Sony a290 vs Sony a450

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a290 and Sony a450. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

These cameras are both manufactured by Sony.

Type of camera

Both these cameras are DSLR cameras. No difference there.

Sensors / crop factor

Both these cameras have the same sorts of sensor (called "Sony APS-C") which means that if you compare these cameras side by side the lenses will also have the same experienced focal length. Neither of the cameras has a Full frame sensor which means that you will get a "crop factor" where the camera's sensor size affect the focal length with a multiplier.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)

Resolution

Both these cameras have the exact same resolution. Sony a290 has a 14 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Sony a450 has 14 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

ISO range

Sony a450 has a larger ISO-range than Sony a290. Sony a450 has an ISO range that stretches from 200 to 12800 while Sony a290 has 100 to 3200.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a290
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a450

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a290 can shoot up to 2,5 pictures per seconds and Sony a450 can shoot up to 7 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

Though, neither Sony a290 or Sony a450 can shoot movies so if that is a functionality that you are really looking for you should look elsewhere.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Sony a450 weighs 560 gr (equal to 1.23 lb) which is 2% heavier than Sony a290 and its 549 gr (or 1.21 lb).

Sony a290 vs Sony a450 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a290 and Sony a450, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Sony a290	Sony a450
Name	Sony a290	Sony a450
Manufacturer	Sony	Sony
Release Date and Price	Sony a290	Sony a450
Release Year	2010	2010
Release Date	2010-06-09	2010-01-05
MSRP	499 USD	N/A
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Camera Type	Sony a290	Sony a450
Camera Type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor	Sony a290	Sony a450
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm)	APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm)
Sensor Type	CCD	CMOS
Resolution	4592 x 3056 pixels	4592 x 3056 pixels
Megapixels	14 MP	14 MP
Image Processor	Bionz	Bionz
Image	Sony a290	Sony a450
ISO Range	100 - 3200	200 - 12800
White Balance Presets	6	6
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Yes (Sensor-Shift)	Yes (Sensor-Shift)
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony a290	Sony a450
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous	Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Single Continuous
Focus Points	9	9
Lens Mount	Sony A See Compatible Lenses	Sony A See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm	APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Sony a290	Sony a450
Articulated LCD	Fixed	Fixed
Screen size	2.7”	2.7”
Screen dots	230400	230400
Touch screen	No	No
Screen type	N/A	TFT Clear Photo Color LCD
Live view	No	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentamirror)	Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.83× (0.55× 35mm equiv.)	0.8× (0.53× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	N/A
Photography features	Sony a290	Sony a450
Frames per second	2,5 fps	7 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/4000 seconds	1/4000 seconds
Built-in Flash	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash Range	10 meters	12 meters
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	No
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot	Multi Center Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 2 (at 1/3 EV steps)	+/- 2 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony a290	Sony a450
Video recording	No	No
Video format	N/A	N/A
Video resolution	N/A	N/A
Built-in Microphone	No	No
Built-in Speakers	No	No
Storage	Sony a290	Sony a450
Memory Card	Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC	Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC
Connectivity	Sony a290	Sony a450
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	No	No
Remote Control	Yes (Optional)	Yes (Wired or wirelss (optional))
GPS	No	No
Body & Dimensions	Sony a290	Sony a450
Enviromentally sealed	No	No
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Lithium-Ion NP-FH50 rechargeable battery & charger	Lithium-Ion NP-FM500H rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	290 shots	1050 shots
Width	128 mm	137 mm
Height	97 mm	104 mm
Depth	86 mm	81 mm
Weight	549 gram	560 gram