Pentax / Ricoh Theta 360 camera

D1N0 · 09-05-2013, 07:08 AM

I would have put in three lenses for les distortion and more resolution. Also give it a more stable base or a click in pod. It can be attached to anything with duct tape of course mr. Hendriks

pinholecam · 09-05-2013, 07:18 AM

I was prepared to be disappointed, I'm pleasantly surprised.
Looks VERY cool and certainly something different from what anybody is offering.

Now all it needs are good photographers/ adventurers/ etc that can see beyond 'stiff' 'me too' images and use it to its strength.
(ie. not for old dinos who can't imagine beyond 135 format and rectangular framing

)

rawr · 09-05-2013, 07:21 AM - **1 Like**

Cool as it looks, I'm puzzled about the utility of this.
How will it help me shoot? How will I deliver the images to people?

thigmo · 09-05-2013, 07:26 AM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

It does need something to attach it to your helmet when skating to compete with gopro. Could be a winner if the right people get attrackted. I saw a bundle off gopro at the EC Bouldering last weekend. There is a market for such a camera as the Thetra 360!!!!!!!!!

Umm, except for the fact that it doesn't do video??? Only mentions jpg file format in the specs. Maybe in future updates, but if it's meant to compete with GoPro type cameras, no video is a non-starter.

gazonk · 09-05-2013, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by rawr

Cool as it looks, I'm puzzled about the utility of this.
How will it help me shoot? How will I deliver the images to people?

It's not about "shooting" or "delivering the images" - it's about "being there" and twittering your friends so they can "be there" too!

rawr · 09-05-2013, 07:31 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by gazonk

it's about "being there" and twittering your friends so they can "be there" too!

Oh.
Pardon me while I stifle a yawn then.
I don't have a Twitter or an iPhone, or a Facebook either, so I guess this object is not made for me.

**Aristophanes** · 09-05-2013, 07:32 AM

Interesting. There's been a gap in the market for a dedicated pano.

It's uptake and buzz, even as a quirky niche product, will all depend on the price.

I could see real estate people using something like this.

**LaurenOE** · 09-05-2013, 07:32 AM

Hmm..right now I don't seek out 360 degree images - except for Google Earth / Street View.
If the Theta is targeted to those folks, I suppose I will wait to see how they like it.

For the average user? If the Theta can take out the person who took the image via software - great.
Otherwise you would need to have a "360 degree technique" so that you are not in the shot all the time.

With 360 degrees, you are never "behind" the shutter.

I think it's great that Ricoh took this Pentax concept to production, but for me, I can't think of why I'd buy this.
Good thing it has "Ricoh" on it.

If Ricoh thought the styling of the K30 was too much, so they gave us the K50, good luck with the Theta!

scole · 09-05-2013, 07:36 AM

I like the product a lot and would consider buying it- but not at $400 USD. At a minimum, this thing has to be under $200. Why buy this when I can buy a Google Android phone that does the same thing (Google Photo Sphere) and makes phone calls?

Tesfaye · 09-05-2013, 07:40 AM - **2 Likes**

The world moves on. I'll stay where I am.
But I shall not complain that not every product is made for me, especially as Pentax makes more products for me than what I can afford.

robgo2 · 09-05-2013, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by HYS

OK. That's a good toy. A little bit odd, but what to do - Ricoh vision!
I am afraid that the Pentax brand is progressively sinking.

Hey, everybody, listen to Adam. I think he knows something, at least I hope he does. A new flagship camera is coming. Will it be enough to keep the Pentax brand from sinking? Time will tell. A FF camera about the size of the K-5 would be wonderful along with some requisite FF lenses.

Rob

Tesfaye · 09-05-2013, 08:00 AM

Originally posted by robgo2

Hey, everybody, listen to Adam. I think he knows something, . .
Rob

In a few weeks he will secretly open a K3 discussion thread - the night before the official announcement.
Remember the wild rumours going on for weeks in the past. Times have changed.
But it could be the biggest jump since the K5, and that was a big one, more than anybody could realistically expect.

Katmandude · 09-05-2013, 08:12 AM

this is some sort of joke and we, the clients are not laughing... at all...

Wired · 09-05-2013, 08:13 AM

Engadget has a short preview/review of the camera up on the site. They are not really happy with it. $400 is the reason

froeschle · 09-05-2013, 08:15 AM

In the IFA interview the question about resolution or number of MP was not really answered.

So, what is the best you can get if you connect the device to a PC?

The internal memory (approx. 4 GB) and the storage capacity (approx. 1200 pictures) result in about 3 MB per panorama.
With e.g. 3 bytes of color information per pixel one easily can estimate that this is a "Megapixelcam" (for $399/€399).

