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Ricoh Theta S

Reviews	Views	Date of last review
2	27,433	Tue August 29, 2017

Recommended By	Average Price	Average User Rating
100% of reviewers	$350.00	8.50

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Description:

The Ricoh Theta S is an evolution of the original Theta spherical camera. It captures 360-degree still images and videos and features built-in Wi-Fi for smartphone integration. With a faster lens (F2.0), more than double the resolution, and larger sensors, it provides improved image quality and faster performance over the earlier model.

A new feature with the Theta S is the ability to stream in real time. Either one of the USB and HDMI ports can be used for streaming.

Camera Name	Theta S
Camera Type	360 degrees spherical
Brand	Ricoh
Year Introduced	2015
Discontinued	Yes
Lens	Spherical, F2 (x2)
Optics	7 elements in 6 groups (each lens)
Field of View	360 degrees (the two lenses combined)
Focusing	Fixed focus 10.2 cm / 4 in. to infinity
Sensor Format	1/2.3 inch (x2)
Sensor Megapixels	12 MP (x2), 14 MP effective combined
Sensor Type	CMOS
Sensor Resolution	5376 x 2688 (the two sensors combined, flattened image)
White Balance	Still image: Auto, Outdoor, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent light 1, Incandescent light 2, Daylight color fluorescent light, Natural white fluorescent light, White fluorescent light, Light bulb color fluorescent light
	Video and streaming: Auto
ISO Range	Still: ISO 100 to 1600 (auto and manual)
	Video and streaming: ISO 100 to 1600 (auto)
Exposure Modes	Still image: Auto, Shutter priority, ISO priority, Manual
	Video: Auto
	Live streaming: Auto
Exposure Compensation	Still image: +/- 2 EV, 1/3 EV steps
Shutter speeds	Still image: 1/8 - 1/6400 seconds (auto), 60 - 1/6400 seconds (manual)
	Video: L: 1/30 - 1/8000 seconds (auto), M: 1/15 - 1/8000 seconds (auto)
	Live streaming: USB: 1/15 - 1/8000 seconds (auto), HDMI: 1/30 - 1/8000 seconds (auto)
Self-timer	Yes (requires firmware update)
Stabilization	No
Interval Shooting	Yes
HDR Mode	No
Live View	Yes, via smart phone
Video Mode	Video: 1920 x 1080/30 fps/16Mbps (Full HD), 1280 x 720/15fps/6Mbps (M)
	Streaming (USB): 1280 x 720/15fps
	Streaming (HDMI): 1920 x 1080/30fps (Full HD), 1280 x 720 (30fps, 720 x 480/30fps (adjusts automatically to connected display)
Video Recording Time	Clip length: 25 minutes or 4GB file size
	Total Recording Time: 65 minutes (Full HD), 175 minutes (M)
Vdeo Sound	Built-in microphone, AAC
GPS	Via smart phone over Wi-Fi
Tethering	Wi-Fi
Camera Controls	Via smart phone
File Formats	Still image: JPEG(Exif Ver2.3)
	Video: MP4 (Image: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: AAC
	Live streaming: Motion JPEG
Built-in memory	Approx. 8GB
	Holds approx. 1600 photos (L), approx. 9000 photos (M)
	Video total recording time approx. 63 minutes (L), 171 minutes (M)
Memory Card Slots	None
Back LCD	No
Weather Sealed	No
Connectivity	microUSB: USB 2.0, HDMI: Micro type-D
	Compatible with remote release CA-3
	Wi-Fi
Battery	Built-in Lithium-Ion rechargeable
Battery Life	Approx. 260 photos
Size (W x H x D)	44 x 130 x 22.9 mm / 1.7 x 5.1 x 0.9 in.
Weight	125 g / 4.4 oz
Accessories Included	USB cable, soft case
Optional Accessories	Cable release CA-3, hard case TH-2, underwater housing TW-1, tripod mount extension adapter TE-1, strap attachment
Notes	Smart phone required to adjust camera settings

Megapixels:

14Mp combined

Movie Mode:

Full HD spherical videos at 30FPS

Weight:

125g

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ronniemac

Senior Member

Registered: April, 2011

Location: Oxford

Posts: 200

1 user found this helpful

Review Date: August 29, 2017

I can recommend the Ricoh Theta S: Yes | Price: $300.00 | Rating: 8

Pros:	a new perspective on photography
Cons:	resolution not yet high enough in movie mode

The Theta S creates spherical images without having to take and stitch multiple shots or without breaking the bank for a complex rig and compositing software. It is simplicity itself in use.

