, Sony already has the A850 and A900 for serious amateurs and professionals, and I would be very surprised if they do not launch one or more higher spec bodies than the A500/A550 within this year. Sony are already offering a lot more than could be expected from Minolta or KonicaMinolta if they continued their camera business, so I think they serve us old Minolta users pretty well.

That pretty well makes sense to me also. Actually this A450 seems like a very nice camera for someone coming from a P&S and is not meant for a high end hobbyist such as Barry/Phil/Walt or me for that matter.

--
tom power

is looking beyond most users in this forum where some bought A900/A850 but most won't buy anything below A700, LOL.
cheers,
gil

Nordstjernen said:

I think building a wider user base before launching too many higher spec bodies and high grade lenses is a wise strategy, and will on long term also benefit the advanced users. By the way, Sony already has the A850 and A900 for serious amateurs and professionals, and I would be very surprised if they do not launch one or more higher spec bodies than the A500/A550 within this year. Sony are already offering a lot more than could be expected from Minolta or KonicaMinolta if they continued their camera business, so I think they serve us old Minolta users pretty well.

Click to expand...

--
Cheers,
gil - San Jose, CA
Cheap Lens, JPG and 100% Handholding Provocateur
Like happiness, photography is often better created than pursued.