Ricoh GR IV

D DPReview Mitchell Clark · reviewer · Sept 2025

— Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the launch of the RICOH GR IV, the latest model in the GR-series of premium compact cameras. The highly portable, lightweight camera delivers high-quality, high-resolution images with intuitive, responsive snapshot operation, making it an excellent choice for snapshot photography, even for professional photographers.

P Pushing Film Pushing Film · 72.4K subscribers · Aug 2026

And straight off the bat, the quality that this camera is capable of producing is amazing. It's essentially an APS-C compact camera with a monochrome sensor, meaning it only creates black and white images, but it does it well. It can fit in the palm of my hand or in my pocket, making it ready for any situation.

P PentaxForums.com Reviews Article

28mm appears like a wise choice for a fixed focal length camera, as it is generally better to crop than to be unable to include everything in the frame. That being said, Ricoh has offered a version of the GR III, called the GR IIIx, with a 40mm equivalent focal length. It wouldn't be surprising to see the same version be released in the future for the GR IV.

E Eren Sarigul Eren Sarigul · 64.6K subscribers · Feb 2026

I pretty much say this each time I shoot with a Ricoh camera, but these cameras are so fun to shoot with. The fact that this has an APS-C sized sensor inside it, so that's the same sensor you get in your Fujifilm cameras, and it can literally fit inside a pocket is really unique. There isn't another camera manufacturer making a camera like this.

C César Mendoza Cesar Mendoza · reviewer · Feb 2026

The GR IV shows measurable improvement in this department. During our testing, particularly in challenging low-light scenarios where autofocus typically struggles across all camera systems, the GR IV demonstrated faster and more confident focus acquisition. It locks onto subjects more quickly and requires less intervention from us to achieve sharp results.

C Camera Zone Camera Zone · 50K subscribers · Mar 2026

Feels like it's safe to say the king of street photography has reclaimed its throne for 2026. For those of us who have been shooting with the GR system since the film days or the original APS-C transition, this model feels like the ultimate realization of the ultimate snapshot concept. We've seen this camera evolve over decades, but with the GR IV, Ricoh has managed a rare feat.

A Amateur Photographer Matty Graham · reviewer · Aug 2025

I’m impressed with both the overall image quality and the amount of tonal data in the DNG files. Shadows can be boosted and skies rescued in software such as Lightroom. Because the raw files are DNG rather than some type of proprietary format, there’s no need to wait for Lightroom updates, unlike with other new cameras.

G Gil Kreslavsky Gil Kreslavsky · 35.9K subscribers · Feb 2026

The Ricoh GR solved exactly that problem. It removes choice and friction and excuses. You just put it in your pocket and you're ready to go. And yes, this is a camera that I carry in my jeans pocket, and I can trust it to produce decent quality images. Actually, it's a pocket powerhouse.

B Bhphotovideo Article

One of the key upgrades of the GR IV is faster focusing performance. Aided by the new GR ENGINE 7 processing and a redesigned lens that's lighter in weight, AF performance is more responsive than its predecessor, focusing hunting is greatly reduced, and both face recognition and subject tracking have been improved.

G Gil Kreslavsky Gil Kreslavsky · 35.9K subscribers · Feb 2026

The Ricoh GR solved exactly that problem. It removes choice and friction and excuses. You just put it in your pocket and you're ready to go. And yes, this is a camera that I carry in my jeans pocket, and I can trust it to produce decent quality images. Actually, it's a pocket powerhouse.

F Fstoppers Article · Jan 2026

The Ricoh GR IV Monochrome is a small camera with a single-minded idea: record light, not color, and make that choice permanent. If you shoot black and white often, this kind of sensor-level commitment changes how you expose, how you judge texture, and how far you’ll actually push ISO.

I iGefen iGefen · 25.6K subscribers · Feb 2026

>> But this one, this one feels like the best GR experience I've ever had. I wanted to share not only the photos, but also my thoughts around this very special camera. On paper, there are improvements. A new APS-C sensor, better stabilization, and more confident autofocus system. Yes, technically, this is a stronger camera. But honestly, once you start shooting with it, the specs stop matter

D Dpreview Article

The new camera fully draws out the capabilities of the high-performance GR lens by eliminating the color filter used to acquire color information, as well as the interpolation process required to generate color images, thereby delivering refined rendering and rich tonal gradation.

