When comparing Ricoh Theta M15 vs Kodak SP360 4K, the Slant community recommends Kodak SP360 4K for most people. In the question“What are the best 360-degree cameras?” Kodak SP360 4K is ranked 2nd while Ricoh Theta M15 is ranked 16th. The most important reason people chose Kodak SP360 4K is:
The range of mounts offered by the Kodak SP360 4K enable it to be fixed to anything when capturing shots.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Easy to use
Theta has a button in the middle of the camera body that takes 360-degree images when pressed. This makes using the device very straightforward, if not self explanatory.
Pro Excellent portability
Theta is lightweight at just 95 g and small at 42 mm (W) x 129 mm (H) x 22.8 mm. This means that it can be easily carried around in a pocket or bag with practically no additional weight. Theta is therefore very flexible thanks to its size.
Pro Currently available, unlike other options
The Ricoh Theta is already shipping and has an established ecosystem of web apps, mobile apps, and strong user communities on Facebook and Google+. Most other options aren't available yet for purchase.
Pro Good value for money
This 360 cam is one of the cheapest of its kind, it's a perfect size , and it can be connected to the user's smartphone. All of this, plus the ability to capture the world at 360°, for a very reasonable price.
Pro Good accompanying software
Theta comes with Windows and Mac applications for managing captured footage, as well as iOS and Android companion apps that allow images to be taken remotely. Together these render the device extremely useful.
Pro Good range of mounts
The range of mounts offered by the Kodak SP360 4K enable it to be fixed to anything when capturing shots.
Pro Can capture slow-motion videos
This device can capture 720p @ 120 fps videos.
Pro Highly durable
The camera is splashproof, waterproof via a case, shockproof up to 2m via a lens cover, freezeproof up to 14°F / -10°C and dustproof, making it an excellent device for use outdoors when exposed to the elements.
Pro Can be controlled remotely
The camera can be controlled remotely from the user's mobile device, allowing for added flexibility.
Pro Free stitching software if you opt for the dual mount
The company offers free stitching software for those who opt for the dual mount.
Pro Can be combined with another camera to shoot 4K spherical videos
SP360 4K allows for one of the rare 2-camera setups that's capable of capturing completely spherical 4K video at 30 frames per second. Most alternatives either can't match the resolution, the framerate or require more than 2 cameras (which means more stitch lines). Important to note that in order to capture spherical footage, you'll need another SP360 4K camera and a dual camera base mount. Once captured and stitched, the output video is 3840 x 1920 @ 30 fps.
Pro Can shoot 360° x 235° without stitching artifacts
Unlike most other 360-degree cameras, SP360 4K only uses a single lens which means that there's no need for stitching the video.
Pro Offers motion-detection mode
The user can set the camera to a motion-detection mode that allows the camera to record videos when it picks up movement. It will then stop recording if there has been no movement for 10 seconds. This makes for an easy set-and-forget mode that can pick up one's pets or be used for security.
Pro Excellent video quality in the price range
You can capture 2880 x 2880 footage @ 30fps with one camera and completely spherical 3840 x 2160 footage @ 30fps with 2 cameras. Within its price range, the video quality of the camera is excellent. The footage is reasonably sharp and it has good colors.
Pro Camera is straight forward to use
If you only want to shoot 360° x 235 then you don't need to worry about stitching the images. Though the software can be a problem, the camera itself is fairly intuitive.
Pro Good stills quality
Takes 12MP stills with clear colors.
Cons
Con Poor image quality for the asking price
While there's no official word on sensors and image processors, expert reviews suggest that it's within the 5-6.5MP range. Theta produces reasonable images, but better images should be expected, given its price range.
Con Lack of expandable memory
Theta comes with 4 GB built-in memory which can only take videos of 4-5 minutes. Sadly there is no way to expand this memory as there is no external card slot.
Con Desktop software is unintuitive and buggy
The desktop app is difficult to navigate, making it hard to find what features you're looking for.
It's known to be buggy, with a common issue being an error message when trying to upload to youtube.
Con Stitching could be better
Kodak's stitching software is somewhat disappointing, particularly when it comes to matching up exposure.
Con Can look grainy in low light settings
Details are lost in a lower-light setting and the image becomes grainy.
Con Getting a completely spherical image requires two cameras
A single SP360 4K camera captures a 360 by 235-degree video. In order to get a completely spherical 360 by 360-degree video you need two cameras and a mount to stick them together. A bundle like that costs $799.99, which requires a serious commitment to shooting spherical video (even if it's great value for money).
Con Loose dome cover
The dome cover on some devices has become loose.