Acquisition with 360 Ricoh Camera

Proper preparation work and capture technique are essential to obtaining high-quality 360° videos that align accurately and provide clear visual documentation. This article explains how to operate the 360 camera, best practices for field capture, preparation and quality checks to perform before leaving the site.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

How to Hold and Operate 360 Camera
Protecting Camera Equipment
- Lens Protection
Capture Rules and Best Practices
Recommended Capture Workflow: Simple Capture
Important Operating Considerations
- Thermal Management
- Upload and Connectivity Behavior
Privacy Considerations During Capture
- Understanding Privacy Requirements
Quality Checklist Before Leaving the Site
Capture Issues
- When Data is Not Worth Uploading to Cintoo
- When to Re-Capture
Field Capture Checklist Summary
Where to Get Help

How to Hold and Operate 360 Camera

Starting Hardware Kit

360 Edition subscription includes the following hardware kit:

Ricoh THETA X camera
TL-3 Lens Protector
Bluetooth Remote Control
Helmet Mount
TM-2 Theta Stick (monopod)

Recommended Mounting Methods

Monopod/Stick mount (TM-2 Theta Stick) - Recommended for most situations

Attach Ricoh THETA X to TM-2 monopod
Extend monopod to position the camera above operator's head height
Hold monopod vertically with the camera upright
Walk at a steady, moderate pace while keeping the camera stable

Warning: do not place the stick in front of you to avoid appearing in the middle of the image.

Helmet mount - Recommended for industrial environments with elevated safety measures

Attach the camera to the helmet mount
Ensure the mount is secure and the camera is centered
Keep your head upright and avoid rapid head movements
Walk naturally with smooth, controlled movements

Camera Orientation

Recommended to keep the camera vertical (upright)
Do not significantly tilt the camera sideways or upside down (slight tilt acceptable)
Avoid touching or adjusting the camera during recording
Do not block camera lenses with hands or equipment

Warning: when the operator appears in the middle of the image, tracking can be lost and the localization process may fail. Always position mounting equipment to keep yourself out of the camera's field of view.

Using Bluetooth Remote Control

Setup and Operation

Use the included Bluetooth remote control to start and stop recording without touching the camera
Blue light flashes until it connects to the THETA X once Bluetooth remote control is turned on
A simple press will start the recording
A second press will stop it
An audible signal from the camera confirms the start and stop of recording

Note: remote control enters sleep mode after 5 minutes of inactivity. If it entered sleep mode, first press to wake the remote control and a second press to start/stop the capture.

Warning: remote control cannot be attached to a keychain or lanyard, making it easy to lose. Keep it in a secure pocket or use a dedicated storage solution.

Connect Ricoh Theta X to Wi-Fi

Connect to Wi-fi from a mobile device (if not done yet). If the phone is already connected to a Wi-fi use QR code on the device by following this instruction (for Apple and Android devices):
How to share home network info with QR code

Use this tool Generate a QR Code (WiFi) to share Wi-fi where PC is already connected.

Scan a Wi-Fi router QR code to register SSID, password, and encryption.
After scanning, the THETA X saves the info and returns to Settings.
The camera auto-connects when near the router.
Registered networks remain stored, even after power off.

Protecting Camera Equipment

Lens Protection

TL-3 Lens Protector is essential as THETA X lenses scratch very easily. Therefore the camera should always be protected, especially when placed on a desk or during transport with TL-3 lens protector (included in the kit) at all times. Alternatively or additionally, use the protective case supplied with the camera.

Warning: scratches will make shots blurry, impacting image quality and Gaussian Splatting generation. There is low impact on localization, but visual quality will be significantly degraded.

Best Practices:

Always attach the lens protector when not actively recording
Inspect lenses before each use for dirt, dust, or damage
Clean lens protector (not the lenses directly) with a soft, lint-free cloth
Store the camera in its protective case when transporting

Capture Rules and Best Practices

Planning Capture Route

It is essential to plan capture routes in advance as it allows to avoid unnecessary head movements and duplicative passages.

Before starting:

Break the Site into Capture Zones
Divide the site into logical zones, such as:

Individual rooms
Hallways or corridors
Floors or levels
Wings or sections
Equipment areas or process units

Capture floors independently. Each zone can group different rooms or sections on the same floor.

Movement and Positioning

Walking speed is one of the most critical criteria that creates a distinct high quality visual result because it ensures a sufficient overlap between consecutive 360 captures, reduces motion blur and alignment errors improving visual SLAM stability in indoor or low-feature areas.

Maintain a slow and steady pace: approximately 0.5–1.0 m/s (1–2 mph)
Slower is always better than faster
Avoid sudden accelerations, decelerations, or stops
Start recording and walk normally

Note: when passing the area with low lighting - slow down, this will help to avoid blurry shots.

