Pros & Cons
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- Truly pocketable compact with APS-C image sensor
- Versatile 28mm angle of view
- 5-axis image stabilization
- Built-in neutral density for long exposures
- Excellent control scheme
- 53GB internal storage and microSD slot
- Optional GF-2 flash is tiny
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- No viewfinder or weather protection
- So-so battery life
- Not great for video
Ricoh GR IV Specs
| 35mm Equivalent (Wide) | 28 |
| Battery Type | Ricoh DB-120 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
| Dimensions | 2.4 by 4.3 by 1.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1.04 |
| Display Size | 3 inches |
| HDMI Output | None |
| Maximum ISO | 204800 |
| Memory Card Format | Internal |
| Memory Card Format | microSDXC |
| Memory Card Slots | 1 |
| Minimum ISO | 100 |
| Sensor Resolution | 25.6 |
| Sensor Size | APS-C |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS |
| Stabilization | 5-Axis IBIS |
| Touch Screen | |
| Type | Compact |
| Video Resolution | 1080p |
| Weight | 9.2 |
The Ricoh GR IV ($1,499.95) is the latest iteration of one of my all-time favorite compact digital cameras, the 2013 GR. The GR redefined what a small camera could do by putting an APS-C image sensor into a package small enough to slip into your shirt pocket, at a time when chunky SLRs ruled the industry. The GR IV builds on what came before—it's the first in the series to support full 5-axis image stabilization, plus it steps up its low-light game with a 26MP BSI CMOS sensor, and focuses faster and more accurately than the GR III, all while sticking to its core concept as a camera that's small enough to carry every day, without making any sacrifices when it comes to imaging. It doesn't quite match the 5-star Fujifilm X100VI feature-for-feature, but the GR IV's pocketability and performance earn it our Editors' Choice award.
Design: A Serious Compact That Fits in Most Pockets
The Ricoh GR IV is tiny, a feat that's even more impressive when you remember it squeezes an APS-C sensor and 5-axis stabilization system into its svelte frame. At 2.4 by 4.3 by 1.3 inches and 9.2 ounces, the GR IV is the smallest, lightest entry in the series yet. I had no problem slipping it into a front coat pocket. It's a difference-maker for everyday carry versus the Fujifilm X100VI (2.9 by 5.0 by 2.2 inches, 1.1 pounds), which I consider small but wouldn't call pocketable.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The smaller frame means the GR IV doesn't leave room for some of the nice touches Fujifilm adds to the X100VI. For instance, the Ricoh omits an eye-level viewfinder, built-in flash, and weather protection, features you get with the X100VI. There's simply no room for them in the GR IV. To make up for it, Ricoh debuted the tiny GF-2 External Flash ($119.95) along with the camera. I tested it alongside the GR IV and am impressed with how well it works, and its size—I am still able to fit the GR IV into the pocket of a flannel shirt with the flash attached.
That's not the only difference between the two APS-C compacts; the GR IV's lens has an 18.3mm (28mm full-frame equivalent) angle of view with an F2.8 aperture, a focal length that is decidedly wide-angle. The X100VI uses a 23mm F2 (35mm full-frame equivalent) prime lens, which falls between wide-angle and standard. The lens changes how you approach subjects, since you can't change it out for another one as you can with a mirrorless camera, and this is a defining feature. I tend to prefer a 28mm for a fixed-lens camera—I can always crop a bit if needed—but I understand why others swear by a 35mm prime. Ricoh also makes a GR IIIx with a 40mm equivalent lens, but hasn't yet announced whether a GR IVx is on the way.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)So we'll have to wait and see if we get a GR IVx, but Ricoh has already teased that two GR IV variants are forthcoming later this year. The GR IV HDF ($1,599.95) trades out the standard edition's integral neutral density (ND) filter for a Highlight Diffusion Filter, hence the name. I like the ND filter because it reduces incoming light, so you can take long-exposure images without fumbling with an on-lens filter. The HDF filter is a little different; it adds a soft focus to highlights, an effect we previously saw in the GR III HDF. With either camera, you can turn the filter on or off with a tap, so you're not locked into an effect.
A GR IV Monochrome ($2,299.95) is also on its way. This version of the camera uses a different sensor that omits the color filter array and replaces the internal ND filter with a dark red filter. Monochrome sensor cameras are popular among photographers who strictly shoot in black-and-white because they inherently capture more detail, gather more light, and provide a wider dynamic range than color sensors, but they are decidedly niche. Ricoh has already had success with a black-and-white sensor SLR, the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome, and Leica makes a luxury-grade fixed lens camera, the Q3 Monochrom, with the same type of tech.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)In addition to the GF-2 flash, the GR IV works with the GW-4 Wide Conversion Lens ($249.95), an add-on that attaches to broaden its angle of view to 21mm. You can also get a shoe-mount optical viewfinder. The GV-1 ($149.95) has frame lines for 21mm and 28mm, while the smaller GV-2 ($249.95) is for 28mm only.
