Please also try a longer testing using 10 fps. 2 fps is OK for walking and slow speed vehicle recordings. The bulk of professional Street View capture is done using automobiles at higher vehicle speeds so 10 fps would be required. The target frame spacing is 3 meters. So, 2 fps equates to 6 meters per sec maximum travel speed (22 kph) and 10 fps to 30 meters per sec maximum travel speed (108 kph).
2 Likes
I’m continuing my tests with shorter video clips to confirm that the THETA X video formats work with Google Street View Studio and if the GPS information from the THETA X built-in chip is accurate.
So far, it looks accurate outdoors in places with limited trees. I’m comparing the map to the image in the picture to assess accuracy.
2 Likes
The advanced workflow with using THETA Z1(7.3K resolution)
Hi,
@craig san’s tests tell us 8K 2/10fps video of Theta X would be the best solution for using Streetview Studio. However, the image quality is far from satisfactory.
I think 7.3K(Theta Z1) Blue line is awesome. The workflow is more complicated a bit than that of X.
- Connect Z1 with Theta Basic app iOS/Android.
- Shoot Single DNG images.
- Selected Mode is ISO Priority. Handheld HDR is no good.
- Develop in Lightroom Classic one by one and batch stitching in RTS.
- Export JPGs and remove the ugly shooter.
- Drop them onto JPG2VID
- Upload .mp4 and .gpx files from Streetview Studio
- Proccessing… takes 24-48hours to complete.
Examples ; Capture date: 16th. Sep,2022 2pm JST
47 shots ISO100, 0.3Ev with using the monopod(MT-58) on the path in the ancient tomb(Shionji-Yama)
Video files here; RICOH THETA
11 of 47 images are uploaded to theta360 website due to the restriction(less than 5MB).
- JPG2VID created .mp4 and .gpx files to be uploaded to
Streetview Studio.
- The video file is 7.3K resolution.
- The GNSS information is very accurate and 1Hz track log.
- Streetview Studio can accept those files without plobrems. Now proccessing…
The brand new 7.3K Blue Line on Maps is coming in about 24-48 hours.
Stay connected.
Toyo
PS.
Street View Trusted Help Center says, “If you have any issue, try to reupload. It’s fixed.”
3 Likes
Great quality in the shots. What is RTS? is that some type of batch stitching software that works with the Z1 DNG images?
What improvement does the ISO priority, ISO 100 bring?
I’m still learning how to use ISO properly.
1 Like
This is my test
8K 2fps
3 Likes
looks very good in my opinion. Did you edit the frames after you took the video?
There’s a bright sun in the image. Did you delete the lens flare (red dot) out?
Did you use EV compensation or brighten the image after you took it? I would think the sun would impact the light sensor and make the scenes under the trees darker.
The lighting is very good in your Street View creation for a tough scene with many shadows and light.
great job.
I not use any edit , it original 8k setting
Auto ev iso max 3200.
Next time i will try limint iso to 800 to keep quality.
8k 2fps is a very good format to capture google street view data .
I have share a post here.
here https://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=252&t=6665175
If thetaX can auto loop rec,and auto aeb
Any VFX/CF movie studio will love it.helped us a lot.
2 Likes
Thanks for posting the article.
Your workflow involves taking the battery out of the THETA X and using the ULANZI BG-3 to power the camera to reduce the heat of the internal THETA X battery.
With this technique, how long can you record 8K 2fps video before thermal shutdown occurs? Maybe thermal shutdown does not occur?
What do you mean by “auto loop rec”? Is that for interval shooting of still images? Or, video?
8K 2fps can rec 25min (26 °C)
8K 10fps can rec 12min (26 °C)
auto loop rec = every 25min close rec , auto execute net rec
use ULANZI BG-3 can > 8Hour
1 Like
Wow, this is great real-world experience.
Thank you for sharing these details.
Have you tried to take multiple 8K 2fps videos at 25 minutes in sequence?
