There are basically three distinct design groups in the Alpha family: the xi-style miniature controls, which includes the popular 3xi, 9xi and 400si; the letter-si style which includes the XTsi and Maxxum 5; and the highly-respected lineage which sport discrete controls, inclusive of the Maxxum 9000, 600si, 9 and 7.

None of these brilliant designs were borrowed. The A450 is a bitter disappointment with yet another Nikon rip-off power switch in the wrong place, a bunch of tiny plastic buttons peppered all over the body–all of which are approximately the same size and shape, and placed without regard to handling. “Shooting digital” must involve staring at the back of the camera only in broad daylight.

There’s a reason why a used Maxxum 7D still commands as high a price in the marketplace as a new Alpha 2xx/3xx, and it has nothing to do with megapixels, video or “HDR”.