Ricoh Theta Spherical Digital Camera

The Theta S isn’t a primary camera, but a secondary device for creating 360-degree photos and videos. Because it’s highly portable, it shouldn’t be an issue to carry it alongside a regular camera or smartphone.

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  Easiest 360 cam to use, Good hand-held, portable design, Works with Google Street View app, Live-streaming capability

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  So-so video resolution, Limited storage, Few apps available

Whether you're looking to create content for your VR headset or just love cool camera gadgetry, the Ricoh Theta S is an excellent way to start creating spherical images.

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  The Ricoh Theta S takes the complex process of capturing and creating spherical photos and videos down to a single button press. Using its Wi-Fi and mobile apps, you can control the camera, and edit and share photos and video.

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  Processing takes its toll on photo and video quality, so just don't look too closely. Having separate apps for capture and editing hurts the user experience. You need to upload to Ricoh's site before sharing to other sites.

The Ricoh Theta S is a 360-degree camera that is capable of capturing still images and smooth video.

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  Captures 360-degree images and video. Remote control via smartphone app. Cloud service for image sharing. Compact.

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  Non-rugged design. Video on the soft side. Finicky Mac software. Wi-Fi video transfer can take a while.

Thanks to its enhanced image quality, better ergonomics, and new features like live view (via smartphone), the third-generation Ricoh Theta S represents a considerable improvement over previous Theta models.

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  Unique 360-degree images, Easy to hold thanks to non-slip finish, Light and compact, Doubled resolution compared to previous model, Improved battery life, Easy access to still and video recording, New live view mode, Supports long video files, Videos viewable on smartphone, Social media integration

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  Noisy in low light, PC Theta app has no photo browser, No dedicated strap lug, Live streaming feature is rudimentary, Limited wireless range, Price

The Theta S does what it is supposed to, producing 360-degree photos and videos that can be shared online. And the results look pretty good: You can move around them and zoom in and out in a way that feels very immersive.

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  Simple to use, Produces nice-looking 360-degree photos that can be shared, Works with Samsung Gear VR

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  Video quality is poor, especially if the camera moves, App is basic and awkward to use

Most cameras seem a lot alike, but not so the Ricoh Theta S. With twin fisheye lenses, each with its own image sensor, this sleek camera can capture complete 360-degree spherical panoramas in a single shot, handling all the stitching for you automatically.

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  360-degree spherical panoramas at the click of a button; Puts you back in the moment like no other camera; Good ergonomics and control layout; Great still image quality, and can shoot videos too; Upload panoramas to Google Street View

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  Very reliant on your smartphone or tablet; Battery and storage can't be replaced or upgraded; Handheld shots suffer from Gigantic Hand Syndrome; Hard to get yourself out of the shot; Video image quality is only modest; Interval timer has a long shot delay

If you're looking to get started with 360-degree photography but don't want a huge rig with loads of cameras — and don't want to spend a fortune — then this is the camera to look at. It does very well with still images, but struggles some with video — as do many cameras of this type.

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  Great design, easy to hold, Buttons make shooting a cinch, Dedicated Wi-Fi button helps with Wi-Fi Direct, Relatively easy to upload and share

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  Wi-Fi Direct is still a pain, Theta S app is unintuitive, Video quality limited by 1080p resolution, Soft-touch prone to pick up oil from hand

Ricoh Theta S will be the torch bearer for 360-degree cameras but it is still not ready for consumer use

If you have a good reason to own a 360-degree video and stills camera, the Ricoh Theta S is a must have. Estate agents, location scouts, VR enthusiasts and anyone who puts on live events will love it, and it will also appeal to regular travellers looking to capture their trips in a new way.

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  Immersive 360-degree videos, Good contrast and saturation

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  Lot of noise in videos, Process of uploading is tedious

I knew how fragile this was and kept it in mint condition, bought all the cases etc. But after 3 months of owning it, I got a scratch on it, at the start of the year they told me I had to buy a new camera because they don't repair or replace lenses, check backed after 6 months, find out they now...

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  Portable

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  Easily Scratches, only has 8bg memory, will be a paper weight after it gets scratched

We used the Ricoh Theta S for our grassroots music feature using 360 VR Technology in groundbreaking ways (randomly, our main character is named Ricco). Whereas other VR films do not move the camera, cut within scenes, or have any kind of close-ups, this camera allowed us to achieve that and more.

I picked up a Theta S on a recent trip to Japan. I'd probably have gone for the slightly more stable Galaxy 360, but since I didn't want to drop over $500 on a new phone to control it (How's that strategy working for you, Samsung?) I went with the Theta S instead. And I love it.

The Theta S camera was the first 360 degree I have ever purchased. It is easy to use and takes great video and pictures. I would definitely recommend the camera and BH to anyone looking for a great value.

Great camera for 360 photos! The app is very easy to use as well as the camera itself. The video is not that great and you'll need to download both photos & videos very frequently as the memory is limited.

Very simple and works as it should. The 360 photos are a little soft, the megapixel count isn't quite what I had hoped for. It is technically high enough quality for google street view, but a little underwhelming.