I am a virtual reality software engineer who has had experience with the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift DK2 and new consumer version, and various other devices.
I have also used the M15 in the past. The form factor of both devices was great and I ultimately chose to buy the newer model due to the ability to make longer videos. In the M15, the resolution is too low and the contrast in picture quality is not great, where colors appear undersaturated and flat.
The S, in contrast, is definitely a notch above the m15. However, this device is still prone to overexposure when taking 360 photos outside. The Theta S is a big improvement than its predecessor, but in my opinion not enough to warrant purchasing an entirely new device if you have the older model.
You get 25 minutes to record 1080 HD video as opposed to 6 minutes on the M15, but keep in mind that uploading it into Youtube truly skews the image quality so the videos do not truly feel like HD. However, the Ricoh Theta software will auto stitch your video while exporting which minimizes the time spent editing, saving the consumer many hours. The videos are not completely seamless and are subject to some fish-eye distortion.
The S comes with live preview, which uses the WiFi capabilities enabled in the camera itself. The shutter range is small, and you must be close to the camera for reliable operation. While it is neat to have this capability, the shoddy execution from the weak range leaves something to be desired.
The S comes with a neoprene sleeve that fits snugly against the camera. However, we decided to buy a hard case for added lens protection, as Ricoh does not offer a warranty in the case that the lens themselves become damaged.
The S controls are extremely easy to use, and just the press of a button will take a 360 photo. However, if you want the images to look as beautiful as they can, a fair amount of post processing might still be required to get the dynamic range seen in reality.
Overall, I feel like this is the best VR camera you can get at this price point. The quality will not be able to rival a GoPro VR rig, but the amount of effort required in post production is severely minimized by Ricoh Theta. With a GoPro rig, you need to spend 2,500 dollars and also buy or #D print a mount to house all of the camera together. It also requires that you sync the individual shutters and control the settings so that the VR immersion isn't disrupted by the varying exposures, which can take a lot of time. The Ricoh Theta S is a great introduction to the world of VR, and is able to fit in such a small form factor that is extremely portable.
As an avid Amazon shopper, I rely heavily on reviews to research before purchasing items. I purchased this item with my own money after doing my own research on what was available. I want to help others make more informed purchasing decisions by providing reviews that accurately describe the product and my experiences with it. I have no relationships with this seller, nor am I compensated on how people vote: if you learned anything helpful about this product from my review, please click the yes button, and if you did not learn anything new, please click the no button. Your vote will help me pinpoint what types of reviews people think are most useful. Please feel free to give me any feedback or ask any question so that I could provide more information to better assist you.
There is a newer model of this item:
More to consider from our brands
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the manufacturer
360° experience.
Experience a new world of images with the Ricoh Theta S. With one touch of a button, spherical images and videos are created which are unlike anything you've ever seen. The Theta S offers capabilities not previously attainable in past models including a new, a larger image sensor, which gives you approximately 14 megapixel, high-quality spherical images and Full HD movie recording up to 25 minutes. Improvements have been made for low light shooting including the addition of a newly developed bright f/2.0 lens along with the option to shoot in Manual Mode and set shutter speeds up to 60 seconds, built-in memory to store up to 8GB of data, as well as live view and live streaming functionality. Discover 360-degree images and videos, the future of digital photography.
Highlights
- 360° Spherical images and videos
- New enlarged sensor - 12MP
- Output Size - 14MP
- Full HD video at 30fps
- Live streaming (USB/HDMI)
Overview
capture spherical images and videos
Easily capture and share everything in your environment with the Theta S. Featuring a twin-lens folded-optical system, view and share completely spherical images.
improved image quality
Equipped with a larger (1/ 2.3-inch) image sensor, enjoy high-quality spherical images at approximately 14 megapixels, the best quality of all Theta models. The Theta S features a newly designed lens, optimized for the new sensor, providing sharper images than previous models.
