Ricoh Theta S Unveiled: Most Advanced Fully Spherical Portable Camera
RICOH UNVEILS INDUSTRY’S MOST ADVANCED FULLY SPHERICAL PORTABLE CAMERA: RICOH THETAS
Featuring faster lenses, enlarged image sensor and full HD video capabilities
Tokyo, Japan, JP, September 3, 2015 - Ricoh
announced today the release of the RICOH THETA S, the newest model in
the RICOH THETA series of spherical cameras that capture 360-degree
scenes surrounding the user. Unveiled today in Berlin at IFA, the
world’s largest consumer electronics show, the camera features
extra-high resolution, fully spherical photos and videos in one simple
shot, a live preview function and even greater compatibility with social
media platforms.
The RICOH THETA S, which retains the
lightweight portability of the current model—the RICOH THETA
m15—captures high-resolution spherical images of up to nearly 14
megapixels. It can also record spherical video in full HD (1920 x 1080*1
pixels at 30fps) with a maximum recording time of 25 minutes. The
better quality images are enabled by an enlarged image sensor and fast
F2.0 lenses to allow more light through Ricoh’s proprietary ultra-small
twin-lens folded-optical system.
Also, superior image processing
technology and bulb mode for long exposures produce spherical still
images with less visual static, even in low-light settings.
Spherical
images can be uploaded to theta360.com, shared via Facebook™, Twitter™
and Tumblr, and posted to Google Maps™, Google+™ and
YouTube™360°Channel. The application program interface (API) for RICOH
THETA S is based on Google-supported Open Spherical Camera API for
compatibility with Google’s services.
Coinciding with the launch
of the RICOH THETA S, Google Maps today introduced the new Google Street
View app that allows you to capture and publish your photo spheres
instantly to Google Maps for people all over the world to explore. The
app also offers the ability to shoot photo spheres and to connect to
spherical cameras. This new capability to connect to spherical cameras
makes it easier than ever to create Google Street View experiences.
The
new RICOH THETA S app for smartphones and tablets can be used to
configure settings and instantly view spherical photos and video via
wirelessly connected devices. An improved Wi-Fi® module transfers data
four times faster than the current RICOH THETA model.
The RICOH
THETA S also boasts a fully updated design and user interface. Usability
has been improved with an elegant but practical sure-grip black rubber
coating and handy face-mounted LED mode indicator. Internal memory has
been increased to 8GB.
The original RICOH THETA was launched in
2013 as the world’s first mass-produced camera to capture fully
spherical images. Since then, the series has inspired a unique genre of
visual creativity for capturing everyday scenes from an all-new
perspective.
The RICOH THETA S will go on sale at a base price
of USD 349 (or equivalent) from late October in Europe (Austria,
Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK), North America (Canada, Mexico,
and the United States), and Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, Hong Kong,
India, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and
Thailand). Ricoh Imaging will market the RICOH THETA S, which was
developed and manufactured by Ricoh.
Quotes from Ricoh, Ricoh Imaging and Google Maps
Wataru
Ohtani, Ricoh’s Corporate Associate Vice President and General Manager
of the New Business and Platform Development Center, said: “Ricoh
pioneered the spherical camera market and thereby revolutionized how
people view the world. This new model offers even higher image quality
than before to satisfy both early adopters and people who enjoy
communicating creatively through social media.”
Noboru Akahane,
Ricoh Imaging’s President and CEO, said: “We are delighted to offer
users increased value and richer 360-degree experiences with our new
RICOH THETA S. The model’s enhanced image quality and other exciting new
features are sure to expand the scope of RICOH THETA fans in all-new
fields.”
Charles Armstrong, Google Maps Product Manager, said:
“The Street View app allows people all over the world to explore user
contributions, Google’s own imagery, and their own published photo
spheres through a seamless world map of landscapes, landmarks, business
interiors and more. The RICOH THETA S is a great tool to create this
imagery, and we hope it inspires people to contribute to the map.”
*1. 1920 x 960 when playing back
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