Great camera with limitations

This makes my forth digi Elph and I must say I am impressed over-all with the quality of the series and love the large screen of the new SD450. However, my next purchase was a $14 padded Pelican case and a Metz slave flash - realizing that all these little cameras are NOT Nikon Fs and need to be handled with care and their flash limitations accepted. Like all sub compact digis the SD series have decent but limited flash. Just don't expect too much from them past five feet. I am a little disappointed in the USB interface and battery covers as they do seem flimsy, but honestly I never had a problem with the SD200's identical plastic parts. Bottom line - the SD450 is an excellent choice and reasonably priced. Bbut like all digis it has it's limitations. Yet at the price you should be able to afford a $14 case for protection (Pelican model 1010) and $100 slave flash (either Canon or Metz)to protect and get the most out of the camera. For the average user looking for a handy 5 mp camera I would say go for the SD450. Sharp pictures if you do your part, easy to learn and use and oh-so-compact!! BTW - my son took an SD200 to Iraq and it was one of the few pieces of electronic gear that survived the insideous powder-like sand and came home intact!!