Ricoh THETA X vs Ricoh THETA Z1 51GB
In short: The Ricoh THETA X costs $370 less; the Ricoh THETA Z1 51GB collects light over 116 mm² per lens against 31, which is 3.7× the area; the Ricoh THETA X reframes to about 1.3K against 0.9K; the Ricoh THETA Z1 51GB claims 1 h at 4K video, Ricoh's battery-life figure.
| Spec | Ricoh THETA X | Ricoh THETA Z1 51GB |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$729 | ~$1,099 |
| Year-one cost | ~$729 | ~$1,099 |
| Type | 360 | 360 |
| Sensor size | 2 × 1/2-inch | 2 × 1-inch |
| Sensor area | 31 mm² per lens | 116 mm² per lens |
| Max resolution | 5.7K 360 @ 30fps | 4K 360 @ 30fps |
| Reframed resolution | ≈1.3K (estimated) | ≈0.9K (estimated) |
| Max fps at 4K | 60 | 30 |
| Max fps at 1080p | — | 30 |
| Max bitrate | 120 Mbps | 56 Mbps |
| Colour depth | Not published | Not published |
| Log profile | None | None |
| Stabilisation | 3-axis rotational stabilisation | 3-axis rotational stabilisation |
| Horizon lock | 360° (full) | 360° (full) |
| Aperture | f/2.4 | f/2.1 |
| Waterproof | — | — |
| Claimed runtime | 30 min at 5.7K30 video, Ricoh's figure (about 55 minutes at 4K30) | 1 h at 4K video, Ricoh's battery-life figure |
| Tested runtime | No third-party test collected | No third-party test collected |
| Battery | 1350 mAh | 1350 mAh |
| Cold rating | 32°F | 32°F |
| Weight | 170 g | 182 g |
| Screens | 2.25-inch rear touch | 0.93-inch OLED status display |
| Mount | 1/4-20 | 1/4-20 |
| Replaceable lenses | No | No |
| GPS | Yes | No |
| Voice control | No | No |
| Storage | microSD + 46 GB internal | 51 GB internal |
| Subscription | None | None |
| Released | 2022 | 2021 |
A highlighted cell is the outright better figure in that row, and only where one direction is unambiguously better. Weight, field of view and battery capacity are left neutral because the better direction depends entirely on what you are shooting.
Strengths and drawbacks
Ricoh THETA X
- +60 MP spherical stills with the cleanest stitch line of any camera here
- +A swappable DB-110 battery, so a surveyor can carry spares through a long day
- +Built-in GPS tags every capture, which is the point for survey work
- +46 GB internal plus a microSD slot
- −No waterproof rating at all, and rated only to 0 °C
- −Nothing mounts to it but a 1/4-20 thread — no helmet or chest rigs
- −1/2-inch sensors and a 2022 processor make video its weakest side
- −Video runs about 30 minutes per charge at 5.7K30, by Ricoh's own figure
- −Costs more than an Insta360 X4 Air for less video capability
- −Ricoh's app and desktop tools are built for property work, not for editing action footage
Ricoh THETA Z1 51GB
- +Per-lens sensor area no other 360 camera here matches
- +The only 360 camera here with a selectable aperture
- +RAW DNG output makes serious interior work possible
- +Still the reference for one-shot spherical stills five years after launch
- +Four-channel spatial audio for immersive tours
- −By far the most expensive camera in the catalogue
- −Video stops at 4K30, which reframes to under 1K of usable 16:9
- −51 GB fixed internal storage with no card slot at all
- −No waterproofing, no GPS, and only a small status OLED for a screen