Sony's entry-level A-mount DSLR — the A450, APS-C, pentamirror OVF, in-body stabilisation, 2010.
The Sony A450 is an entry-level APS-C digital SLR announced in early 2010, part of Sony's Alpha A-mount line that grew out of the Minolta/Konica Minolta autofocus system Sony acquired in 2006. It sat at the base of the range as an affordable body aimed at photographers moving up from compacts, sold in Europe alongside the closely related A500 and A550.
As a conventional DSLR it uses an optical pentamirror viewfinder and a moving reflex mirror rather than a translucent-mirror design. It carries a Sony A (Alpha) bayonet mount and takes A-mount lenses as well as adapted Minolta AF glass. It features sensor-shift image stabilisation built into the body (SteadyShot INSIDE), so stabilisation works with any mounted lens. It has no video recording, reflecting its 2010 entry-level positioning, and records to Memory Stick and SD-type cards.
The A450 suits beginners and students who want an affordable route into interchangeable-lens photography with in-body stabilisation that benefits older manual and AF lenses. Its optical finder and simple control layout make it straightforward for general, travel and family use, though it lacks the live-view refinements and articulated screen of its higher siblings.
When buying used, check the shutter actuation count against the mechanism's rated life, inspect the sensor for dust and marks, and test the rear screen for dead or stuck pixels. Confirm the card and battery doors latch cleanly, listen for any IBIS rattle, and check the rubber grip for degradation. Battery availability is generally good through aftermarket NP-FM500H packs, and resale sits firmly in the budget second-body bracket.