The Theta Z1 on my Planix Pro recently bit the bullet, just flat out died, so it was time to examine options to ensure that I always have backup gear. I do still have my old IMS-5, but it’s been cobbled together from 3 broken ones and sounds like it has asthma.
I DID get a new Z1 to install on the Planix. They are around $1,200 (Canadian) at Amazon, Best Buy, and the local camera shops. I could have had Planitar “repair” and replace, but they are $85 labour plus about $1,600 to replace the Z1, so I just went and bought one on my own.
I debated whether get a second, new, Planix or to opt for the R1. In the end, I went with the R1 for two reasons: according to Ricoh, the Z1 is now a discontinued item, and my wife said, “get the new stuff”. While you can still get a Z1, I’m concerned with how long that may be the case for. The R1 uses the newer Theta X, so I figured that would be the better option. Side note: the X is about 60% the price of the Z1, $500 cheaper, yet the R1 is $500 more than the Planix. Which, I guess, means the laser system is essentially $1,000 more for the R1 system than the one in the Planix. Just food for thought.
Now, for running the R1. I may have missed it, but I don’t recall there being a mention anywhere of any particular device, iOS or Android, that should be used with the R1 for capture. I have been using an iPad mini 4 on a neck strap ever since I got the first IMS-5 and throughout my time with the IMS-6/Planix with no difficulties. Connecting to the R1 with it was no problem at all, but processing time on each capture is, at a minimum, four times longer than with the Planix!
So, I tested the R1 using a Galaxy S23Plus. (And I hate using the phone for that, I prefer the mini’s screen size.) The processing time using the R1 on the Galaxy S23 was comparable to using the Planix with the Galaxy. No quicker, but comparable.
I also tested the R1 using a 10(ish) inch iPad 8th gen from home. About the same result as with the Galaxy, comparable processing time to the Planix (now operating again with it’s new Z1). In both cases, immensely quicker than using the iPad Mini 4.
The R1, by the way, does seem to have cleaner images via the Theta X, and definitely snaps the layout quicker and more accurately than the Planix did. I’m guessing that that’s due to the SLAM assist? I don’t know. I’m fine with the low setting for noise reduction, the higher settings take too long to process. I’m not convinced that the image quality is that much better than it makes a difference to me, and I would bet money that no realtor or homeowner is going to see the difference at all.
Had I known that the capture device made as much difference as it does to the processing time, that may have outweighed my Theta X vs Theta Z1 availability and longevity reasoning. The R1 costs $500 more than the Planix, and I now either have to use my phone for capture, or I have to purchase a newer device at more additional cost if I want to continue to use a tablet to capture with the R1. (Another cost side note while I think of it: additional R1 batteries are about $125 from Planitar. They are available at Home Depot and on Amazon for about $70.)
I’ve decided that buying an iPad for iGuide captures only (I don’t use that Mini for anything else at all) is far too expensive. I have a Galaxy tablet coming for less than 1/2 the cost of an iPad, that should have better speed that our old iPad 8th gen, and again this allows me to go basically hands free and not tie up my phone. I’m hoping that that will be the solution and the end of the expenditures. We’ll see.