Controls: Improved Snap Focus, Plus the EV Rocker Returns
The GR IV's controls are largely in line with those of preceding models; if you're a longtime GR owner, you'll feel right at home, and I think shutterbugs who haven't used the series before will appreciate its control scheme. Most settings you'll want to change when taking a picture are right at your fingertips, and, incredibly, nothing feels jammed together, despite the camera's pocket-sized body.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)There are both front and rear exposure dials to set aperture and shutter speed; the former is atop the handgrip, and the latter is at the top of the rear plate and includes a push-in action to open the quick Adjust function menu. This menu provides ready access to up to five functions. You can configure it to your taste, but I find the default settings (Image Control, Focus, Metering, Flash, Aspect Ratio) pretty thoughtful. I used Image Control most often when working on this review; it's where you go to change the look of JPG images. I very rarely change aspect ratios, so I switched to Outdoor View Setting, which lets me quickly boost the screen brightness to make it easier to frame photos on a sunny day.
The On/Off button, shutter release, and Mode Dial are on the top plate. The shutter is the typical two-stage design—a half-press starts autofocus, and a full press takes a photo. The GR IV also supports a Snap Focus mode. When enabled, it bypasses autofocus, sets the lens to a preset distance (0.3m, 1m, 1m, 2.5m, 3.5m, 5m, or infinity), and takes a photo.
Snap Focus has been on nearly every GR camera; it's a defining feature and has made the line a preferred tool for street and documentary photography. It's not something that jives with my style, but I get why it's popular. Snap Focus captures a picture immediately, without any autofocus delay, and makes a lot of sense with a wide-angle lens, as you can ratchet the aperture down for plenty of depth of field to make up for any small mistakes in estimating distance to a subject.
The GR IV enhances its Snap mode with a new Mode setting, Snap Priority (Sn on the dial). In Sn, you can use the front dial to change the distance (versus diving into the Adjust menu as with previous versions), and the rear dial to set the amount of depth of field you want—DOF1 for a shallow look, DOF2 for a scene that's mostly in focus, and DOF3 for a hyperfocal setting that gets everything in focus.
There's also a change to the camera's Program mode, one that makes it more useful for photogs who primarily use automatic exposure, but may want to use a set shutter speed (to control motion blur) or aperture (to adjust depth of field) on the fly. You can use the rear (shutter) or front (aperture) dial to set either when in Program—that's nothing new—but the GR IV lets you tap the Mode dial's lock button to reset to automatic exposure. It's a subtle, but useful, improvement.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The rear has the typical Display, Menu, and Play buttons, along with a programmable Fn key—I set it to turn the in-lens neutral density filter on and off. It also has a four-way d-pad with a central OK button, as well as Macro, Drive/Self-Timer, White Balance, and ISO controls. Finally, a +/- exposure value (EV) rocker is in the top-right corner, something we last saw on the GR II. I'm over the moon to see it return; it makes it super easy to brighten or darken a scene, and since it abuts the rear thumb rest, it's always easy to get at. Finally, there's a Photo-Video toggle on the left—it's reconfigurable if you don't want to deal with video features. I won't blame you—the GR IV may support movies, but it's not really a video camera.
The 3-inch, 1.04 million-dot touch screen does double duty as your viewfinder and a control surface. The screen is fixed; it doesn't tilt like the displays on the Fuji X100VI and Leica Q3, an omission no doubt to keep the GR IV slim and pocketable. Even without tilt, the display serves as a capable control surface; you can tap on it to set an area of interest for autofocus, navigate through menus, and swipe and pinch photos in playback mode.
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Power and Connectivity: Improved Battery Life, But You'll Still Want a Spare
Ricoh switched batteries for the GR IV, dropping the GR III's 1,350mAh DB-110 power pack in favor of the higher capacity 1,800mAh DB-120 ($59.95). The change means that the GR IV gets 250 photos per charge on the CIPA battery test, versus 200 for the GR III. That's a positive, for sure, though you'll likely struggle to get through a full day of photography or a weekend of on-and-off use. It's easy to top off the battery with a power bank; like most consumer tech, the GR IV charges via USB-C, but I'd still recommend picking up a spare battery if you tend to overshoot.
The aforementioned USB-C connector is the lone port on the GR IV. It includes an ample 53GB of internal storage, as well as a microSDXC card slot for media storage. As mentioned, there's no built-in flash, but a hot shoe works with the GF-2 and other external strobes and wireless transmitters.
The GR IV includes both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for pairing and transferring photos to a smartphone via the GR World app, a free download for Android and iOS. It's quick and painless to pair the camera with your phone—the app includes instructions that'll get you up and running in a minute or two. The app is top-notch; it's fast, supports DNG and JPG transfers, firmware updates, and wireless remote control. All and all, the app is a huge upgrade from Ricoh Image Sync, which suffered from a poor user interface and slow performance. GR World replaced Image Sync about six months ago and works with both the GR III and IV series.