Camera stability is the second pillar of high quality visual result in 360 capture. To ensure camera stability:

Hold the monopod firmly without excessive movement
If using a helmet mount, avoid rapid head turns
Maintain smooth, continuous motion
Minimize sharp turns or zig-zag patterns

Camera positioning when using stick mount follow simple rules:

Place the camera above operator's head (up to 2 meters above the ground), adjust height according to ceiling and equipment clearances

Do not rotate the stick to avoid blurred, warped footage

Do not place the camera before operator's head - appearance of the operator in the middle of the image poses a risk of tracking losing and therefore localization process failing

Coverage Best Practices

Ensure adequate coverage:

Every surface should be seen from multiple angles
Avoid long straight paths without lateral movement
Record multiple short videos (under 9 minutes each) rather than one long capture
Organize videos by logical zones for easier management

Include visual context:

Capture recognizable features that match laser scans or models
Include structural elements (walls, columns, equipment) for alignment reference
Include equipment nameplates, labels, or unique identifiers when possible
Document surrounding context, not just isolated equipment
Capture edges, corners, texture, and distinct objects (critical for alignment)

Corners & Intersections:

Slow down at corners and intersections
Rotate naturally so the camera captures full geometry

Vertical Movement (Stairs & Elevation Changes):

Slow down significantly on stairs
Capture:
- Bottom landing
- Entire staircase (don't skip steps)
- Top landing
Avoid rushing vertical transitions

Environmental Factors

Be aware of challenging conditions:

Direct sunlight pointing into the lenses (creates lens flares and overexposure)
Extreme lighting contrasts (bright lights in dark areas, harsh shadows)
Reflective surfaces directly in front of lenses (glass walls, polished floors, metal surfaces)
Rain, fog, or steam obscuring lenses
Dust or dirt on the lens protector

Feature-Poor Environments (Require Extra Care):

Long white corridors
Glass walls or floor-to-ceiling windows
Large empty rooms with minimal features
Industrial spaces with repetitive geometry (identical equipment, pipes, structural elements)

Mitigation Strategies for Challenging Environments:

Walk closer to walls or objects to increase visual features
Add gentle curves instead of straight lines
Reduce walking speed in feature-poor areas
Capture additional passes if needed
Use tighter spacing between capture points

Note: If you encounter challenging conditions, document them in your notes. Consider re-capturing when conditions improve if the quality is significantly compromised.

Coverage Issues

Common mistakes:

Recording only featureless areas (blank walls, empty corridors without context)
Missing connecting pathways between zones
Skipping small rooms or transition spaces

Recommended Capture Workflow: Simple Capture

Understanding Simple Capture

Simple Capture is a plugin that automatically loads when you turn on the camera, it provides Cintoo branding and sets the correct recording parameters. With Simple Capture, the screen will always be black with no preview available.

Note: All captures should use Simple Capture

Default Simple Capture Settings

These settings are automatically configured and should not be modified:

Resolution: 5.7K
Frame rate: 10 FPS
Bitrate: 60 Mbps
Top/Bottom correction: Enabled
Maximum duration: 9 minutes per video

Why These Settings?

The 9-minute limit ensures files stay under the 5 GB maximum file size for upload
These parameters are fixed to ensure:
- Consistent visual quality for alignment with 3D data
- Reliable upload from Ricoh360 to Cintoo
- Optimal performance for navigation and Gaussian Splatting in the Cintoo platform

Step-by-Step Capture Process

Note: Internet connectivity is not required on-site for capture.

Step 1: Prepare the camera

Ensure the camera is fully charged
Verify the TL-3 lens protector is clean and properly attached
Attach the camera to the monopod or helmet mount
Power on the camera - Simple Capture will automatically load

Step 2: Start recording

Position yourself at the starting point of your capture route
Press the record button on the camera or use Bluetooth remote control
An audible signal confirms recording has started
Wait 2-3 seconds before starting to walk

Step 3: Execute the capture

Walk normally at a slow, steady pace (0.5–1.0 m/s)
Keep the camera stable and upright
Maintain consistent movement throughout the process
Don't stop for more than several (2-3) seconds.
Avoid placing yourself in the camera's field of view
Follow your planned route with loop closures when possible

Step 4: End recording

Walk 2-3 seconds past your intended endpoint
Stop walking and press the stop button (camera or remote)
An audible signal confirms recording has stopped
Verify the recording was saved (check camera display). Exit Simple Capture mode by pressing and holding Mode button on the right side. Swipe to the right to see all captures.
Don't forget to go back to Simple Capture mode by pressing and holding Mode button until Cintoo logo appears before every capture session.

Step 5: Repeat as needed

Move to the next zone
Start a new recording for each logical area
Ensure visual overlap between adjacent capture zones

Time and Storage Guidelines

Average capture duration: 3-7 minutes per zone
Maximum recording duration: 9 minutes (automatically stops)
Maximum file size: 5 GB per uploaded item
Files per battery charge: Approximately 50-60 minutes of total recording time

Important Operating Considerations

Thermal Management

Warning: using the camera while it is charging and uploading at the same time can cause thermal issues. Thermal issues occur when combining: devices uploading + charging + screen on.

