LIFE’s newest title, Wonders of the World, is a photographic compilation of the Top 50 Wonders in the universe. These contain the original Seven Wonders of the World conceived in the 5th century B.C. by the Greek historian Herodotus, seven new man-made wonders and seven runners-up chosen by almost 100 million voters in a global poll fielded by the New 7 Wonders Foundation, 14 of nature’s wonders, 14 modern wonders of engineering and construction and One Lone Wonder - the magnificence of the Northern and Southern Lights. LIFE Wonders of the World, which retails for $29.95 U.S./$34.95 Canada (hardcover), will be available online and at bookstores nationwide on October 20, 2009.

Ricoh today announced the release of the Ricoh CX2, a new digital camera featuring a 10.7x (28-300 mm equivalent) superzoom lens in a compact body only 29.4 mm thick. The new Ricoh CX2 inherits many popular features from its predecessor, the CX1 - introduced less than half a year ago -, such as the unique expanded dynamic range; but also adds new features like full-resolution continuous shooting at 5 frames per second, Pre-AF and Continuous AF. The lens is also new, and its 10.7x zoom ratio is quite an achievement given the compact dimensions of the CX2. New scene modes such as “high-contrast B&W mode” and “miniaturize mode” have been added to stimulate shooting creativity, and various CX1 model functions have received enhancements, such as the addition of face recognition to easy shooting mode and the addition of an AUTO option for automatically defining the range expansion effect in dynamic range double shot mode. The CX2 will be available at an SRP of £299.99.

The Casio EX-Z33 is a new entry-level 10.1 megapixel camera. The stylish Casio Z33 features a 3x optical zoom lens, 2.5 inch widescreen LCD,  Automatic face recognition and Best Shot function. The Auto Shutter mode shoots automatically when the subject smiles or when there is no blur. The EX-Z33 will also be available in September with an MSRP of $119.99.  The EX-Z33 will boast stylish new colors, including black, light pink, vivid pink, silver and blue. 

ExposureManager, a customisable full-service online sales resource for photographers, announces EM Photo Day – an efficient new order placement system for photographers using handwritten order forms. ExposureManager’s latest offering to its community of photographers who cater to sports leagues, groups, schools, special events such as school dances, dance troops, theater groups or any other situation wherein orders are taken in writing by the photographer, is available now. To get started, for each photo day or event, photographers just send ExposureManager the blank order form they’ll be using for their event. EM Photo Day staff will then configure the order entry interface and set-up the price sheets. Once the photo day or event is complete, a CD or DVD of the images or an FTP link must be sent to ExposureManager for import into the system. The EM Photo Day System allows photographers to fully preview all the images to be ordered along with the capability to review any customised products too, as they will print, so as to catch any mistakes, saving time and money.

Adobe today released the Photoshop Camera Raw 5.5 plug-in and DNG Converter 5.5 Release Candidates available immediately. The update extends raw file support to four of the latest popular camera model releases, including the Nikon D300s, Nikon D3000, Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic DMC-FZ35. The Release Candidate also includes a correction to the demosaic algorithms in the raw conversion process for Bayer sensor cameras with unequal green response. The Photoshop Camera Raw 5.5 plug-in and DNG Converter 5.5 Release Candidates are available as free downloads for existing customers of Photoshop CS4.

Website: Adobe Labs

Windows Live Movie Maker makes it easy for Windows 7 and Windows Vista users to create and share movies from their photos and videos. Available as a free download, Windows Live Movie Maker is first application within the Windows Live Essentials suite optimized for Windows 7. It features a Auto Movie option that creates a great-looking video in under one minute, including transitions, a title, captions and a music soundtrack.

Epson has announced that a new range of media by Hahnemühle, the biggest name in fine art print media, has been certified for use with its Digigraphie program. Digigraphie by Epson describes a print created by a certified Epson Stylus Pro professional printer, which uses UltraChrome or UltraChrome K3 inks on a list of certified fine art media.Each print is individually authenticated with a serial number, signed by the artist, embossed and accompanied by a certificate of guarantee. Hahnemühle have worked closely with Epson to gain certification of their high quality fine art media. The new approved digital print media increases the number of Digigraphie certified Hahnemühle media to 9 - all of which are of different weights and properties. Click through / read on for the full list.

Epson has launched the Epson Stylus Photo PX810FW, a high-end 4-in-1 Wi-Fi photo printer. Integrating fax capability with Hi-Definition photo printing, scanning and copying, the PX810FW is Epson’s flagship Wi-Fi, all-in-one for the home user. In addition to photo printing, it comes with a number of more general printing features. You can save paper by double-sided printing with the included duplexer. An automatic document feeder allows for convenient faxing, copying and scanning of multiple pages. The auto-selecting A4 and photo sized paper trays means that both A4 plain and photo sized paper is always ready for use, and the PX810FW also has the capacity to print directly onto suitable CDs and DVDs. The innovative greeting card feature allows you to produce a personalised 10x15cm card incorporating your own handwritten message within the photo without even switching on the PC. The Epson Stylus Photo PX810FW will become available on 1 September at an RRP of £299.99.

