2019 has been the year that 360° video and photography has really taken off, but one of the main challenges those wishing to get into this exciting medium have faced is the price of the cameras. Well, this barrier looks to be falling as Ricoh has just released a new model from the brand’s popular THETA line that won’t break the bank.
The THETA SC2 is packed with features and can shoot big resolution stills and video, while only costing £270. In fact, the SC2 shoots 14-megapixel stills that offer a max file size of 5376×2688 pixels and 360 video at 4K (3840 x 1920 pixels). Also present is an LCD panel that displays battery power and shooting mode information and the SC2 is compatible with the THETA app that enables users to operate the camera remotely via their smartphone.
Along with shooting 4K video at 30p, the SC2 also captures 360° spatial audio for use with VR footage and the THETA SC2 features a huge in-built memory of 14GB, which is enough to hold around 3000 images or 32 minutes of 4K video. The battery is good for around 70 minutes of filming use.
Featuring a quick start-up speed of 1.5seconds, the SC2 is absolutely tiny – in fact, the compact 360 camera tips the scales at just 104g (lighter than a smartphone) and measures just 45.2mm x 130.6mm x 22.9mm.
Available in four colours (pink, blue, beige and white) and available from mid December, the SC2 also offers a number of modes to help you capture impressive imagery, including a ‘Face’ mode to pick up on people in the scene and a ‘Night View’ mode for ‘shooting low-noise footage after the sun goes down.’
