Fujifilm X-A1 vs Ricoh Theta S

Cameras
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Fujifilm X-A1 vs Ricoh Theta S

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APS-C 368.2mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Fujifilm X-A1 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the X-A1.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
14.5 megapixels
7.30mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Ricoh Theta S Review.
How does it shoot? Ricoh Theta S in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the Theta S.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Ricoh Theta S conclusion.

Succeeded by the Fujifilm X-A2
Compare X-A1 vs X-A2

Succeeded by the Ricoh Theta V
Compare Theta S vs Theta V

Compare FUJIFILM X-A2 vs RICOH THETA V

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Differences

Fujifilm X-A1 advantages over Ricoh Theta S

Rear display
Yes vs No
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

350 vs 260 shots
Capture more 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.
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 1600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Ricoh Theta S advantages over Fujifilm X-A1

Less expensive
$350 vs $600 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Thinner
22 mm vs 39 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
125g vs 330g
Lighter weight
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster shutter
1/6400 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
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
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Fujifilm X-A1

Kit with 16-50mm Lens

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Buy the Ricoh Theta S

Ricoh Theta S (Black)

Review Excerpt

We haven’t finished our review of the Fujifilm X-A1, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Fujifilm X-A1 First Shots

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 NX1000

Fujifilm X-A1

Samsung NX1000

$450
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$414
APS-C

Shoots 24p video
More pixels

Compare Fujifilm X-A1 vs Samsung NX1000

Ricoh Theta S

Samsung NX1000

$290
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$414
APS-C

Rear display
Larger sensor

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Samsung NX1000

Compared to Sony NEX-3N

Fujifilm X-A1

Sony NEX-3N

$450
APS-C

Built-in Wi-Fi
Higher-res screen

$449
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Fujifilm X-A1 vs Sony NEX-3N

Ricoh Theta S

Sony NEX-3N

$290
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

$449
APS-C

Rear display
Focus peaking

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Sony NEX-3N

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Fujifilm X-A1

Samsung NX1100

$450
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$450
APS-C

Shoots 24p video
More pixels

Compare Fujifilm X-A1 vs Samsung NX1100

Ricoh Theta S

Samsung NX1100

$290
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$450
APS-C

Rear display
Larger sensor

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Samsung NX1100

Compared to Fujifilm X-M1

Fujifilm X-A1

Fujifilm X-M1

$450
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger JPEG buffer

$993
APS-C

Doesn't require an AA filter

Compare Fujifilm X-A1 vs Fujifilm X-M1

Ricoh Theta S

Fujifilm X-M1

$290
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$993
APS-C

Rear display
Focus peaking

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Fujifilm X-M1

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Fujifilm X-A1

Sony NEX-5T

$450
APS-C

Less expensive
Internal flash

$299
APS-C

Touchscreen
In-camera panoramas

Compare Fujifilm X-A1 vs Sony NEX-5T

Ricoh Theta S

Sony NEX-5T

$290
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

$299
APS-C

Rear display
Focus peaking

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Sony NEX-5T

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