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09-05-2013, 07:08 AM	#46
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	I would have put in three lenses for les distortion and more resolution. Also give it a more stable base or a click in pod. It can be attached to anything with duct tape of course mr. Hendriks

09-05-2013, 07:18 AM	#47
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	I was prepared to be disappointed, I'm pleasantly surprised. Looks VERY cool and certainly something different from what anybody is offering. Now all it needs are good photographers/ adventurers/ etc that can see beyond 'stiff' 'me too' images and use it to its strength. (ie. not for old dinos who can't imagine beyond 135 format and rectangular framing )

09-05-2013, 07:21 AM - 1 Like	#48
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Cool as it looks, I'm puzzled about the utility of this. How will it help me shoot? How will I deliver the images to people?

09-05-2013, 07:26 AM	#49
thigmo Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 45	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 It does need something to attach it to your helmet when skating to compete with gopro. Could be a winner if the right people get attrackted. I saw a bundle off gopro at the EC Bouldering last weekend. There is a market for such a camera as the Thetra 360!!!!!!!!! Umm, except for the fact that it doesn't do video??? Only mentions jpg file format in the specs. Maybe in future updates, but if it's meant to compete with GoPro type cameras, no video is a non-starter.

09-05-2013, 07:27 AM	#50
gazonk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oslo area, Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,746	Originally posted by rawr Cool as it looks, I'm puzzled about the utility of this. How will it help me shoot? How will I deliver the images to people? It's not about "shooting" or "delivering the images" - it's about "being there" and twittering your friends so they can "be there" too!

09-05-2013, 07:31 AM - 1 Like	#51
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by gazonk it's about "being there" and twittering your friends so they can "be there" too! Oh. Pardon me while I stifle a yawn then. I don't have a Twitter or an iPhone, or a Facebook either, so I guess this object is not made for me.

09-05-2013, 07:32 AM	#52
Aristophanes Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Photos: Albums Posts: 3,948	Interesting. There's been a gap in the market for a dedicated pano. It's uptake and buzz, even as a quirky niche product, will all depend on the price. I could see real estate people using something like this.

09-05-2013, 07:32 AM	#53
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Hmm..right now I don't seek out 360 degree images - except for Google Earth / Street View. If the Theta is targeted to those folks, I suppose I will wait to see how they like it. For the average user? If the Theta can take out the person who took the image via software - great. Otherwise you would need to have a "360 degree technique" so that you are not in the shot all the time. With 360 degrees, you are never "behind" the shutter. I think it's great that Ricoh took this Pentax concept to production, but for me, I can't think of why I'd buy this. Good thing it has "Ricoh" on it. If Ricoh thought the styling of the K30 was too much, so they gave us the K50, good luck with the Theta!

09-05-2013, 07:36 AM	#54
scole Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 216	I like the product a lot and would consider buying it- but not at $400 USD. At a minimum, this thing has to be under $200. Why buy this when I can buy a Google Android phone that does the same thing (Google Photo Sphere) and makes phone calls?

09-05-2013, 07:40 AM - 2 Likes	#55
Tesfaye Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Trondheim Posts: 27	The world moves on. I'll stay where I am. But I shall not complain that not every product is made for me, especially as Pentax makes more products for me than what I can afford.

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09-05-2013, 07:41 AM	#56
robgo2 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Mexico Photos: Albums Posts: 1,125	Originally posted by HYS OK. That's a good toy. A little bit odd, but what to do - Ricoh vision! I am afraid that the Pentax brand is progressively sinking. Hey, everybody, listen to Adam. I think he knows something, at least I hope he does. A new flagship camera is coming. Will it be enough to keep the Pentax brand from sinking? Time will tell. A FF camera about the size of the K-5 would be wonderful along with some requisite FF lenses. Rob

09-05-2013, 08:00 AM	#57
Tesfaye Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Trondheim Posts: 27	Originally posted by robgo2 Hey, everybody, listen to Adam. I think he knows something, . . Rob In a few weeks he will secretly open a K3 discussion thread - the night before the official announcement. Remember the wild rumours going on for weeks in the past. Times have changed. But it could be the biggest jump since the K5, and that was a big one, more than anybody could realistically expect.

09-05-2013, 08:12 AM	#58
Katmandude Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 42	this is some sort of joke and we, the clients are not laughing... at all...

09-05-2013, 08:13 AM	#59
Wired Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,519	Engadget has a short preview/review of the camera up on the site. They are not really happy with it. $400 is the reason

09-05-2013, 08:15 AM	#60
froeschle Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 552	In the IFA interview the question about resolution or number of MP was not really answered. So, what is the best you can get if you connect the device to a PC? The internal memory (approx. 4 GB) and the storage capacity (approx. 1200 pictures) result in about 3 MB per panorama. With e.g. 3 bytes of color information per pixel one easily can estimate that this is a "Megapixelcam" (for $399/€399).