• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 392.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 14.5 megapixels
  • 7.30mm (35mm eq.)

Buy From

Differences

Canon SX230 HS advantages over Ricoh Theta S

  • Rear display
    Yes vs No
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • More telephoto lens reach
    392 mm vs 7 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    3200 vs 1600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Ricoh Theta S advantages over Canon SX230 HS

  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Larger lens aperture
    f/2.0 vs f/3.1
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 260 vs 210 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Thinner
    22 mm vs 33 mm
    Thinner
  • Newer
    9 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Lighter weight
    125g vs 218g
    Lighter weight
  • More pixels
    14.5 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle lens
    7 mm vs 28 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 15 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster shutter
    1/6400 vs 1/3200 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Neither provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Neither provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon SX230 HS

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Ricoh Theta S
Ricoh Theta S (Black)

Review Excerpt

  • Great zoom range from 28mm to 392mm equivalent; Full HD and slow-motion video; excellent print quality.

  • Low battery life; some chromatic aberration; flash pops up when powered on every time.

  • Read our Canon SX230 HS Express Review

  • 360-degree spherical panoramas at the click of a button; Puts you back in the moment like no other camera; Good ergonomics and control layout; Great still image quality, and can shoot videos too; Upload panoramas to Google Street View

  • Very reliant on your smartphone or tablet; Battery and storage can't be replaced or upgraded; Handheld shots suffer from Gigantic Hand Syndrome; Hard to get yourself out of the shot; Video image quality is only modest; Interval timer has a long shot delay

  • Read our Ricoh Theta S Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Samsung HZ35W

Canon SX230 HS
Samsung HZ35W
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in GPS
  • $350
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Shoots 60p video

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Samsung HZ35W

Ricoh Theta S
Samsung HZ35W
  • $290
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $350
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Rear display
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Samsung HZ35W

Compared to Panasonic DMC-ZS7

Canon SX230 HS
Panasonic DMC-ZS7
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Built-in GPS
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Shoots 60p video

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic DMC-ZS7

Ricoh Theta S
Panasonic DMC-ZS7
  • $290
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Rear display
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Panasonic DMC-ZS7

Compared to Canon SX210 IS

Canon SX230 HS
Canon SX210 IS
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in GPS
  • Shoots 24p video
  • $262
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • More pixels

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX210 IS

Ricoh Theta S
Canon SX210 IS
  • $290
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $262
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Rear display
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Canon SX210 IS

Compared to Olympus SZ-10

Canon SX230 HS
Olympus SZ-10
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in GPS
  • Manual focus
  • $224
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Olympus SZ-10

Ricoh Theta S
Olympus SZ-10
  • $290
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $224
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Rear display
  • Less expensive

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Olympus SZ-10

Compared to Panasonic ZS15

Canon SX230 HS
Panasonic ZS15
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in GPS
  • Manual focus
  • $273
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic ZS15

Ricoh Theta S
Panasonic ZS15
  • $290
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $273
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Rear display
  • Less expensive

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Panasonic ZS15

Compare Other Cameras?