Ricoh Rounds Out its Sphere with the Theta SC

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Positioned as a fun, friendly entrance into its spherical camera lineup, Ricoh has announced the Theta SC. Borrowing much of the feature set of the Theta S, this new colorful and stylish device allows you to produce unique 360-degree spherical photos and videos using the distinct dual-lens, dual-sensor design.

This pair of 12MP 1/2.3" sensors works in tandem to deliver equirectangular images with 14.4MP total resolution. The sensors also afford a sensitivity range from ISO 100-1600, handy for working in difficult lighting conditions, and the bright f/2 lenses further benefit working in low light. When shooting stills, shutter speeds from 1/8000 of a second to 1 minute are available, and Full HD 1080p video recording at 30 fps is possible. Additionally, creative modes, including HDR Composite, Dynamic Range Compensation, and Interval Shooting, expand the way the Theta SC can be used in practical applications by increasing the dynamic range of imagery, as well as automatically producing time-lapse sequences.

Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity lets you take control over the Theta SC using dedicated Theta+ and Theta+V Android or iOS apps, which let you adjust settings, gain a live view image, and of course, share images to your mobile device wirelessly for sharing online.

Beyond the imaging and control aspects, the Theta SC also features a bottom 1/4"-20 mount for attaching the camera to tripod, monopod, or selfie stick; the integrated lithium-ion battery offers approximately 260 shots per charge; and internal 8GB of memory is used to store approximately 1,600 full-resolution stills or up to 63 minutes of Full HD video. Additionally, most distinct to the Theta SC, it is available in Beige, Blue, Pink, or White.

Compared to the Theta S, the SC has a slightly lighter-weight build and faster top shutter speed of 1/8000 of a second, omits the live streaming capabilities, and shortens the Full HD recording limit to 5 minutes per clip. Aside from these differences, the SC utilizes the same feature set to craft a versatile camera that is well suited to creative image-making, VR applications, and Google Street View image sharing.