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Silicone Skin Sleeve Case for the Ricoh Theta S and Theta SC

The distinctive design of the Ricoh Theta S and Theta SC has its benefits, but a silicone skin case improves the camera's grippiness and adds some protection.

Silicone Skin Case for Ricoh Theta S Theta SC

Categories: 360°, Reviews
Tags: Ricoh, Ricoh Theta S 360-Degree Camera, Ricoh Theta SC 360-Degree Camera
Last updated about 4 years ago // Originally published about 4 years ago

The Ricoh Theta S and Theta SC have a distinctive vertical, stick-like design. That works quite well for shooting handheld panoramas because it’s becomes a handle to hold it up. And having the twin lenses protrude from the body helps keep the camera body out of the frame.

Elecor Protection Kit for Ricoh Theta S/SC 360 Camera, Silicone Case with...
Elecor Protection Kit for Ricoh Theta S/SC 360 Camera, Silicone Case with...
Check Price at Amazon
But there’s also a downside: because the lenses protrude out in the way they do, it’s easy to scratch them. I found this out the hard way, when one my kids accidentally knocked it over and damaged one of the lenses (which is why I’m not the proud owner of not one, but two Theta S’s). Even simply resting the camera on a flat surface risks scratching the lens.

The Theta S and Theta SC both come with a neoprene slip case. It works well enough–just slide the camera in when you’re not using it. But there are some niggling little issues with doing it that one. One is that you can’t see the charge light when you plug it in, so you don’t know whether the USB charge is actually working or not. Another, I admit, might sound pedantic–that it’s a two-handed operation to take it off or put it on–but if you’re already holding a stick or stand to mount it on, and potentially a smartphone app or remote, you’ve already got your hands full.

Third parties have come up with a different approach that I’ve been using lately. It’s a silicone skin that goes over the camera. It offers better grip and a little extra protection when using the camera.

There are cutouts on the side for the buttons.

Silicone Skin Case for Ricoh Theta S Theta SC

And on the bottom for the HDMI and micro-USB ports.

Silicone Skin Case for Ricoh Theta S Theta SC

On the top, there are cutouts so that the microphones aren’t covered.

Silicone Skin Case for Ricoh Theta S Theta SC

On the front, a semi-transparent panel lets the indicator lights shine through, so you can continue to use them normally.

Silicone Skin Case for Ricoh Theta S Theta SC

The lens cover is a small hood that removes while the rest of the skin stays out.

Silicone Skin Case for Ricoh Theta S Theta SC

So why bother? Grip and protection. In practice, the amount of shock absorption such a thin piece of rubber can offers is limited, but it’s better than the naked plastic of the camera itself. The silicone is also grippier than the exposed plastic. And in the cold, damp conditions I’ve been in lately, that’s a good thing.

While I’m not sure I can invent a better option, I still don’t find the detachable lens hood ideal for the simple reason that it’s too easy to misplace. It can also get knocked off in a pocket or camera bag. And without it, the lenses themselves aren’t any better protected than if you weren’t using the skin at all.

It also comes with a wrist strap and an attachment for it that screws into the tripod stud base on the bottom of the camera. Because I typically use the Theta S with either a stand or a stick, I don’t tend to use the wrist strap.

Overall, I’ve found it to work well. If it’s not perfect, I still think it’s a step in the right direction.

Pros

  • Adds grip.
  • Snug fit means there’s no movement.
  • All ports and buttons are accessible, and a special cutout keeps the front lights visible.

Cons

  • If you’re putting it onto a regular tripod head, you might find the bottom of the case grabbing as you rotate to tighten. It’s not a problem with an extension adapter.
  • The hood that goes over the lens sits in place with friction, but it’s pretty easy for it to come off when moving around in a camera bag or pocket.

Where to Buy

I bought mine at Amazon. It comes in black, bright blue, or yellow. Since I prefer not to draw too much attention to my gear, I went with boring black. But both the yellow and blue are good high-visibility colors that help it to stand out in a camera bag or if it’s dropped.

Elecor Protection Kit for Ricoh Theta S/SC 360 Camera, Silicone Case with...
Elecor Protection Kit for Ricoh Theta S/SC 360 Camera, Silicone Case with...
Check Price at Amazon

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2021-01-16 at 05:49. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on June 7, 2017

Categories: 360°, Reviews
Tags: Ricoh, Ricoh Theta S 360-Degree Camera, Ricoh Theta SC 360-Degree Camera

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News & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s some great deals on photography gear and services available. I’ve put together a roundup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Photography Deals. It’s a running list as new deals are announced, so be sure to check back.

Canon announces new EOS Rebel T8i DSLR. Canon has announced their new T8i DSLR. 24MP APS-C cropped CMOS sensor, 4K24 video, and updated image processing and detection systems. It’s available for preorder from B&H Photo.

New Firmware for the Ricoh GR III. Ricoh has release firmware v1.31 for the GR III. Release notes are: “Corrected — When shooting with the multiple exposure, in rare cases the live view may not display correctly. Improved stability for general performance.” You can download it here.

New Canon 1D X Mark III Pro DSLR Announced. Canon has announced their new flagship model of pro DSLR, the 1D X Mark III. They’re sticking with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, but it’s a new and improved version and boasts an incredible native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 102400 and an extended range that goes up to a jaw-dropping ISO 819200. With revamped autofocus, a new image processor, and all sorts of other bells and whistles, it’s no wonder that Canon is billing it as “The Ultimate EOS.”

New Manfrotto Pro Rugged Memory Cards. Manfrotto, an Italian probably best known for their tripods and studio accessories, has launched a new Pro Rugged range of high-end SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards. While they don’t have a huge selection of sizes and speeds, the cards are aiming for very fast cards that can put up with rugged demands. For instance, they claim that their V90 rated SD cards can withstand three times the force (20kg / 45 lbs) of a regular SD card. I’ve ordered some to run through my speed tests.

New Sony Alpha a7 firmware released. A firmware update for the Sony a7R IV now lets you control external Sony flashes from the camera’s own menu system. Up to 15 flashes in five groups can be controlled via the camera. It also applies to the a7R III and a7 III.

Comments

  1. Lee says

    November 11, 2020 at 11:59 am

    Does anyone manufacture a shock resistant case so the camera is protected from falling should the unipod (from Ricoh) tip over? The camera is essentially defenseless when this happens.

    Reply
    • David says

      November 12, 2020 at 4:14 pm

      There is an official underwater housing as well as aftermarket versions that offer extra protection. While I haven’t tried them, my suspicion is that on this camera they would impact image quality more than usual. There are also a lighter-weight water-resistant cases (Ricoh official version and aftermarket version) that might be a bit better in that respect (but again, I haven’t personally tried them).

      Reply
  2. Tokyoscape says

    July 22, 2019 at 7:26 pm

    Hi, thank you a lot for the review.
    I would like to ask you a few questions.

    My experience with soft silicone case is not that good. it too soft, deform easy and attracts dust particles.
    What about this case? Does it soft or somewhat rubber alike?

    Thank you in advance, and keep up the good job.

    Reply
    • David says

      July 23, 2019 at 5:59 am

      I’ve found it to hold its shape well without getting stretched loose areas like some cheap silicone does. It does get some dust sticking to it, but not in the magnet way that some silicone does. I know these are pretty vague answers, but hope it helps.

      Reply

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