An unboxing report from THETA user Gabriel Acoca

The box of 18x10x7 cm contains:

- the 360 Camera ricoh theta X

- the charging cable (USB-C, 40 cm long)

- the battery ( Ref Ricoh DB-110, Li-On, 3,6V of 1350 mAh, precharged to 30% of its capacity )

- The quick start guide ( EN,D,FR,JP)

- The protective envelope of the camera, made of polyurethane with the Ricoh theta logo.

All its elements are individually protected, the screen of the camera also having a removable protection.

The first Theta that can be controlled directly on the camera

Ricoh has been familiar with the theta system since the m15, but the Ricoh ThetaX introduces new innovative features.
From the unboxing, we can see that we are dealing with a successful product, especially when we discover the battery, because yes, we can finally charge the battery outside the camera, and thus have an unlimited unlimited autonomy (if you have several batteries). There is also a port for a micro-SD card that also plays for the autonomy, storage this time.

The shooting parameters allow for finer adjustments

Shooting method

In photo mode, the 1/2 inch sensor gives images in jpeg format with a good histogram distributed in auto mode, in 11k and 5K format, we note an effective Noise Reduction function. And above all, the stitching is done directly in the camera, you download or share directly a 360 image. In video mode, Ricoh has worked its stabilization system, and the Ricoh Theta X generates mp4 files of 4K at 30 and also 60 fps, but the innovation in video is especially the 5.7 k at 30 fps. The colorimetry in both photo and video is realistic, and the minimum focusing distance is about 15 cm.

Photo mode

If it can be used standalone, with a self-timer or with the time-shift mode (photo mode only), which allows you to move before or during the shooting to avoid being present in the final image, it is also pairable with a smartphone to benefit from a greater comfort of use. The photo modes also allow timelapse, HDR or even bracketing up to 13 levels, which is unprecedented for a one-shot device.

Video Mode

Theta X has a built-in GPS, which makes it easy to export to StreetView or to build virtual tours. virtual tours. In addition, the ricoh theta X can connect to the local wifi network, network, which considerably increases the range of the remote control, as long as your smartphone is connected to the same local network. Of course the Ricoh Theta X accepts the Theta plugins available on the Ricoh store. Finally, the real novelty is this 2.25 inch LCD touch screen that allows you to fully control the camera in standalone mode, but especially to control photos and videos.

Connection to a smartphone or tablet PC

As usual with the other Theta cameras, the Theta X can also be controlled remotely via smartphone. This requires the "Theta" app, which can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. After activating the WiFi and Bluetooth function, the camera can be connected to the smartphone or tablet PC. A connection password is required for this. This is the serial number, which is located on the bottom of the camera. It consists of two letters followed by eight digits. After pairing, the camera can be operated with all setting functions via smartphone or tablet PC. After disconnecting, the camera can be operated directly again.

Image and video transfer

There are several options for image transfer. The easiest and fastest solution is to transfer the images to a smartphone or tablet PC using the Theta app. The images can be selected before transfer and are ready in no time to be shared on appropriate platforms or made available to customers as virtual 360° tours via the paid applications. The camera can also be connected to the computer to transfer the images, where they can be edited and prepared for further use.

The Noise Reduction function is effective, but it can cause some information to be lost in black: The HDR function is effective, but still saturates the color tones a bit.

Image analysis

The exposure histogram provides a very professional control display. This bar graph shows the entire exposure spectrum on the touch display, from underexposed (left) to overexposed (right). A balanced display across the entire range of this bar graph indicates a balanced exposure, while a concentrated display on the left or right indicates underexposure or overexposure, respectively. With a 360° camera, it is often normal for outdoor shots with different lighting conditions to show overexposure in bright sky areas, for example, and underexposure in shadow areas.