RICOH THETA USB API

blog
1

Originally published at: RICOH THETA USB API – RICOH THETA Developer Community Blog

RICOH THETA cameras can be powered and controlled with the USB API. It is common to use small computers under the THETA. Beamo from 3i.ai with RICOH THETA Z1 Many companies use the 360 images to keep track of the status of building construction. Using custom software in the device can dramatically reduce the time…

2

Additional info on known workarounds

waking camera from sleep on THETA V may require a delay

theta --reset-delay=2000  --set-property=0xD80E --val=0
theta --reset-delay=2000  --set-property=0xD80E --val=1

Or, use gphoto2

gphoto2 --set-config=/main/other/d80e=1
sudo gphoto2 --set-config=/main/other/d80e=0

On Raspberry Pi, you may need libusb-compat-0.1.5 to build libptp

image

Streaming

To stream to Linux, you need to install a modified version of libuvc.

3

There is a long discussion here with good information. Though some of it may be old. RICOH THETA API Over USB Cable - (Z1, V, S, SC models)

4

This is a great info with real-world examples. I haven’t used the USB API myself. Is there a comparison of the differences between the USB API and the WebAPI?

5

There is no table of differences with the API commands comparing USB and WebAPI.

The USB API has these features over the WebAPI:

  • put camera to sleep
  • wake camera to sleep
  • switch to live streaming mode (over usb cable)
  • also, I don’t think the WebAPI can turn off the camera

There is a workaround to turn the camera on with the USB cable.

You should give it a try on a Raspberry Pi. It’s a nice way to work with the camera.