Product Comparison: Ricoh Theta S vs Samsung Gear 360 (2017 Edition)


General Specifications
Brand
Ricoh
Samsung
Model
Theta S
Gear 360 (2017 Edition)
About the Product
Beauty as far as the eye can see, and a breathtaking sense of presence making you feel you are "right there, right now". From still images to long movies (max. 25 minutes long), record your memories in a vivid, high resolution 360° world. The new RICOH THETA S gives you even higher quality and performance.
The Gear 360 has evolved to let you record in 4K or broadcast live, and then make it your own with the Samsung Gear 360 app. And with the Gear 360's smaller size and redesigned, easy-to-grip body, memories aren't the only thing you'll want to hold onto.
Origin
China
Key Specs
Sensor Resolution
12 MP
15 MP
Sensor Type
CMOS
CMOS
Video Resolution
1080 p
2160 p
Maximum Aperture
2.0 f/
2.2 f/
What customers say about "Key Specs"
Ricoh Theta S Digital Camera (Black)
  • Dual lenses. Most of the competition uses a single lens, meaning you necessarily end up with a blind spot. The dual fish-eye lenses have fields of view that overlap just beyond the camera body, meaning very little falls outside its gaze.
  • Amazing Image Resolution and Dynamic Range.
  • The resolution is substantially better in this model from the M-15 (which I also have). This tells me that Ricoh is capable of making even better Theta cameras in the future.
  • Love it! Many complain about the resolution. It is not the greatest, but looks fantastic!
  • Video in generally is terrible because of the low resolution. Pictures are ok.
  • 1080p video is spread over the entire 360 degrees of the capture so it doesn't have high enough resolution for good or excellent quality. But, it looks fair when viewed on my computer using their app.
Samsung Gear 360 (2017 Edition) Real 360° 4K VR Camera
  • I got this with the purchase of my Galaxy Note 8. I didn't have a need for this, but I've found it a good addition to my GoPro Hero 4 Silver. Better resolution and the 360 photos and videos are awesome.
  • The picture quality is clearer than the 2016 version, even though it is lower resolution.
  • I am very impressed with the quality of video. Does 4K recording, Excellent ergonomics, Fits well in all size hands, Live stream using samsung phones.
  • For being a 4K video camera, this unit is a total let down. Even at 1080P HD is blurry. I can get better live broadcast videos from my old Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.
  • The quality of the videos is questionable & blurry even in broad daylight & best lighting conditions.
Size & Weight
Height
5.14 in.
3.96 in.
Width
1.78 in.
1.81 in.
Depth
0.9 in.
1.77 in.
Weight
4.4 oz.
4.58 oz.
Imaging
Video Encoding Formats
MP4, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
MP4, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Image File Format(s)
JPEG, DCF 2.0 compliant
JPEG
Slow Motion Recording
No
No
HDR Mode
Yes
Yes
Image Stabilization
No
No
Digital Zoom
No
No
What customers say about "Imaging"
Ricoh Theta S Digital Camera (Black)
  • This is a cool device and it works well. The still image quality is good.
  • The HDR capability for stills does a pretty decent job on indoor shots of rooms with brightly lit windows as well as saving the sky on bright sunny days!
  • The low light image quality is MUCH better than the Ricoh Theta M15.
  • Very small vith very nice picture. Try to shoot in HDR mode, that is the best quality.
  • Video quality is horrendous if any type of movement is involved since there is no stabilization.
  • For hdr photography the camera does not support any raw capture, so you have to accept whatever color correction Ricoh adds.
Samsung Gear 360 (2017 Edition) Real 360° 4K VR Camera
  • The 2017 camera does have an additional still image mode for HDR landscapes
  • Timelapse, HDR and loop recording are supported directly. You can also do a live stream through your phone to YouTube and Facebook.
  • The photo/video is converted from the dual-fish-eye view to the 360-degree format automatically, so it is literally as simple as uploading.
  • Wish it had a zoom, but this is a fun camera, and pictures are fun to play with.
  • It doesn't have zoom and stabilization.
Features
Shock Resistant
No
No
Water Resistant
No
Yes
Additional Accessories Included
USB Cable, Soft Case
USB Cable, Pouch, Strap
Extras
Memory warning lamp, Power lamp, Wireless button, Capture mode button, Wi-Fi module, HD live streaming, HDMI terminal, Wireless lamp
Dual CMOS 8.4MP sensors, Built-in stereo microphone, Go back to the moment with VR, Seamless sharing, Go live with Gear 360, Accelerometer, Gyroscope
What customers say about "Features"
Ricoh Theta S Digital Camera (Black)
  • The auto-stitching algorithm is fairly good at editing out the camera itself without cutting out anything else.
  • Smartphone app control. If I can't have a display on the device, at least there is a sweet and feature-rich control app.
  • Battery life seems very decent. I haven't completely run out of power yet, but a full charge apparently takes 4 hours or so.
  • The compact form factor is amazing. It fits well even in jeans pockets.
  • The included camera "case" is just a thin neoprene sleeve. Supposedly that's enough to protect the glass lenses, but I don't like how tightly the sleeve slides over the lenses.
  • No native display, just a couple of potentially ambiguous LEDs.
  • When using the smartphone app, there is a delay between shots because each picture must be processed and downloaded.
Samsung Gear 360 (2017 Edition) Real 360° 4K VR Camera
  • Expandable memory up to 256GB
  • Can Watch all the captured content on a connected phone. Connecting to a phone for the first time and there after is a breeze.
  • The battery life is very good (held a charge for the entire week with intermittent use), and the Bluetooth connection to the phone worked flawlessly every time.
  • As a 360-degree camera, this is really easy to use. It now works with Android and IOS (newer versions)
  • Takes 360 degree stills and movies well. The camera does not come with much information. Download the stitching software from the Samsung website. Stitching still images seems to work better when the camera is linked via Wi-Fi to a smartphone.
  • Athough the Live Streaming doesn't currently work with IOS, and there may still be a lower resolution in IOS at this time.
Connectivity
Tripod/Monopod Mountable
Yes
Yes
Microphone Input
No
No
Number Of USB Port(s)
1
1
Internal Memory Included
8
No
Memory Card Slots
No
Yes
What customers say about "Connectivity"
Ricoh Theta S Digital Camera (Black)
  • I used a tripod that allows the camera to be fixed horizontally.
  • This camera also mounts on normal tripods.
  • I've also discovered lot of features after first uses, like Live video, that allows you to use it as a webcam, connected to you computer by USB cable, and you have also the ability to output as HDMI at HD quality.
  • There's a standard micro USB connection and a not-so-standard mini-HDMI connection.
  • Easy transfer of files, comes with a mini hdmi port.
Samsung Gear 360 (2017 Edition) Real 360° 4K VR Camera
  • Light, compact, and with a tripod mount
  • There are lots of opportunities to use this camera because it is super portable, easy to use, has versatile settings, and a standard tripod port.
  • I liked the USB type C port on this one because you don't have to open it up to charge it.
  • Transferring files is quick and easy, and it stores the files on a micro SD card, USB-C cable is included to charge the camera
  • You can post directly to Facebook from the software on the smartphone but not on the PC.
Power
Charging Interface(s)
USB
USB Type C
Removable Battery
No
No
Rechargeable Battery
Yes
Yes
Warranty / Certifications
Manufacturer Warranty
1 year(s)
1 year(s)
Certifications
CE
CE, FCC
Other Information
Manufacturer
Other reviews