The A450 uses the same Exmor CMOS sensor as the A550, offering a resultion of up to 14.2 million pixels. It features Sony's BIONZ image processor, which allows for high-speed continuous shooting at up to 5fps. That performance can be boosted to 7fps in the Speed Priority mode, with AF and AE set at star of burst.

The processor also enables Sony to offer increased sensitivity of up to ISO12,800 from ISO200.

The camera sports an optical viewfinder that offers 95% field of view, as well as a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD screen with Manual Focus Check Live View previews. However, the Live View mode lacks the quick-AF option present in other models.

The A450 has an Auto HDR mode, that lets photographers take two successive frames shot handheld at different exposure values. The two images are then automatically merged to offer a High Dynamic Range image. 'The exposure between frames can be manually set up to 3EV, in o.5EV increments,' says Sony.

The DSLR has Sony's SteadyShot Inside that offers up to four stops of anti-shake correction with a range of 30 Alpha lenses and two teleconverters, as well as compatible A-mount by Konica-Minolta. The A450 uses Memory Stick Pro-HG and SD memory cards.

However, this latest model still lacks video, making Sony one of the last manufacturers to embrace the technology - Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax are all offering video capabilities to DSLR users. Speaking to BJP in 2009, Paul Genge, Sony's UK technical sales manager, explained that Sony was still studying video. 'We're not convinced by the technology. The quality is not as good as it should be for a Sony introduction, especially considering Sony's experience in the camcorder market,' he added. 'We're not quite there yet.' See related article here.

The A450 will be available in February. A UK price has yet to be set. For more details, visit sony.co.uk.