This is actually not the first time Ricoh introduced the 360
degree camera. The original version of Ricoh Theta was revealed in 2013, and at
that time many people were fascinated by its ability to capture precious
moments in 360 degree, however there were also some who felt disappointed with
the quality of images or videos captured.
Two years have passed; Ricoh now releases the successor of
its 360-degree camera. Ricoh Theta S still retains the super-compact body of
its predecessor. This camera only has a length of 13 cm, and weighs 125 grams -
more or less like a TV remote. However, Ricoh has attached rubber layer to the
Ricoh Theta S case to make it more comfortable to be gripped and also LED
lights that will light up when its 8 GB storage is almost full.
Ricoh Theta S is equipped with a pair of ½.3 inch CMOS
sensors with a resolution of 12 megapixels for each sensor. When it's used for
shooting, the resulting 360-degree images have a resolution of approximately 14
megapixels. For video, it can record in 1080p resolution for about 25 minutes.
On the side there is a lever to switch between photo and video modes.
Ricoh Theta S will capture all things around you, even
yourself. All you need do is simply lift it up to the top and then press the
shutter button that's located at the bottom of the lens.
Ricoh Theta S has been equipped with a pair of f/2.0 lenses.
Combined with a larger sensor, the low-light performance of this camera will
certainly be better. Furthermore, users can also use Ricoh Theta S in
semi-automatic mode; adjust the shutter speed to 1 / 6,400 sec and ISO levels
of up to 1600.
Ricoh Theta S also carries live streaming function, but it
is not wireless, but via a micro USB cable or HDMI micro. Wi-Fi connectivity is
also presented, so that the users can control the Ricoh Theta S via a
smartphone or tablet.
Ricoh Theta S is scheduled to enter the market in October
2015 at a price of $ 349. You can see the example of video footage below. Make
sure you use the Google Chrome browser to be able to watch it from any angle.