Canon Inc., Tokyo, Japan, announced the development of Sub-wavelength Structure Coating (SWC), a new coating technology for camera lenses that minimizes ghosting and flare, reports JPEA International PEN News Weekly. The SWC technology is used in Canon's concurrently announced large-diameter, wide-angle EF24mm F/1.4L II USM lens for EOS series DSLR cameras.

  To date, efforts to take advantage of light interference and minimize reflections have consisted of applying thin coating layers onto the lens surface, but this approach can fail to provide adequate protection depending upon factors like the light's angle of incidence, which sometimes leads to ghosting and flare. Canon's new SWC coatings minimize reflections by aligning countless wedge-shaped structures in a more minute way than the wavelength of visible light on the surface of a camera lens, says PEN News Weekly.

Nextar Inc., La Verne, Calif., a designer and marketer of consumer electronic products, introduces a new digital photo frame, model N3-506. Featuring a 3.5-inch LCD screen with both built-in memory and flash card compatibility, the unit is constructed of a metal frame with a black leather cover. The Nextar digital photo frame supports 320-by-240 JPEG images, which can be shown as either a slideshow presentation or individually.

  The frame features built-in memory of 128MB or 256MB and a flash card slot supporting SD, MMC, or MS cards.  A rechargeable Lithium Ion battery supplies power and an AC adapter is included. It comes with a manufacturer's one-year limited warranty. The Nextar N3-506 folio digital photo frame will be available in October at retailers across the United States as well as online. The N3-506 will be available with 256MB of built-in memory for $69.99, and the 128MB capacity version will cost slightly less, says the company.