The Ricoh Theta S and Theta SC have a distinctive vertical, stick-like design. That works quite well for shooting handheld panoramas because it 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.
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 slipcase. 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 a better grip and a little extra protection when using the camera.
There are cutouts on the side for the buttons.
And on the bottom for the HDMI and micro-USB ports.
On the top, there are cutouts so that the microphones aren’t covered.
On the front, a semi-transparent panel lets the indicator lights shine through, so you can continue to use them normally.
The lens cover is a small hood that removes while the rest of the skin stays out.
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 & Cons of a Silicone Skin for the Ricoh Theta S
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
- 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.
Price & Availability
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.
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Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2023-06-03 at 02:40. 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.
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.
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).
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.
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.