The Ricoh THETA. This is not a professional camera, but it sure is fun to use.

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com 

 Hi Photographer friends,

Ricoh introduced a fun camera called "THETA" a little while back. It is very inexpensive at around $350.00 and it is a lot of fun. The camera allows a full 360 degree spherical image.  Furthermore, is can be controlled with a smart phone. You can read more here about the specifications.

If you already own one, there is a contest in collaboration with CNN about taking a photo-journalistic image. Read about the contest here

I entered the contest with this first image entitled "Theta me out to the ball game". It's about taking my  two years old grandson to its first major league baseball game. His Dad, my Daughter and I had the pleasure of watching his big eyes looking around at the Baltimore's Oriole game against Detroit. He liked it and we were there for all nine innings. 

Click on the image below to see and navigate the 360 degree spherical image. 

You can see all of the images entered in the contest here.

Here is another example. This is the Press Box Operation of the Orioles in Baltimore. Click on it.

Thank you for visiting,

Yvon Bourque

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RICOH HOSTS COMPETITION INVITING CITIZENS TO BECOME PHOTOJOURNALISTS USING RICOH THETA 360-DEGREE CAMERAS 360 Free RICOH THETA Cameras Distributed to Encourage Citizens to Report Local News in Innovative Contest

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

 Hi Photographer friends,

March 27, 2014

RICOH HOSTS COMPETITION INVITING CITIZENS TO BECOME PHOTOJOURNALISTS USING RICOH THETA 360-DEGREE CAMERAS

360 Free RICOH THETA Cameras Distributed to Encourage Citizens to Report Local News in Innovative Contest

DENVER, CO, March 27, 2014 – Ricoh Company, Ltd. and Ricoh Imaging Company Ltd. are pleased to announce the launch of Spherical Report 360 (SR360), an advertisement feature on the CNN website. SR360 is a fun and interactive contest which equips citizens with a free RICOH THETA spherical camera and presents them with the unique opportunity to become a photojournalist by reporting on local news and events. 

Thanks to its unique design and advanced technology, the RICOH THETA enables users to capture immersive imagery that truly replicates the complete surroundings of an individual. The resulting output presents an incredible imaging experience that expands the possibilities for journalistic photography.

As part of the SR360 contest, 360 RICOH THETA camera units will be distributed free of charge to selected applicants to use as they document local happenings and news stories and submit them to the engaging and interactive website. Interested parties should visithttp://advertisementfeature.cnn.com/sr360 March 27, 2014 through April 10, 2014 to enter to receive a RICOH THETA camera.

Starting May 1st, selected recipients will be encouraged to document the events surrounding them, similar to a photojournalist, and post the images they’ve taken with the RICOH THETA 360-degree camera to the SR360 website.  The photo-submission contest will take place over the course of four months with a Most Valuable Photographer (MVP) being selected each month.  The contest will end on August 31st, 2014 and images shared on the SR360 website will be judged by a panel of distinguished guests.  From the submitted images, one Grand Prize winner and two Gold Prize winners will be selected. In addition, current RICOH THETA owners are also invited to submit images for consideration.

Award winners will be invited to an exciting round-table discussion in September 2014 to discuss their image and inspiration and accept their award.

A full list of terms and conditions can be found at http://advertisementfeature.cnn.com/sr360.  

Contest Outline
Application: The application period for the 360 units of the RICOH THETA (limited to residents of the US) will run from March 27, 2014 to April 10, 2014. The product will be delivered to the selected candidates by the end of April. (Candidates will receive the product without prior announcement.)
*Those who post one image a month during the project period will be able to keep the RICOH THETA camera after the close of the contest.

Posting Content: Images should be posted to the SR360 website during the image posting period which starts May 1, 2014 and ends August 31, 2014. The posting of content is open to the public and is limited only to images shot with the RICOH THETA. Posting from outside the US is also accepted.
During each month of the posting period a Most Valuable Photographer (MVP) will be selected and announced.

Winning: Contest winners will be selected and announced at the close of the posting period.  The top three prize winners will be invited to an award ceremony and round-table discussion which will be held in September 2014, in Los Angeles, CA.
*Please check details on the Spherical Report 360 special site.
- A Grand Prize will be awarded to one winner: Digital single lens reflex camera, the PENTAX K-3 18-135WR kit
- Gold Prize will be awarded to two winners: Compact digital camera, the RICOH GR Limited Edition
- Monthly MVP will be awarded to four winners: Multifunction wristwatch, the RICOH COMMANDER)

Judging: Details of the panel of judges responsible for selecting the winners will be posted on the SR360 website on May 1, 2014. 

Spherical Report 360 special site: http://advertisementfeature.cnn.com/sr360
RICOH THETA official site: http://theta360.com/
SR360 operating office: SR360@SR360.info
For product inquiries, please contact RICOH IMAGING Customer Care at (800) 877-0155, or visit http://ricohwebform.tosystems.com
 


|About Ricoh Imaging Company|

Ricoh Imaging Company is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company, Ltd., a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services.  Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions.

