Ricoh Theta SC vs Ricoh Theta S – Comparison Post

The Ricoh Theta S has been the most poplar 360 camera of 2016, largely thanks to its low price, excellent build quality and ease of use. It’s great news that Ricoh is committed to updating its 360 camera range, however the new Ricoh Theta SC isn’t built to out-do its predecessor, but to act as an even cheaper option while keeping the best bits.

The Theta S and Theta SC are nearly identical, however the newer SC is $50 cheaper. This price cut has led to some sacrifices being made; firstly the Theta SC cannot live-stream 360 footage and secondly the continuous video recording time is limited to 5 minutes. So you can see how similar the two cameras are otherwise, take a look at this comparison table:

Ricoh Theta SC vs Ricoh Theta S Comparison

FeaturesRicoh Theta SCRicoh Theta S
Number of Lenses 2 2
Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps/16 Mbps 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps/16 Mbps
Photo Resolution 5376 x 2688 (24 Megapixels) 5376 x 2688 (24 Megapixels)
Aperture f/2.0 f/2.0
Stitching Instant Instant
Waterproof No No
Shockproof No No
Memory Internal 8GB (Not expandable) Internal 8GB (Not expandable)
Battery 260 photos in 1 charge 260 photos in 1 charge
Compatibility Android/iOS Android/iOS
Other Points Video recording limit: 5mins per recording No livestream Video recording limit : 25 mins per recording Livestream capable
Price $266 $299
Where to Buy Amazon Amazon

 

Comparison Analysis

I told you they were nearly identical! Ricoh has decided that live-streaming and longer video recording times are worth doing away with in order to make their new camera more accessible to a greater number of people. I think this is a great move.

The live-streaming in the original Theta S, while interesting, was not user friendly and could only stream low quality footage. The video recording length shouldn’t be much of an issue either; the nature of 360 video means that you are unlikely to want to record more than a few minutes at one time anyway (who is going to watch 30 minutes of the same view?).

The Ricoh Theta SC keeps the essentials of what made the Theta S a great 360 camera. 360 photos are what the Theta S is good at and the SC uses exactly the same lenses with equally powerful optics. Video resolution in other cameras is not the best in the 360 camera category, but is good enough for fun personal use.

Ricoh Theta Photo Example 

If you choose to get the Theta SC over the Theta S the only difference you are likely to notice is that you have an extra $50 in your pocket.

Ricoh Theta SC
Ricoh Theta SC
The cheapest Ricoh Theta option and arguably the best value.

 

See Also: 360 Camera Buying Guide

The 360 Guy

The 360 Guy

Owner of threesixtycameras.com. Writer, photographer and videographer. You can see my YouTube channel for guides of how to shoot 360 video. I've written for The Times, Digital Photography School and Sunday Express. 

1 Comment
  1. how do i view a 360° image like the one on this website on my website or my real estate clients websites?

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