Ricoh Reveales Theta A1 360-Degree Camera for Professional Use
Ricoh Imaging has been producing 360-degree cameras since 2013 under the Theta product line. Some Theta models are designed for general consumers and content creators, while others target professional applications in fields such as construction, industry and real estate. The newly released Theta A1 belongs to this latter category, developed specifically for field use in challenging environments. “The RICOH360 THETA A1 is more than just a new camera. It’s a concrete answer to the needs of professionals in the field and a cornerstone of our long-term strategy.” said Thomas Servan Managing Director of Ricoh Futures EMEA (the Paris-based part of the company specifically addressing European market), specifying that with the new camera the Japanese firm intends to meet “the expectations of field professionals: robustness, speed, and integration. It embodies our vision of useful, connected technology that aligns with the operational needs of our clients.”
The Ricoh360 Theta A1 features indeed a rugged, weather- and dust-resistant design (IP64 rating) and can withstand high temperatures, making it suitable for outdoor operations: it also includes a 1500 mAh long-lasting battery and over 27 GB of internal memory. Ricoh also provides public SDKs and APIs to enable integration into various business workflows and software systems.
The camera’s functionality relies on two ultra-wide-angle lenses positioned back-to-back. Each lens captures a 180-degree field of view, and the two images are digitally stitched together to create a full 360-degree photo or video. The Theta A1 is equipped with two 1/2-inch 48-megapixel sensors and wide-angle optics made of seven elements, with an aperture of F2.4. It supports still image capture up to 60 megapixels and video recording in 8K at 10 frames per second or 4K at 30 frames per second. Connectivity options include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and the camera is compatible with the RICOH360 app.
Remote control and cloud-based storage are available through the RICOH360 app, enhancing the camera’s utility for on-site content creation. The app also facilitates editing, sharing and centralized content management, with AI-powered tools to optimize image quality automatically.
The Theta A1 shares its design with the Z1 and its technical platform with the X, with all the three models sharing the Theta Twin architecture and differing mainly in durability, image quality and user interface features.
Preorders for the Theta A1 begin this month and shipping is expected to start in September 2025. The camera is priced at €799 (excluding tax), positioning in between the previous Theta Z1, priced at $1,150, and the Theta X, which costs $600.
