Sony A5100 vs Ricoh Theta S

Cameras
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Sony A5100 vs Ricoh Theta S

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APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A5100 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A5100 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A5100.
Compare Sony A5100 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A5100 conclusion.

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.

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Differences

Sony A5100 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.
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
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
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

400 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.
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More pixels
24.3 vs 14.5 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
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 Sony A5100

Thinner
22 mm vs 35 mm
Thinner
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

In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

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
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
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
Hot shoe
Neither provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
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

User reviews

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Adorama
Read A5100 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read Theta S User Reviews

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Buy the Ricoh Theta S

Ricoh Theta S (Black)

Review Excerpt

Very small and comfortable form factor; Very good image quality for its class; New dual video record function; Quick autofocus and good dynamic range.
Lacks an EVF and external mode dial; No hot shoe; JPEG processing at higher ISOs not as good as some competing mid-level models.
Read our Sony A5100 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 NX1000

Sony A5100

Samsung NX1000

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$413
APS-C

Higher-res screen
Hot shoe

Compare Sony A5100 vs Samsung NX1000

Ricoh Theta S

Samsung NX1000

$290
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$413
APS-C

Rear display
Larger sensor

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Samsung NX1000

Compared to Sony NEX-3N

Sony A5100

Sony NEX-3N

$348
APS-C

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

$449
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony A5100 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

Sony A5100

Samsung NX1100

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$450
APS-C

Higher-res screen
Hot shoe

Compare Sony A5100 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 Sony NEX-5T

Sony A5100

Sony NEX-5T

$348
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$299
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Higher-res screen

Compare Sony A5100 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

Compared to Sony A5000

Sony A5100

Sony A5000

$348
APS-C

Touchscreen
Higher effective ISO

$298
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A5100 vs Sony A5000

Ricoh Theta S

Sony A5000

$290
1/2.3 inch

Thinner
Longer exposure

$298
APS-C

Rear display
Focus peaking

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Sony A5000

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