I iGefen iGefen · 25.6K subscribers · May 2026

And I took the Ricoh GR IV specifically and not any other camera just because it's the smallest and most fun for me to use. I had my life for members that we walk outside and take photos together, and I just stood at home in my completely empty with new studio with my whole gear on the floor.

A Amateur Photographer Joshua Waller · reviewer · Jan 2026

This camera is currently the cheapest pure monochrome digital camera ever released (by a main brand), and therefore, demand will be extremely high. This follows on from the announcement of the Ricoh GR IV HDF .

H Hunter Hart Hunter Hart · 15.3K subscribers · May 2026

And honestly, I would do it again tomorrow. Super, super worth it, in my opinion.

H hzlenslab.com Article · Jun 2026

Is the Ricoh GR IV good for street photography? Yes. The Ricoh GR IV is well suited to street photography because it is compact, discreet, quick to use, and built around the Snap Focus shooting style.

S Sergio Musel Sergio Musel · 12.7K subscribers · Jan 2026

So, that's a nice advantage as well. Now, I will have time to test them and see how different uh do they perform next to each other, but uh already now I can tell that there's a difference in texture. I I GR4's texture it's uh a bit grippier than my street edition. Uh it's more smooth and slippery, to be honest. Uh this finish is much better.

A Alik Griffin Article · Jan 2026

While the internal memory is incredibly fast (and honestly, enough for most day-trips), you’ll still want a reliable card for backup or for those long weekends when you’re shooting 14-bit DNGs.

H Hamer Reviews Hamer Reviews · 7.5K subscribers · Mar 2026

I think its small size is why I enjoy it so much. You see, I have lots of great cameras to choose from. I've got the Nikon Z8. I've got the Z52, which is a lot smaller, and now the Z R as well. And those are fantastic cameras, and if I'm really planning to go out and take photos, I will absolutely take them with me. But they're kind of too heavy to just grab and take with me on a whim.

D Digital Camera World Article · Dec 2025

The Ricoh GR IV continues this lineage, keeping the familiar metal body and 28mm-equivalent prime lens that define the series while introducing its most substantial set of upgrades yet.

I I Am a Camera I Am a Camera · 1.5K subscribers · Apr 2026

Now, a lot of photographers kind of pride themselves on being able to shoot manual or aperture priority, but program mode on the GR IV is actually very powerful because you can override either the aperture or the shutter speed. So, I can >> also vary aperture with the front wheel or the shutter speed with the back wheel. It goes to PX mode, which is an override mode.

D Digital Camera World Article · Oct 2022

The Ricoh GR IV made several key upgrades to the GR III, improving battery life and stabilization. Its wide 28mm perspective gives you a broader view of a scene than the X100VI.

S Spyros Spyros · 1.5K subscribers · Jun 2026

The truth is that I love the GR IV and has changed many things. It hasn't made me a better photographer, but it has certainly changed the approach when photographing on the streets. Some of it for the better and some of it for the worse.

S Subscribers Derrick Story · reviewer · Sept 2025

Let me say this right up front: The Ricoh GR IV looks like a fantastic camera that I would normally buy in a heartbeat. I’ll list many of those reasons in just a minute.

C Cesar Mendoza Cesar Mendoza · 955 subscribers · Jan 2026

This is where the 53 GB of internal storage of the GR III comes as a very big benefit. For now, this is a point for the GR III, also because I'm not very fond of microSD cards. The second thing I want to talk about is capturing those in-between moments.

S Subscribers Simon Sarris · reviewer · Jul 2026

And the Ricoh’s entire size is smaller than just the body of the Fuji, smaller than many phones (but still 2.5x thicker), the only truly pocketable of the three.

P PetaPixel Article · Aug 2025

Yes. This is a smart and sleek companion for any street shooter, and the GR IV is the most pleasant and capable GR experience so far.

On paper, this camera does less. But that’s exactly why it works. It’s not trying to do everything. It does one thing all the way.

M Macfilos News Team · reviewer · Aug 2025

According to the company, the phase-matching hybrid AF system is “significantly quicker, more precise and better in low light”.

P Photography By Mark G Adams Article · Nov 2025

This is where the legendary Ricoh GR IV steps in, Ricoh’s latest and undoubtably greatest tiny little camera.

W WIRED Scott Gilbertson · reviewer · Dec 2025

I would upgrade for this reason, even if I had the GR III.

T Techboards Article

The Good Stuff (and there is a lot)…

D Dpreview Article

Enjoy your new camera.