There are now others breaking into this market, but Ricoh has stolen a march with the Theta and look to be staying ahead of the pack. If you buy one, you'll need an iphone or android phone to operate it effectively. Although it is also possible to use it as a stand alone camera, you wont see what you are taking or have taken without the phone. Windows phone doesn't support it, (I have a Nokia 1020 so depend on my partner allowing me to use her iphone if I want to preview or review my shots).

There are a number of accessories which I consider essential:
1. Protective neoprene cover with easily removable cap
2. Remote control shutter (wired usb)
3. Long selfie stick - unless you want your thumb and finger to feature prominently in images.
4. Extension stud so that usb remote can be connected
5. Monopod (with wide three toed foot so that it can be left standing without being held up)
6. If you want weather proofing, a perspex enclosure (like an inverted test tube)
and there are other attachments available from third party suppliers.

The selfie stick and a free standing monopod are, in my opinion essential, ironically because I don't like to photograph myself. Set it up and walk away, controling the shutter with your phone. If you are walking around with it, a long selfie stick puts you far enough away to not be too dominant in the resulting images. I don't worry about holding it level or vertical - the images are a 360° rotatable sphere.

Creative possibilities are endless. Don't ask me why but I have an image of the inside of my computer, and another inside my mouth checking my teeth, ( a tiger recently copied this idea with Nikon's equivalent) and I'm constantly looking for something or somewhere new to photograph. It is a fantastic camera for quirky architectural interiors. Inside a forest, or even in the middle of a trees are favourite locations, it's also a half decent movie camera although resolution needs to improve in this respect (Ricoh are working on it!) One of its nice features is that you don't have to point it at someone to photograph them, for example, leave it in the middle of a table at a meeting, and everyone is given equal coverage. It is quite an unobtrusive device. The viewer decides who to point the mouse at, place centre screen and zoom in on. It is an amazing panorama camera, a delight for landscape photographers.

Some drawbacks: Purple fringing is sometimes an issue, it doesn't function well with traditional software (LR and Photoshop) yet.The lens glass is vulnerable - take care and always use a protective hood when not in use (not supplied). Resolution is ok but needs to improve for movies. This is in the pipeline and when it arrives the new Theta will deserve a score of 10.

Nice things: It makes itself (and suitably slim selfie sticks) invisible, it's a lot of fun, it generates a fully immersive photograph - if you want to use a headset for viewing purposes you will find yourself in the centre of a 360 degree (vertical as well as horizontal) spherical image (personally I don't like headsets). It has a plethora of uses which most of us haven't even begun to realise. I like walking with it on a monopod and remote control, lifting it to random shots, and review pictures back at home. Great for 'small planet' photographs. Ricoh have released code to enable third parties to develop innovative software add-ons and new apps. Supported by Keenai (Ricoh's unlimited raw, jpeg and movie cloud storage).

Most importantly the Theta it is fun to use - its images give us a new perspective on life and the world around us.

Fookus

Senior Member

Registered: October, 2009

Posts: 134

Review Date: January 28, 2016

I can recommend the Ricoh Theta S: Yes | Price: $400.00 | Rating: 9

Pros:	Fun..Fun..Fun!
Cons:	better support on IOS...compared to Android

this is a very nice tool...

I bought the protection case with it to avoid damage to the lenses

A
setting it up is straight forward and easy. You need software on PC + Tablet + phone (downloaded from 360-Tetha). Here is a small summary

After the device has been charged with the assisting USB cable....
1. you need to connect with PC for setting up with 360Tetha cloud + e.g. facebook + firmware
2 then you connect through WiFi with your phone and change WiFi password

then...you can use Tetha software on your mobile to control the camera that has been placed on e.g. a small gorillapod....
assure that the horizon is straight...as is always the case with Fisheyes

; you can check this form your Mobile-Live-View

you then install interval snaphots (e.g. 8 sec and 3 shots..)......you walk away....and press the snapshot button on your mobile device....
you will hear a strange beep...and the shots will be taken.

You then load the files through Mobile-app (transfer)...or through cable and PC (and app on PC)

B
Using the apps you can load the files to 360Tetha cloud that transforms the files to a 360 photo

here are a few examples....I hope the link works

http://theta360.com/s/3X5GdBu6S5LR7RkctVHBw75ua

http://theta360.com/s/gmwWPhSNdCUYWDuBqz7I5GW00

https://theta360.com/s/nhx9HldpKiFHw39kgn3a4n4V6

C Movies....well...this works too!

But the support is better for Apple...so I am still experimenting how to upload a video 'as a link'. As soon as I have found out I will put a link up here

this works..however the Ricoh site only permits 5Mb per movie shot...so you need to chop it in pieces

http://theta360.com/m/eGFruSOn6QJdg5q9bn2qZs0Iq

https://theta360.com/m/ecuq6MTfLuEqa8XAjKHhWiAyW