Ricoh GR IV preview

The Ricoh GR IV is a photographer's compact built around a 26MP APS-C sensor with a fixed 28mm F2.8 lens. It's the fourth entry in the GR series (though that was preceded by the long-running GR Digital series and film models prior to that), and includes elements from previous GR cameras that had been dropped by its predecessor.

Key Specs:

• 25.74MP APS-C sensor
• 18.3mm F2.8 lens (28mm equiv)
• Built-in 2EV ND
• 5-axis image stabilization
• 53GB internal storage and UHS-I Micro SD slot
• 3.0" 1.04M dot LCD (720 x 480 px)
• FullHD (1080) video up to 60p
• 262g with memory card and battery

The GR IV will be available from mid-September 2025 at an MSRP of $1499. This price represents a substantial increase from the GR III's $899 2018 launch price, though is less of a jump from the current market rate for the special editions of that camera, which go for around $1100 (when you can find them in stock).

Index:

• What's new
• How does it compare?
• Body and handling
• Initial Impressions
• Specifications
• Press Release

What's New

Updated sensor

The GR IV uses a 25.74MP backside-illuminated sensor, compared to the 24MP frontside-illuminated one found in the GR III. The bump in resolution will be essentially irrelevant, and we'll have to test it more to see if it provides any noticeable improvements in areas like noise performance, dynamic range or readout speed. It seems likely that it's the same sensor Sony uses for its a6700 and Pentax in the K-3 III, which would mean Ricoh is continuing its tradition of using tried-and-true imaging tech in the GR series.

In large sensors, the benefits of BSI tend to have more to do with getting even illumination at the corners of the sensor, rather than having much impact on overall noise.

Redesigned lens

Also getting an update is the 18.3mm (28mm equiv) F2.8 lens. Ricoh has refreshed the formula, adding another aspherical element, which it says should provide better detail and sharpness in the corners. More importantly, the lens barrel is thinner, which means it can extend faster, improving the camera's startup time by 0.2 seconds. This may not sound like much, but it's a 25% improvement.

The company also says it focused on making the lens suck in less dust when it retracts and extends. While it's still not making any claims about weather or dust resistance, it clearly saw users' complaints about their previous GR cameras getting dust on the sensor, as it's also added a new anti-fouling and anti-static coating to the UV/IR cut filter. That should make it easier for the sensor's cleaning routine to shake off any dust that makes it into the body.

New old control layout

Left: GR IV. Right: GR III

The GR IV's control scheme reverses several changes made with the GR III, and so more closely resembles the layout of the original GR and GR II. Most notably, it replaces the rear-plate control dial with a multi-directional controller, and regains the "+ / –" rocker switch the III dropped.

It isn't just a complete remake of the GR II, though. The rear jog lever that's been on all of the GR cameras up to this point has been replaced with a clickable command dial. The company has also added a position for the Snap Distance Priority mode, introduced via a firmware update to the GR III, onto the camera's mode dial. It makes the camera's zone focusing system a little more approachable, letting you control your focus distance with one dial, and the depth of field with the other, with the camera setting your other exposure settings accordingly.

The Program auto mode has also received a substantial rework, adopting Pentax's Hyper Program mode in all but name. You can now use the dials to override it to either prioritize aperture or shutter speed, using the command dials, and can reset back to auto with a press of the mode dial's lock button.

Upgraded internals and battery

The GR IV has a new image processor, which the company says can provide more sophisticated noise reduction and more accurate color reproduction in the out-of-camera JPEGs. It's also paired with new autofocus algorithms, which should improve its focusing speed and accuracy, especially in more difficult scenarios, according to Ricoh.

The sensor stabilization system has also been upgraded, moving from a three-axis design to a five-axis one, providing a bump from a 4EV rating of stabilization to 6EV.

Additionally, Ricoh has massively increased the amount of internal storage; while the GR III had around 2GB built-in, the GR IV has 53GB, which, for many users, may be enough to obviate a separate memory card. Which may be a relief, given that Ricoh has chosen to go with a Micro SD card slot, rather than a full-size one, this time around, to make way for other changes.

A flashy accessory

The GF-2 is sold separately, but provides a reasonably-priced, compact option for those who miss the original GR's built-in flash.

Alongside the GR IV, Ricoh is launching the GF-2, a sold-separately external flash designed to be compact and to fit the camera's design. It has a guide number of 3 at ISO 100, and has its own battery and charges via USB-C, so using it won't wear down the camera's battery. And while it's not a TTL flash, it is aware of the camera's exposure settings and focus distance, allowing for an automatic mode, though it can also be used manually.

Ricoh says that its customers are split on whether they care about the GR having an internal flash, but that they universally care about it being compact and pocketable. According to the company, the external flash lets the camera be as small as possible while making it so those who don't care about having it don't have to pay for its inclusion.

The flash doesn't power on with the camera, as you may not wish to use it every time, but it is clever enough to power down when you switch the camera off.

The GF-2 will cost $119.

How does it compare?

Specs-wise, the GR IV is a mild update to the GR III, but there are enough differences to its core specs that we felt it was worth a direct comparison. We've also included Fujifilm's fixed-lens X100 VI; while its 35mm equiv. focal length will likely appeal to a different set of shooters, it's arguably the most famous of the photographer's fixed-lens cameras out there today. And while the RX100 VII's zoom lens and smaller sensor make for a very different shooting experience than the fixed lens APS-C cameras on this list, its size may make it attractive to the same photographers considering a GR.

While it's certainly not large, the X100 VI is substantially bulkier and heavier than the GR III/IV. However, there are reasons why: you get better battery life, a faster lens and a viewfinder experience that can be very engaging to shoot with. It's not the best option if you're looking for the most pocketable option, but it's still a portable and engaging fixed-lens camera, with features like a built-in flash and weather resistance that some fans of the Ricoh GR series have been asking for.