P PetaPixel Article · Jan 2026

I should provide the context that I have already reviewed the baseline Ricoh GR IV camera , giving a detailed explanation of all the controls and features, so in this article, I will only give a brief overview. The GR IV Monochrome looks and feels almost exactly the same as the original GR IV, minus the white lettering of the original and the color filter array over the sensor.

A avdidit avdidit · 9.2K subscribers · Aug 2025

But to my surprise, over the last couple months, this camera has actually become one of my favorites to take out with me. And I think a part of it is just because of how expressive it feels to use it and just how simplified the process is. With everything I think that's good about this camera, there are some drawbacks to the GR3 that I do want to discuss.

F FUJI X WEEKLY Article · Mar 2026

The GR IV has a significantly improved IBIS that is excellent and useful; however, it seems to drain the battery like nobody’s business. I’m sure I could optimize the power consumption by digging into the settings (something I need to do), but right now I’m getting about 65-75 exposures on a fully charged battery, which isn’t good.

L Louscapes Louscapes · 2.9K subscribers · Oct 2025

The GR IV is an excellent incremental upgrade, and is one of the best pocketable street cameras available, despite its flaws.

T Thom Hogan Thom Hogan · reviewer

I'll be right up front about this: I have mixed feelings about Ricoh's update to the GR, the GR IV. While I've not had the chance to use one for photography yet, just going through the details via press release and other Ricoh-provided information makes me feel like there's a bit of contradiction now going on.

B Brian Cho Brian Cho · 1.7K subscribers · May 2026

One thing I got to mention is that the Ricoh GR IV and the GR IV monochrome are not weather proof, water proof, or any of that sort. So, you have to be a little bit careful. And I was pretty paranoid about getting any sort of moisture and, God forbid, dropping this camera into the river.

M Mpb Article

For GR III owners, the upgrade is worthwhile if better stabilization and internal storage matter to you. Otherwise, it’s not essential. The GR IV justifies its price if you appreciate its unique shooting philosophy, but it won’t convert people who were already unconvinced by the GR concept.

S Subscribers Raf Lopes | CameraClara · reviewer · Feb 2026

We sat down for a live stream to talk about her first weeks with the Ricoh GR IV HDF. Juno has been shooting street in New York for decades, mainly with a Nikon ZF. The GR IV is a big departure. Here is what she thinks so far.

T The Cotswold Photographer David Fleet · reviewer · Dec 2025

It can work for calm, daylight moments, but it is not suitable for photographing kids running or unpredictable movement. It is best thought of as a personal, observational camera rather than a family action camera.

F Fstoppers Article · Mar 2026

The Ricoh GR IV is a rare camera that actually fits in a pocket and still gives you an APS-C sensor. If you care about image quality but refuse to carry a heavy kit, this one forces a serious conversation.

A Andrea Bianco Photographer Andrea · reviewer · Sept 2025

Ricoh GR IV is a wonderful camera. I had never experienced overheating with my GR III, nor with my GR IV for the time being. The image quality is fantastic, stabilization is quite useful.

P Pcmag Jim Fisher · reviewer

The Ricoh GR IV is an excellent pocket-friendly APS-C camera with a prime lens and intuitive controls, delivering exceptional image quality for serious shutterbugs on the go.

T the legend continues to evolve Article

Single-point and zone autofocus works the best in my experience, while I have to say that Subject tracking is still one of the weaker points of the Ricoh experience.

What I really don’t like is the use of a microSD card. It’s noticeably more fiddly to remove and insert into a card reader compared to a standard SD card.

A Apparently It IS Happening! Article

Looks nice. Way too expensive for me but then again large sensor compacts seem to be priced through the roof, even used now.

No issues. GR IV is a better camera to my old GR III. Having said that, GR III is still a very good camera, I use both.

F Fstoppers Article · Sept 2025

The only weakness he points out is flare when shooting into bright light, something that also affected earlier models.

T The Cotswold Photographer David Fleet · reviewer · Nov 2025

Are those upgrades worth it if you’re a GRIII owner, absolutely not. IS the GRIV a nice camera to handle, yes.

M MEDIA BY AV Austin Schofield · reviewer · Dec 2025

Across the board, I think the Ricoh GR IV is a great camera. It just has one major issue… the price .

A Aristeidis Sfakianos Aristeidis Sfakianos · 29.1K subscribers · Apr 2026

I  bought the Ricoh GR IV with my own money.   Ricoh had no involvement in the making of this  video and everything I share here comes entirely   from my personal experience and honest opinions  after living with a camera. I own cameras that   can do far more than this one.