Best Practices:

Allow the camera to cool between extended recording sessions
Avoid using the camera in direct sunlight for prolonged periods
Turn off the screen when not needed
Process uploads while charging only with screen off (push Power button to turn the screen off)

Upload and Connectivity Behavior

How Uploads Work:

Once captures are complete:

Connect the camera to Wi-Fi
Videos will automatically upload to Ricoh360 Cloud once connected
If internet is not available on-site, uploads will begin once the camera reconnects to the internet:
- when download is in progress an upward arrow appears on the cloud icon on the top bar of the camera screen
- the gallery shows the status of each shot
- upload takes a lot of battery charge (20-50% per 10 min video)
  
  Note: best upload method is to connect the device to the wall charger, turn on the camera and turn off the screen.
Videos then sync automatically from Ricoh360 to your Cintoo subscription
Delete uploaded videos from the device manually as there is no automatic cleanup

Privacy Considerations During Capture

Understanding Privacy Requirements

Under GDPR and other privacy regulations, 360 videos may capture personal data:

Faces of individuals on site (considered personal data under GDPR)
License plates of vehicles (considered personal data under GDPR)
Computer screens with sensitive information
Personal belongings or identifiable information
Confidential or proprietary industrial information

Your Responsibilities:

Be aware of what is captured in 360 videos
Comply with local privacy laws and regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)
Inform site personnel when capturing 360 imagery
Apply anonymization when required by law or contract
Implement your own privacy policies as needed

Current Limitations:

Automatic face blurring is applied by default
More blurring options will be released later
You are responsible for enabling anonymization when needed

Privacy Contact:
For privacy questions or concerns, contact Cintoo Data Protection Officer: privacy@cintoo.com

Quality Checklist Before Leaving the Site

Before departing, verify the following:

Coverage Verification

☐ All planned zones have been captured
☐ No major gaps in coverage exist
☐ Connecting pathways between zones are documented
☐ Critical equipment and areas are visible in the footage
☐ Zones have visual overlap for alignment
☐ Loop closures were completed where planned

Technical Verification

☐ All recordings were successfully saved to the camera
☐ No "recording failed" errors occurred
☐ Lens protector is clean and undamaged

Movement and Capture Quality Check

☐ Maintained slow, steady walking speed (0.5–1.0 m/s)
☐ No rapid movements or sudden stops
☐ Camera held vertically throughout the process
☐ Operator did not appear in center of frame

Visual Quality Check

Review 1-2 sample videos on the camera display:

☐ Image is clear and properly exposed
☐ No excessive motion blur
☐ Camera was held upright (not tilted)
☐ Lenses were not obstructed

Documentation

☐ Note the date and time of captures
☐ Record the specific zones or areas captured
☐ Document any issues or challenging conditions encountered
☐ Identify which captures correspond to which project areas
☐ Note any privacy considerations or sensitive areas captured

Capture Issues

When Data is Not Worth Uploading to Cintoo

Consider re-capturing if:

The camera was held incorrectly (sideways or tilted) throughout
You appear in the center of the image consistently (tracking failure risk)
Excessive motion blur makes imagery unusable
Walking speed was too fast (above 1-2 m/s consistently)
There were long (more than 2-3 seconds) stops during capture
Critical areas are completely obscured or missing
Video files are corrupted or failed to save properly
Lenses were scratched or damaged (blurry imagery)
Lenses were dirty or obstructed during capture
No visual features captured (completely featureless environments)
Major coverage gaps exist with no overlap between zones

Best practice: If you're uncertain about data quality, upload it anyway. The Cintoo team can help assess whether it's usable during alignment.

When to Re-Capture

Plan to return to the site if:

Major coverage gaps exist in critical areas
Technical failures resulted in missing data
Environmental conditions (lighting, weather) made footage unusable
Important equipment or zones were accidentally skipped
Operator positioning caused tracking failures
Movement was too fast or erratic
Feature-poor areas were captured without adequate mitigation (tighter spacing, slower movement)

Field Capture Checklist Summary

Before Capture

✅ Site divided into logical zones
✅ Capture routes planned with loop closures
✅ No obstacles on the routes - any doors opened in advance
✅ Camera fully charged and lens is clean
✅ Simple Capture plugin loaded (Cintoo logo visible on the camera screen)
✅ Bluetooth remote control functional
✅ Privacy considerations reviewed

During Capture

✅ Slow, steady walking (0.5–1.0 m/s)
✅ Extra care at transitions and intersections
✅ Camera held vertically
✅ Camera positioned above the operator
✅ Loop closures completed
✅ Visual overlap between zones maintained

After Capture

✅ Verify no major gaps
✅ Ensure zones connect visually
✅ Check all recordings saved successfully
✅ Re-capture problematic areas immediately if possible
✅ Connect to Wi-Fi for automatic upload

Where to Get Help

If you encounter issues during capture:

Technical support: support@cintoo.com / Create a new ticket
Training requests: Ask your Cintoo Customer Success Manager about field training