After the first 25 minutes at 8K 2fps, I’m assuming the camera is already warm and I’m wondering if it can take another 25 minute 8K 2fps video right after that? Or, do you need to cool it off after 25 minutes.
26C is roughly 79F
I went outside the office today in Palo Alto, California and I took a 25 minute 8K 10fps video using the battery inside the camera. The weather is cooling now and is now 71F, 22C.
video file size is 5.67GB
One interesting thing is that I found a possible new fishing spot on my test walk. If the conversion on Street View Studio works, I’ll send the link to my son.
In the meantime, I’ll wait for the video to complete processing.
my test report
8K 2fps 25min (25°C) / no battery in ThetaX / Power use Ulanzi BG-4
keep REC no stop to no space
25:01 X 8 (5.67G)
14:39 X 1 (3.32G)
Ulanzi BG-3 dump energy > 60%
if light single can show recording state ,I think it would be better.
3 Likes
@Juantonto , @craig , I think I could make this video for streetview studio work with Theta Z1 too… I’m checking required work needed but I’m not sure how much potential would there be. In theory if I could increase the resolution and at the same time to use HDR camera capture it would provide a good result. Not sure about FPS and resolution yet and not sure if I will proceed at all. I will create a very simple POC first. I’m able to provide GPS data for Theta Z1 in realtime and store. This is theoretical for now and a big question mark: is it worth it?
Also I think it may be obsolete as in Z1, at the moment its impossible to go beyond 4k resolution in video…? Because of this it may not make sense, unless Ricoh adds another, software media codec, that can encode beyond 4k in 2fps. 
2 Likes
Have you tried the official Google Streetview app with the Z1? @jcasman did some tests with it last week Thursday. The quality looked good to me.
I am new to using Google Street View Studio. How do I see all my uploads? In the example below, I can only see my upload by going to the map and clicking on the line. I can’t see my upload on a dashboard.
I recorded a 25 minute video using the internal battery, but not all of the video was converted into blueline.
There is a portion missing, maybe half of the video.
I may have had +EV compensation enabled, which might have made the frames too bright.
1 Like
I have the same issue. I have an email (appears to be automatically generated) from Google Maps that has a See Your Photos link, and I use that. But I can’t find my uploads without that link.
https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/109855633522884638648/photos
@jcasman , the images you uploaded look like “photo spheres” according to the legend on the map. Is there a way to get the Street View blue line using the Google Street View app with the Z1?
It looks like @Juantonto has the “Street View” blue line with the Z1 and not photo spheres.
The ones taken by Toyo with the Z1 appear to be blue lines, which according to the legend on the map are “Street View”
UL2GSV
the new version of UL2GSV supports the THETA X video file format.
NEW VERSION
Beta v14: 2022-0926
- Added TL2VID tool. Converts a timelapse video to a normal speed video. This enables timelapse videos recorded with the Insta360 X3, Insta360 ONE Series, GoPro Fusion and GoPro MAX cameras to be used with VID2GSV and VID2JPG.
- Updated CAMM2GPX to support the Ricoh Theta X camera.
- Updated CAMM2GPX to detect and fill GPS timestamp gaps greater than 5 sec.
- Updated CHECK to provide more error information when available and to create a GPX file with the positions of the photospheres extracted by the Google Street View processing.
- Updated the Readme file to include the above additions and updates.
2 Likes
Hi, @craig , no I didn’t try. It runs on a mobile phone and z1 connects to it via wifi? I will check… I pulled some configuration data from z1 and in theory it could cover 5.7k videoresolution, but should try.
Would it be possible to get root access for me from Ricoh, so that I could finetune a bit and do some experiments? There are system config files that I would liketo try to fi etune but without root acces cant write because of permissions. I refer to folder /system and its subfolders.
Do you know the gpu name and version in theta x?
Thanks!
I made a video that shows the process with the THETA X.
This is the result of my 2.2km walk toward the southern edge of the San Francisco Bay from our office in Palo Alto.
I eventually reached SF Bay next to the Palo Alto airport.
2 Likes