Epson has also announced the Epson Stylus Photo PX710W wireless, all-in-one, Hi-Definition photo printer. Paolo Marenghi, Product Manager, Epson UK, said: “With its Wi-Fi capability and contemporary design, the Epson Stylus Photo PX710W can be placed anywhere in the modern home. With integrated paper trays it is far slimmer than most printers standing at only 150mm tall.  Whether you wish to print from a PC, Mac or iPhone, the PX710W will print any document you need and produce photos of outstanding quality.” Additional features in the Epson Stylus Photo PX710W include the ability to view and print photos directly from a memory card using the 6.3 cm LCD viewer, printing directly from PictBridge compatible digital cameras and optical character recognition (OCR) software for text scanning.  An Epson Photo Paper Pack is also included, so you can start printing high-quality photos on Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper in 10x15cm, 13x18cm and A4 sizes straight away. Scheduled for release on 1 September 2009, the Epson Stylus Photo PX710W will be available at an RRP of £199.99.

The Canon PIXMA MP990 and MP640 are two new wireless all-in-one photo printers. Both the MP990 and MP640 use the ChromaLife 100+ ink system and have a maximum color resolution of 9600 x 2400 dpi. The inclusion of a gray ink tank on the Canon MP990 helps produce superb black-and-white prints in addition to vibrant color prints. The PIXMA MP990 can also scan both film and slides. The integrated Easy-Scroll Wheel, for easy navigation through menus and images, is further enhanced by a large 3.8-inch LCD screen on the Canon MP990 and a 3.0- inch LCD screen on the PIXMA MP640. The Canon PIXMA MP990 will cost $299.99 and the MP640 $219.99.

Shutterstock has launched Shuttertweet, a new tool for Twitter that empowers stock image and stock footage submitters by instantly sending out tweets announcing when new images and footage clips have been added to their Shutterstock portfolios. In addition, Shuttertweet sends an update regarding submitters’ download counts on a daily basis to share the success of their portfolios with people that follow them on Twitter. To sign up, submitters login to the submit site and click the option under “Make Money” or click here to enable Shutterstock to send tweets on their behalf. Submitters can deactivate Shuttertweet at any time.

Canon today announced 6 new compact cameras as part of their Autumn 2009 Collection, and we attended the UK launch in sunny London.

Here are 24 photos of all the new cameras, including the PowerShot G11, S90, SX20, SX120, IXUS 200 and IXUS 120.

We’ll also have a review of the new SX20 IS very soon…

Canon today announced the launch of the PowerShot G11 digital compact camera, successor to the Canon PowerShot G10, with a host of new features, including a Dual Anti-Noise System. Canon’s new Dual Anti-Noise System combines a high sensitivity 10.0 Megapixel image sensor with Canon’s enhanced DIGIC 4 image processing technology to greatly reduce noise and increase quality equal to 2-stops. The Dual Anti-Noise System allows photographers to capture full resolution images - using up to ISO 3200 - in difficult low-light conditions. The other highlight of the Canon G11 is a high-resolution (461,000-dot) vari-angle LCD screen. The Canon G11 also features a 28-140mm optically stabilised lens, enhanced i-Contrast technology, white balance fine control and raw image capture. The PowerShot G11 can also be used with a wide range of Canon accessories, including the Speedlite 270EX, 430EX II and 580EX II; Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX and Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX flashes for enhanced shooting options; the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2, Speedlite Bracket and Remote Switch RS-60E3. Underwater photographers can even team the PowerShot G11 with the specially designed Waterproof Case WP-DC34 - an underwater housing allowing full control of the camera at depths of up to 40m. The PowerShot G11 will be available from early October 2009 priced at £569.00 / €659.00 RRP inc. VAT. The US price is $499.99.

The Canon PowerShot SX20 IS is a new, 12.1-megapixel digital compact camera with a 20x wide-angle super zoom lens. The versatile camera, a successor to the SX10 IS, now features HD video (720p) to ensure you capture video in the sharpest detail. The Canon PowerShot SX20 IS also has a 20x optical zoom, which zooms from 28mm to 560mm equivalent. The lens features both an Ultrasonic Motor (USM) and a Voice Coil Motor (VCM) for fast, silent focus and zooming – making the camera unobtrusive and easy to use, whether shooting stills or video footage. To help users make the most of these creative possibilities, the Canon SX20 IS includes a vari-angle 2.5 inch PureColor VA LCD display. Experienced photographers will appreciate the full range of manual controls, while beginners will be pleased to learn about the onboard Hints & Tips. Furthermore, the PowerShot SX20 IS can record HD video at 720p resolution and includes a dedicated movie button for instant access to movies in still mode and instant stills shooting during movie recording. The Canon PowerShot SX20 IS will be available from late August 2009 priced at £399.00 / €459.00 RRP inc. VAT. The US price is $399.99.