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
improved ui with more functionsAdded to the Theta S is an LED status notification on the body of the device, which allows you to switch between still image and movie mode more easily than previous models. Wi-Fi speed has also been upgraded to 8Mbps, as well as built-in memory to store up to 8GB. |
high movie qualityImproved hardware enables 30fps of Full HD original data. Recording time is also improved to a maximum of 25 minutes. |
dedicated applicationThe Theta applications allow for easy shooting and sharing of your spherical images and videos. From the applications you can capture still images and videos, employ full command and control over various shooting modes, and share your spherical images and videos directly to social media. Additional Theta applications will allow you to edit your spherical images to the way you want them to be. |
live view and live streaming functionalityLive View function is added with still images. With this new function, 10fps images are displayed as a preview on your smartphone. Enjoy live streaming when your device is connected to either a USB or HDMI cord. |
Customer reviews
Nearly perfect. An awesome value and highly recommended product.
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2015
If you are expecting pro quality video, you are looking at the wrong camera, but those are an order of magnitude more expensive. For the market it serves, this camera is nearly flawless. I will not go into hyper-technical detail with this review, but simply explain why as a casual user this is one fantastic value.First of all, before you even turn it on, the camera feels nice. It has a nice weight and solid build quality that makes it not feel like it is going to fall apart at a moments notice. The first thing you'll notice are the big fish eye lenses on both sides and if you are like me will religiously protected those lenses from scratches by keeping it in the cushioned case and always have a secure grip on it. Although it is cheaper than some, it is still too expensive of a camera to not handle sure-handedly.The user interface is a little clunky. It is not very intuitive, which is one of the reasons why this didn't get a 5 star review. After you learn how it is supposed to work, it all makes sense, but expect some minor frustration with it at first.The stills are phenomenal. It is sensitive to low light conditions, as at higher ISO, the noise ruins the image, but with any normal lighting you would have in an occupied building it works great. The shutter is a little slow, in auto, but you can set ISO or shutter priority or use Auto to satisfy your needs of the moment. I posted some of my 3-d shots on this review, one of a church and one of a field. They look great in my Gear VR and really show you the value of the camera. There was no special preparation for the shots, just point and shoot.Video, however, is not the greatest quality. It is enough to do some simple projects and learn VR techniques as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the medium, but you will not win any academy awards with it. But it is a $350 camera, so to expect that is a little unreasonable.The sound is good enough. Generally, I have found that you want VR to be close to your subject since the number of pixels on your subject goes down quickly as they move away. I estimated that you have about 5 pixels per degree, so extending your thumb at arms length would be 10 pixels wide. Your little finger would be 5. So when filming, you want to be close to the camera and therefore the pickup on the mic is pretty good.If you are expecting zoom, you have come to the wrong place. There is no zoom and really there is no place for it if you are using VR, since it would have to greatly distort your field of view.The best way to share images is probably with the viewer on the manufacturers website. Some social media sites also support the format. If you have Gear VR, you are in luck because they are available straight away by just downloading them to your linked smartphone. For video, your best bet is YouTube, but you need to download a tool to inject VR metadata. (Google it).One of two things would have convinced me to give it 5 stars. Easier share options, especially with Gear VR or higher resolution on video. The stills are nearly perfect, but it's clear 1080p is not quite enough for VR, but 4k would likely look marvelous. Maybe the next generation will have it.This is one of the best gadgets I've owned and with a Samsung Gear VR, you can really enjoy your 360 stills and learn the ropes of 360 video.
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2015
Images in this review
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2017
Style: BaseVerified Purchase
I’m an engineer and the Ricoh Theta S works great for site visits when I travel for work. I also purchased a 6” tripod that works great with it. Using the app on my phone (both android and iPhone), I’m able to walk around the corner and not appear in any of the photos since the camera sends a live image (via the camera’s own WiFi network) to my phone. The camera has a lot of customizable settings including ISO and shutter speed. It’s not the best at high contrast (say a black ceiling and a glaring light in it) but I’ve had very good results with a tripod when shooting in low light. I purchased two more for my team after being impressed with the first one we bought. It’s now a must have in our travel tool kit. The camera has a shutter button so you don’t need the app to use it. The camera’s biggest con is it doesn’t have a screen but it’s not a huge issue because the app is pretty decent. You do have to download Richo’s software to fully take advantage of the 360 degree images but it’s free. I wish they offered software for their videos (they might but I haven’t found it).
Images in this review
