360-degree cameras are all the rage these days, and Ricoh's new Theta V has an impressive set of features that might just make it worth your attention. Not only is it able to capture content in 4K, but it can also record "surround-sound" audio, each of which can add an extra layer of realism and immersion to your content. The product was just announced ahead of IFA, and although it's currently set for a September release, it's already up for pre-order.Ricoh is actually an old name in the young market of 360-degree cameras. The original Ricoh Theta was one of the first cameras of the type on the market in 2013. And, as the popularity of VR content has grown, so has demand for the Theta line of products.

Spec-wise, the Theta V measures 45.2mm by 130.6mm by 22.9mm, so it's a pretty dinky unit. It comes with a built-in 19GB of storage, expandable via microSD, but it's also able to connect to your phone over either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, so you can quickly and easily transfer content back to your device. At a resolution of 3840 x 1920, it's able to capture 360-degree content at 30fps. The camera is powered by an unnamed Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC and has a new plugin system for adding additional functions.

Be sure to tilt and pan around the sample video

I've never used a 360-degree camera, but Theta V looks pretty nice. On my 1600p monitor, this demonstration video isn't perfectly sharp, but the detail is still incredible, and the Spatial Audio is uncanny with a pair of headphones.

Two accessories for the Theta V were announced at the same time. The TA-1 3D microphone is designed specifically to work with the 360-degree camera, and the TW-1 Underwater Case allows you to use it at depths of up to 100 feet/30 meters.

Right now it's up for preorder on Amazon for $425.95. The mic will run you an extra $269.99, and the waterproof case is another $199.95.

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