The Canon PowerShot SX120 IS is a high quality, easy-to-use digital compact camera with a 10x optically stabilised zoom lens.  To capture every detail, the PowerShot SX120 IS includes a 10 Megapixel sensor with Canon’s powerful and intelligent DIGIC 4 processor – ensuring superb response times and natural colour reproduction. DIGIC 4 also takes care of difficult lighting conditions with i-Contrast – a technology which prevents highlight blowout, whilst retaining shadow detail. For trouble free shooting the Canon PowerShot SX120 IS includes Smart Auto and Easy modes with Scene Detection Technology. More experienced users can choose their settings with additional shooting modes such as Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority. A full manual control mode is also provided – perfect for users who wish to experiment with their shots. The camera can also shoot VGA movies with sound. The Canon SX120 IS is available from early August 2009 priced at £229.00 / €269.00 RRP inc. VAT. The US Price is $249.99.

The new, ten-megapixel Canon PowerShot S90 marks the return of the Canon PowerShot S-series of truly compact digital cameras featuring full manual control. One of the highlights of the new Canon S90 is the lens - it is a 6-22.5mm f/2.0-4.9 zoom with optical image stabilisation. The PowerShot S90 also features an intuitive lens Control Ring, which enables users to adjust the settings of various functions by twisting the selector at the base of the lens barrel to the left or right. The Control Ring can be used as a quasi-manual zoom offering a closer view of subjects in 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 105mm steps.  Additional settings can be assigned, such as ISO, shutter, aperture, focus and exposure compensation. Also on board is Canon’s Dual Anti-Noise System for enhanced low-light performance and the improved Intelligent Contrast Correction technology that attempts to make the most out of the dynamic range of the sensor. The Canon PowerShot S90 also features a 3.0 inch LCD display with a resolution of 461,000 dots. The PowerShot S90 will be available from early October 2009 priced at £449.00 / €519.00 RRP inc. VAT. The US price is $429.99.

The Canon Digital IXUS 120 IS (also known as the PowerShot SD940 IS Digital ELPH) is the slimmest wide-angle IXUS / ELPH to date. Small and perfectly formed - ideal for slipping into handbags and pockets – it can be taken anywhere to take capture important moments with its 28mm equivalent wide angle lens, 4x zoom and 12.1-megapixel image sensor. Technologies like scene and blink detection are on board to help novice users. The Canon Digital IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS Digital ELPH also includes a ‘Hints & Tips’ system so camera settings are clearly explained within the menu. Finally, the new Canon can capture 720p HD videos and output them via its HDMI port..The Canon Digital IXUS 120 IS / PowerShot SD940 IS will be available from early September 2009 priced at £299.00 / €349.00 / $299.99.

The 12.1-megapixel Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS (also known as the PowerShot SD980 IS Digital ELPH) is the first-ever touchscreen IXUS / ELPH and, quite unusually for a compact camera, it features 24-120mm equivalent 5x zoom lens. The touchscreen system is allegedly easy to use: simply tap the 3.0 inch screen to ‘point’ at the face you want to focus on, and the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS / PowerShot SD980 IS Digital ELPH will do the rest - automatically tracking your subject and keeping them in perfect focus. When reviewing your images a simple movement of your finger on-screen allows you to erase, protect, rotate or tag your favourite photos so you can easily review your favourite shots. 720p HD video recording rounds off the feature set of the new IXUS / ELPH. Scheduled to be available in September (Europe) and October (USA), the Digital IXUS 800 IS / PowerShot SD980 IS Digital ELPH camera is projected to retail for £329.00 / €379.00 / $329.99.

The Canon SELPHY ES40 is Canon’s first compact photo printer featuring voice guidance. Instructions such as “select a colour” or “select the area for printing” make the creation of individual prints easier than ever. Voice guidance is also provided to overcome common printing problems – such as informing a user when the ink cartridge or paper needs replacing. The SELPHY ES40 features a bright 3.5 inch 230K dot LCD screen, Easy Scroll Wheel and large, tactile buttons to provide swift and easy controls when reviewing and navigating through images before printing. In Creative Print mode you can use 12 templates to create colourful calendars with your own images, add stamps, speech bubbles or clip art to photos, or frame your prints with artistic borders. The SELPHY ES40 is available from mid September 2009 priced at £179.00 / €209.00 / $149.99.