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 (opens in new tab) (which was, technically, followed up by the Ricoh Theta Z1 51GB (opens in new tab) 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 (opens in new tab).
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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