Ricoh Theta Review (Theta S and Theta m15)

Happy New Year!  One of the trends in photography is 360-degree panoramic photos and videos, variously called photospheres, "virtual reality," or VR.  Photospheres have been around for many years, but several recent developments have come together to make it much easier to produce and share panoramas, making them accessible to casual photographers and audiences.

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While much of the spotlight in 2016 is on virtual reality devices such as the Oculus Rift and Playstation VR, part of the trend is the increasing number of 360-degree cameras that can capture photospheres.

One such device for capturing photospheres is the Ricoh Theta S.  It is the third generation of the Theta, which first came out in 2013.  The Theta S takes photos and videos with 360-degree horizontal and 360-degree vertical field of view.  Unlike panoramic photos with some cameras and phones, the Theta S captures its photospheres with a single shot, making it possible to capture movement and action in real time.

Ricoh Theta S

Separate from the increasing interest in VR shots, I think the Ricoh Theta S is a very good camera for family photos and vacations.  Many family photos are taken for documentary purposes, i.e., to memorialize events and places we've been to.  Especially in this age of social media, photos help us share our stories with friends and family.  The Ricoh Theta S serves that function very well.

The Ricoh Theta is a unique camera that shoots 360-degree photospheres.  While there have been other cameras that can take 360-degree panoramas, the Ricoh Theta strikes a very good balance of usability, image quality, and price.

Christmas eve dinner #theta360 - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

I had the original Ricoh Theta, the second-generation Theta m15 model, and I now use the third-generation Theta S.  In this post, I review and compare the three models, with an emphasis on the Theta S.  Note: For images here with the Ricoh Theta logo, such as the one above, you can click on the images to view the photosphere (as long as your browser supports it).

Ricoh Theta m15