Samsung NX500 vs Ricoh Theta S

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Samsung NX500 vs Ricoh Theta S

APS-C 369.0mm²
28.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Samsung NX500 Review.
How does it shoot? Samsung NX500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the NX500.
Compare Samsung NX500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Samsung NX500 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

Samsung NX500 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.
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
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
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
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

370 vs 260 shots
Capture more photos
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
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
28.2 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
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 1600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Ricoh Theta S advantages over Samsung NX500

Less expensive
$350 vs $800 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Thinner
22 mm vs 42 mm
Thinner
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots

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 GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
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

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read NX500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read Theta S User Reviews

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Buy the Samsung NX500

Kit with 16-50mm PZ Lens (Black)

Kit with 16-50mm PZ Lens (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm PZ Lens (Brown)
Kit with 16-50mm PZ Lens (White)

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Buy the Ricoh Theta S

Ricoh Theta S (Black)

Review Excerpt

Very good image quality with high-resolution files; Excellent high ISO performance with RAW files; Very good dynamic range; Fast AF performance; Compact design with good build quality; Better ergonomics than predecessor; 4K video recording.
High ISO noise reduction too strong; AF struggles in low-light; Buffer depth is shallow with RAW files; No option for EVF; No built-in flash (external one included); 4K Video is cropped with narrower FOV.
Read our Samsung NX500 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 NX300

Samsung NX500

Samsung NX300

$1600
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Built-in Bluetooth

$1200
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Less shutter lag

Compare Samsung NX500 vs Samsung NX300

Ricoh Theta S

Samsung NX300

$290
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

$1200
APS-C

Rear display
Focus peaking

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Samsung NX300

Compared to Samsung NX3000

Samsung NX500

Samsung NX3000

$1600
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$950
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Samsung NX500 vs Samsung NX3000

Ricoh Theta S

Samsung NX3000

$290
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

$950
APS-C

Rear display
Larger sensor

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Samsung NX3000

Compared to Sony A6300

Samsung NX500

Sony A6300

$1600
APS-C

Touchscreen
Built-in Bluetooth

$846
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Samsung NX500 vs Sony A6300

Ricoh Theta S

Sony A6300

$290
1/2.3 inch

Thinner
Longer exposure

$846
APS-C

Rear display
Focus peaking

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Sony A6300

Compared to Sony A6500

Samsung NX500

Sony A6500

$1600
APS-C

More pixels
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1198
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Samsung NX500 vs Sony A6500

Ricoh Theta S

Sony A6500

$290
1/2.3 inch

Thinner
Lighter weight

$1198
APS-C

Rear display
Focus peaking

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Sony A6500

Compared to Leica TL2

Samsung NX500

Leica TL2

$1600
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

$2495
APS-C

Faster JPEG shooting
Faster RAW shooting

Compare Samsung NX500 vs Leica TL2

Ricoh Theta S

Leica TL2

$290
1/2.3 inch

In-camera panoramas
Thinner

$2495
APS-C

Rear display
Focus peaking

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Leica TL2

Compare Other Cameras?