The RX100 VII is the oldest camera on this list, and that manifests in several ways; while its older autofocus system was once top-of-the-pack (and is still mostly competitive today), Sony's latest versions are even better. The menu system hasn't aged as gracefully, as it arguably wasn't very good to begin with, and the Micro USB port means that most people will have to carry a separate charger for it. However, its zoom lens and stacked sensor make it a more versatile pick for those looking for a camera that can also handle sports and action.

Body and Handling

The GR IV retains the same utilitarian styling that the GR series has always been known for, though it is now slightly slimmer and shorter. The difference is subtle on the spec sheet, but is noticeable in the hand and the pocket.

The heart of the camera is its controls, which can be operated entirely with one hand. The two top-plate command dials are placed near where your thumb and forefinger naturally rest, giving you quick control over your exposure settings.

Pressing the rear dial brings up the 'ADJ' quick settings menu, which is entirely customizable. You can choose up to five categories of settings accessible from the menu, with 17 options such as color mode, drive mode, ISO settings, focus mode and so on. One dial switches between the categories, while the other lets you make your selection from them.

You can pare the Adjust menu down to contain just your essentials.

By default, the menu will pop back up until you confirm your selection, though you can set the camera to do so with a half-press of the shutter. This customizability carries over to the rest of the camera, too, with over thirty settings for the function button and granular control over what a half-press of the shutter button does.

The menu system is also entirely navigable by touch if you prefer a more direct form of interaction. While it can be set to take a photo when you tap the screen, the menu doesn't live on the live view display, making it all too easy to accidentally toggle between touch-to-focus and touch-shutter modes.

In short, the GR IV gives you plenty of room to set it up in a way that suits your shooting style. It's extremely quick to operate once you have it dialed in, letting you change your most-accessed settings on the fly while staying in the moment, and making it easy to focus on the essentials of photography, rather than your camera.

Display

The 3.0" rear LCD's resolution is unchanged from the previous model, and while it's not particularly high-resolution, it's sufficient for composing and checking focus after the fact (as long as you punch in to 1:1). It now has an auto-brightness setting, which monitors the ambient light through the lens and makes adjustments accordingly. Even when shooting on very sunny days, we found it relatively visible given its fixed placement on the back of the camera.

While the camera doesn't have a viewfinder, it is still compatible with the add-on optical viewfinders released for the GR III. The company says it plans on releasing new models more suited to the new camera's reduced depth, but that the older models should still fit reasonably well.

Ports and connectivity

The GR IV has a USB-C port hidden under a flap, which you can use to charge the camera even while in use and to offload images from its internal memory and Micro SD card.

It also gains 5Ghz Wi-Fi in regions where the standard is allowed, making offloading images to your phone via the GR World app even faster.

Battery

The GR IV uses a 6.9Wh DB-120 battery, which has around 40% greater capacity than the 4.9Wh DB-110 used by the GR III. The CIPA battery life rating receives a more modest bump; the GR IV is rated for 250 shots versus the GR III's 200, a 25% improvement. It's a physically larger battery, which is almost certainly why the GR IV has had to adopt a Micro SD slot.

CIPA ratings tend to be lower than what you'll actually get in real-world conditions, and are more useful as a common point of comparison between cameras than a literal number of shots that you can expect to get. With that said, it wasn't uncommon for the GR III to run out of power well before hitting 200 shots, so it's possible the GR IV will provide greater gains than its rating suggests. We'll be sure to check back in once we've spent more time with a production model.

Initial Impressions

By Mitchell Clark

There's a reason the GR series is so beloved by its devotees: they fill a niche that very few other cameras even aim for. That's more true than ever in 2025; point and shoots may be making a comeback, but none are as focused on pocketability and giving you direct control over the photographic process.

The GR IV carries on that legacy as the smallest APS-C camera on the market today, with controls optimized for one-handed use. It lets you put the settings you find most important right at your fingertips, making it easier to get shots of moments you may have otherwise missed with a less responsive camera, or one that was too big to bother carrying around.

While its spec sheet and design look very similar to those of its predecessor, those don't tell the whole story. It's clear that Ricoh put a lot of work into generally making the camera even better at its job, and that it also specifically focused on some of the biggest complaints people had with the GR III.

If you understand the GR IV's controls, you understand the GR IV.

Perhaps the most exciting upgrade is the higher-capacity battery, though we'll have to see if it offers substantially longer life than the III's in our real-world testing. The + / – toggle, brought back from the original GR and GR II, is also a welcome addition, giving you yet another easy-to-reach control point. And while we'll have to see how the new lens performs, it's nice to hear that Ricoh specifically considered reducing dust ingestion when designing it.

Those changes may seem small, but there are a lot of small tweaks and refinements that add up to some big differences. The improved processing power for autofocus, faster start-up time, more usable Program mode, bigger internal storage and better stabilization probably wouldn't be huge news on their own, but together they make the IV feel that bit more modern and responsive when you're actually using it.

If this all sounds familiar, it may be because it's a very similar story to Sony's recently released RX1R III, a large-sensor compact that also gained much-needed battery and autofocus upgrades. Like that camera, the GR IV has become more expensive (though what hasn't?), and the flash being brought back as an add-on accessory rather than an integrated component won't make that pill any easier to swallow. Unlike the Sony, though, it's still priced within reach of mere mortals.

Ultimately, we'll have to do more testing to see how big a difference the updated autofocus algorithms and new lens make. But it's nice to see Ricoh building on top of the solid foundation provided by the previous GR cameras, and listening to users to make sure it's keeping what worked and tweaking the things that need improvement.

We weren't able to use the photos we took with a prototype GR IV for a sample gallery, but stay tuned...