Ricoh has announced the new Ricoh Theta X, the latest in the manufacturer's line of 360 cameras, which boasts up to 11K resolution, a large touchscreen and removable battery and memory card – all firsts for the Theta product line.
The Ricoh Theta X feels like the true successor to the Ricoh Theta Z1 (which was, technically, followed up by the Ricoh Theta Z1 51GB last year, but boasted only a larger internal memory).
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The new X camera boasts significantly greater resolution than the Z1, thanks to its twin 48MP image sensors. This enables it to capture stills at both 11K (11,008 x 5,504 pixels) and 5.5K (5,504 x 2,752), while for video it can record up to 5.7K 30p or 4K 60p (compared to the 6,720 x 3,360 stills and 4K 29.97p video of its predecessor).
Perhaps the biggest upgrade, though, is the addition of a 2.25-inch touchscreen. Not only does enable direct control of a number of features and settings, without having to interface using the smartphone app, it also gives immediate live view-style feedback – making this a legitimate standalone camera, rather than a device that is slave to an app.
The ability to use external memory is also a huge plus for 360 shooters. The Theta Z1 possesses either 19GB or 51GB of internal memory, with no option for expansion, though the Theta X supplements its 46GB internal storage with support for microSDXC cards.
Likewise, the fact that the rechargeable battery can be removed increases the practical use of the camera, as a fresh cell can be inserted rather than having to perform a full recharge or connect to the mains or a power bank.
The X is slightly larger than the Z1, at 51.7 x 136.2 x 29mm (compared to 48 x 132.5 x 29.7mm), though also lighter at 170g (compared to 182g).
The Ricoh Theta X will be available in March for $799 / £899 (approximately AU$1,698).
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