Just to recap, there are two different ways to connect the Raspberry Pi and the RICOH THETA:
- USB cable
- Wi-Fi
The software and APIs are different in each case. The THETA V can handle both methods.
The USB API is more difficult to set up. If you can use the Wi-Fi API, it might be better, especially initially. You will need to disable auto-power off and auto-sleep in the camera.
For long-term use, most people use the USB API, but as it could be more difficult for you to set up, it might be good for phase 2 of your project.
The choice depends on your goal and how much time you’re able to spend with configuration.