Ricoh has announced the Theta SC2, a second-generation ‘enthusiast’ 360-degree camera that’s a part of its growing Theta lineup.
The Ricoh Theta SC2 serves as a successor to the Theta SC and brings with it new and improved features. Inside, it features a 14-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor capable of capturing 4K video (3840 x 1920 pixels) at up to 30 frames per second. In addition to 14GB of internal memory, the Theta SC2 offers a Micro SD card slot as well.
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Ricoh has added three new shooting modes to the SC2: a ‘Face mode,’ which recognizes human faces in the frame and automatically applies skin smoothing; a new ‘Night View’ mode that helps to shoot low-noise footage in low-light environments; and a lens-by-lens exposure mode that controls the cameras independently for situations where one side of 360-degree exposure might be brighter than the other.
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One small external upgrade from its predecessor is the addition of a small OLED display. Although smaller than the screen on the Theta Z1, the OLED display can be used to keep tabs on settings and battery life. There’s also a new self-timer button.
The Theta SC2 features built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity for connecting and controlling the camera with Ricoh’s dedicated smartphone app.
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The Theta SC2 will come in pink, blue, beige and white (the same colors the SC shipped in) when it ships ‘mid-December 2019’ for a suggested retail price of $ 299.95 / £269.99. Ricoh is currently taking pre-orders. We’ll have our Theta SC2 review out an hour after this post goes live, so keep an eye out.
RICOH THETA SC2
An Easy-To-Use 360° camera that’s simple to operate and capable of capturing high-quality spherical images and videos
LONDON, 18 November 2019 – Ricoh Company, Ltd. and Ricoh Imaging Europe S.A.S. are pleased to announce the release of the RICOH THETA SC2. The SC2 is the “Enthusiast” level model of the RICOH THETA 360° camera series, capable of capturing 360° still images and video footage. The RICOH THETA SC2 is easy to use, simple to operate, and features a variety of functions.
Since its release in 2013 as the world’s first hand-held 360° camera 1, “RICOH THETA” has been used in a multitude of environments and offers unlimited potential for image expression. 360° photography has become increasingly relevant, due to the rapid growth of the Virtual Reality market, the increasing number of social media services that are compatible with 360° images, and the growing demand for 360° images in the business market.
The new RICOH THETA SC2 is an easy-to-use model, perfect for the 360 enthusiast, allowing anyone to capture high-quality spherical images. It snaps photos at approximately 14 megapixels, as well as smooth, immersive 360°spherical video at 30 frames per second in 4K (3840 x 1920 pixels). Additionally, the RICOH THETA SC2 comes with a variety of shooting modes such as “Face” mode, which recognizes human faces and applies skin smoothing, and “Night View” mode for shooting low-noise footage after the sun goes down. These modes allow the photographer to configure the camera with minimal effort.
The status OLEDdisplay (Organic EL display) in the lower section of the RICOH THETA SC2 body, allows at-a-glance checking of a range of information such as setting modes and remaining battery power. RICOH THETA SC2 also features a new button that lets the user switch to self-timer mode, making the camera much easier to operate in a standalone manner. Staying true to the product concept of a compact, lightweight body, the RICOH THETA SC2 can be used as a live blogging camera that people can carry with them to record the events of their day. The line-up features four different Fresh Colours, allowing users to select a colour of their choice. This is the perfect camera for people who enjoy sharing pictures and videos on social media, or for those who wish to start using a 360° camera.
Note 1: For consumer products, this refers to the fact that the camera can capture the entire space surround the photographer, not just in a half-sphere or horizontal direction, but in a single shot. (As of October 2013. According to Ricoh research.)
Price & Availability
RRP: £269.99
Availability: Mid December 2019
Colours: Pink, Blue, Beige, White
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)