The company now known as Ricoh Imaging Company, was originally founded in 1919, under the name Asahi Optical Joint Stock Co. and launched its first SLR camera in the 1950s under the PENTAX name. Today, Ricoh Imaging Company continues to produce the heritage-rich, award-winning line of PENTAX DSLR cameras, lenses and sport optics equipment as well as Ricoh’s offering of stylish and compact digital cameras, known for their wide-ranging, rich set of features.

For further information, please visit:  www.us.ricoh-imaging.com

Check our e-books for Pentax cameras.

Click on the image below to see what the Ricoh Theta is capable of. I will likely want to purchase one as my brain is on overdrive thinking of the possibilities.

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com 

 Hi Photographer friends,

Jump to some examples now:

 example 1.

 example 2

example 3

Click on the image above to see what the Ricoh Theta is capable of. I will likely want to purchase one as my brain is on overdrive thinking all of the possibilities this camera offers. 

January 29, 2014

RICOH AND GOOGLE TEAM UP TO ENABLE RICOH THETA SPHERICAL IMAGES TO BE POSTED ON GOOGLE MAPS TM AND GOOGLE+TM

January 29, 2014 - Ricoh Company, Ltd. and RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. have updated the apps for the RICOH THETA spherical image camera to allow users to post spherical images to Google Maps and Google+, two services provided by Google. Made possible through a collaboration between Ricoh Company, Ltd. and Google, the RICOH THETA apps are now compatible with Photo Sphere XMP, Google's panoramic image standard.

Released today, the RICOH THETA for AndroidTM Version 1.2.0, RICOH THETA for iPhone Version 1.5.0 and RICOH THETA for Windows®/Mac Version 1.5.0, are now able to post spherical images to Google Maps and Google+. Photos taken outdoors or even inside facilities can be shared by posting them on Google Maps and Google+. Users can also enjoy the Constellations feature, which enables them to connect spherical images to make an original Street View.

RICOH THETA owners can post spherical images to Google Maps and Google+ by downloading the new version of the app for their connected device.

*A computer is required for posting spherical images from an iPhone to Google Maps.

Pricing and Availability
The Ricoh Theta is avaialble at various online retialers for a price of $399.95.

About the New Apps

RICOH THETA for Android Version 1.2.0
Release date: January 29, 2014
Download from: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theta
Compatible models: Android OS4.0 and later (operation is not guaranteed on all devices.)
Price: Free

RICOH THETA for iPhone Version 1.5.0
Release date: January 29, 2014
Download from: https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/ricoh-theta/id667238484?mt=8
Compatible models: iOS6 and later, iPhone4S/iPhone5/iPhone5C/iPhone5S, iPod Touch 5th generation and later
Price: Free

RICOH THETA for Windows®/Mac Version 1.5.0
Release date: January 29, 2014
Download from: https://theta360.com/en/support/download/
Compatible models: *Compatible OS: Windows: Windows 7 SP1 and later, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 /Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.6-10.8 https://theta360.com/en/support/manual/content/pc/pc_01.html
Price: Free


Details of Upgrades

RICOH THETA for Android Version 1.2.0 and RICOH THETA for iPhone Version 1.5.0
Spherical images can be uploaded to Google+ from your smartphone. You can also scroll around spherical images in Google+.

RICOH THETA for Android Version 1.2.0
Spherical images can be saved in the Gallery* and Google Photos (Android) and uploaded directly by selecting "Google+" from the sharing function of the Gallery or Google Photos. Spherical images saved in the Gallery and Google Photos can also be browsed in RICOH THETA app for Android Version 1.2.0.

RICOH THETA for iPhone Version 1.5.0
Spherical images can be saved in the Camera Roll (iOS and be uploaded from the Camera Roll by installing the Google+ app and using the Add Photo function. Spherical images saved in the Camera Roll can also be browsed in RICOH THETA for iPhone Version 1.5.0.

RICOH THETA for Android Version 1.2.0 only
Spherical images can be uploaded to Google Maps directly from your smartphone directly by selecting "Google Maps" from the sharing function of the Gallery or Google Photos.

*The Gallery is the original album app of the Smartphone Google Edition and the Nexus Series.

RICOH THETA for Windows®/Mac Version 1.5.0
It is possible to apply Photo Sphere XMP to captured photos saved on your computer and output them as spherical images. To do so, Open the spherical image to which you want to apply Photo Sphere XMP, select "Write" > "Write with XMP" from "File" in the menu bar and save the image. Upload the image to Google Maps or Google+ in your browser.
RICOH THETA for Windows®/Mac does not have a function for uploading spherical images directly to Google Maps or Google+.

*Spherical images uploaded to Google Maps using the above apps need to be approved by Google before being posted.



Windows is registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
iPhone, iPod  touch, Mac, Macintosh and OS X are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license.
Google, Google Maps, Google+, Android and Nexus are trademarks or registered trademarks of Google Inc.

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