Skip to main content

The Ricoh Theta SC2 aims to create a new way to view 360 photos

Ricoh

Ricoh wants to make shooting a 360 photo — and viewing one — just as easy as using an old-school point-and-shoot. On Tuesday, November 19, Ricoh announced the Theta SC2, an entry-level 360 camera that brings new just-for-360 auto modes, along with an upcoming trick that will allow anyone to view the resulting files, even without a 360 viewer.

The Ricoh Theta SC2 uses upgraded sensors and a new processor from the original SC, allowing the camera to capture 4K video at 30 fps, albeit only for three minutes at a time. The 360 camera can also snap 14-megapixel stills, or longer 2K videos. The camera uses two f/2 fish eye lenses and internal stitching to create that 360 view.

Designed as the point-and-shoot of 360 cameras, the Theta SC2 includes a handful of auto modes that require no user input outside of actually switching the mode. A faces mode puts the people in the shot front and center, while also applying some skin-smoothing algorithms. Night view helps reduce noise in low-light scenes. Normally, the 360 camera uses consistent exposure settings from both of the lenses, but the lens-by-lens exposure mode allows the lenses to be adjusted separately for a better exposure in high contrast scenes.

The mode is displayed on the camera’s OLED at the base or grip part of the camera body. The screen also displays the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection status, as well as how much of the 260-shot battery is remaining. The controls are kept simple with a shutter release and a separate shutter release with a selfie timer.

The camera pairs with a smart device using Wi-Fi for all functions, including live view, as well as Bluetooth for remotely triggering the camera. Transfers are about four times faster than the SC thanks to a change in the process that corrects the video at playback rather than during transfer.

While the camera is designed to be simple enough for anyone to use, Ricoh also wants to make the resulting photos available for anyone to view. Animation Photo is a feature coming to the app that pans around the 360 view as a Live Photo (on iOS) or video (on Android), allowing anyone to view the whole image without a 360 viewer. The mode displays a static image until the photo is tapped, which launches the animation that reveals the rest of the 360 view. The Animation Photo mode is planned for a spring 2020 update and isn’t yet available at launch.

Ricoh has not yet shared pricing or ship date for the Theta SC2.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
Sleek and simple, the new Ricoh Theta SC aims to bring 360 to the masses
ricoh theta sc announced 14615837 204591376619580 3229929527105309661 o

Update June 27 by Daven Mathies: With summer officially here, Ricoh has announced new, lower pricing on the Theta SC. The budget 360 camera is now just $200, $100 less than when it was first introduced. This should further the Theta SC's appeal to consumers interested in giving immersive video a shot, but who don't want to risk investing too much money. 

“We have always intended for the Theta SC to be a mass-market camera, introducing consumers to the magic of 360 spherical imaging,” said Kaz Eguchi, president of Ricoh Imaging Americas, in a statement. “Now that summer is here, we expect many families will be using it to capture their summer vacations in a new and exciting way.”

Read more
Camera360 Lite became Google Play’s No. 2 photo app in under a month
camera360 lite second in google play camera360lite

The app Camera360 Lite may be only a month old, but it’s already climbed the charts to the second rated free photography app among the trending section of the Google Play Store. So why are Android users readily downloading the newcomer?

Camera360 Lite is designed for simplicity and speed. The entire program is only 5.2 MB, which means the app loads quickly and doesn’t cause a big strain on the battery.

Read more
Ricoh’s Theta S 360 camera goes for an ace at the Women’s British Open
Ricoh Theta

This is now officially the summer of 360-degree sports coverage. From motorcycle racing to the Olympics, fans can watch the action in an entirely new way, with spherical cameras cameras bringing them closer to the action than ever before. Nowhere is this craze more dominant, it would seem, than in the world of golf.

Just last week, Allie (maker of another 360-degree camera) announced it was partnering with the American Century Championship to broadcast the celebrity golf tournament live in 360 degrees. And on Monday, Ricoh followed suit, announcing the selection of its tiny Theta S as the official 360-degree camera of the Ricoh Women’s British Open as part of the company’s 360 View of Golf initiative.

Read more