Autofocus: The Fastest Focus in a GR Yet
Street photographers may still prefer the instant response that Snap Focus delivers, but the GR IV's hybrid phase-contrast detection focus system is quick, too. I clocked it at around 0.15 seconds to drive focus and take a photo—you can catch a fleeting moment with ease. There are plenty of focus areas to choose from; everything from the full frame to a small box is supported, and you can tap the rear screen to set a focus point at any time.
That's the good, but there's some bad as well. The GR IV lags behind the X100VI and Sony RX1R III in subject recognition. Ricoh's focus system includes face and eye detection for people, something that's been table stakes for autofocus for years, but doesn't go beyond that. Fuji and Sony include modes that can instantly find the eyes of animals and pets, plus have specialized tracking modes for trains and planes. I didn't miss vehicle detection too much; the GR IV isn't a camera you're likely to use for motorsports photography. But I do wish it had animal eye detection. I noticed the camera would occasionally miss focusing on my cats' eyes by just a smidgen when taking portraits at close range.
Image Quality: Sharp, Stable, and Good in Dim Light
The GR IV uses a newly designed 7-element/5-group lens with 3 aspheric elements. Ricoh tells me it delivers "significantly better picture quality" than the GR III's 6-element, 4-group lens. In my tests, the GR IV actually takes a slight step back from its predecessor, scoring around 3,200 lines versus the GR III HDF's 3,400 lines at f/2.8 on an Imatest evaluation, but it's not anything to fret about. Both cameras score in the outstanding range at maximum aperture, and both deliver tack-sharp results from center to edge.
Results even up starting at f/4, as the GR IV hits 3,500 lines, and is just as good at f/5.6-8. Diffraction, the optical effect that scatters light particles passing through a very narrow aperture, reduces contrast at f/11 (2,700 lines), dipping down to what we consider very good for a 26MP sensor, and noticeably softens results at the minimum f/16 setting (2,100 lines). You can induce good-looking sunstars at f/11, so there's not much reason to use f/16. For context, all cameras with APS-C format sensors show a drop in resolution starting around f/11.
The GR IV focuses from 3.9 inches to infinity in its standard focus mode, but, like others in the series, it has a Macro mode that ratchets closer. In this case, the macro range is 2.4 inches to 5.9 inches, good enough to get close, detailed images of flowers. Depth of field is quite shallow when focusing close at a wide aperture, and it's here where the GR IV's updated lens shows its strengths. While I wasn't able to use the GR III and GR IV side-by-side, I took some similar photos at the same location and noticed that the GR IV's bokeh is generally smoother with fewer distracting elements.
The 5-axis stabilization system and in-lens neutral density filter help you take long-exposure photos without a tripod or external lens filters. I had no problems taking 1/2-second photos when handholding the camera without bracing my arms, and got plenty of keepers at 1-second. I stretched the shutter to as long as 5 seconds when resting my elbows on a solid surface and saw no evidence of motion blur from hand shake. If you like to take landscape photos that smooth out flowing water or cityscapes where pedestrians blur into ghosts while architecture remains sharply focused, the GR IV is up to the task.
Like many compacts, the GR IV uses an in-lens leaf shutter, a mechanism that's physically smaller than the focal-plane shutters commonly found in APS-C and full-frame interchangeable-lens cameras. The leaf shutter has some real benefits. For one, it's quiet and introduces minimal vibration, and for another, it supports flash sync at very short shutter speeds. The GR IV syncs with an external flash at 1/2,500-second at f/2.8, 1/3,200-second at f/4.5, and at 1/4,000-second from f/5.6-16, so you can more easily use flash to fill in shadows or make specular highlights pop in bright, sunny conditions versus the 1/250-second sync you get with most mirrorless cameras. The ND filter is also handy on bright days; it cuts out 2 stops of light, so you can use the camera at f/2.8 more freely to get softer backgrounds without worrying about overexposing your image.
The 26MP BSI CMOS sensor is a step forward from the 24MP CMOS chip in the GR III series. The pixel count isn't that different, but the BSI architecture places circuitry behind the light-sensitive part of the chip rather than in front of it, which improves noise control by about a stop. The GR IV delivers crystal-clear detail from ISO 100-1600 and shows only a slight loss of quality at ISO 3200-12800. Fine lines in our test scene start to smudge and blur together at ISO 25600-51200. You can set the camera to ISO 102400-204800 in truly dark conditions, but just be aware that those settings capture images with heavy noise and little fine detail. The camera's Auto ISO setting tops out at ISO 12800 by default, but you can raise or lower it to taste via the menu.
Shutterbugs can set the camera to a 14-bit Raw DNG image format for photos that leave ample room for creative edits. The 26MP sensor delivers excellent dynamic range, so you can freely open up details in shadows, rein in bright highlights, and adjust color, but images have to be processed in an app such as Adobe Lightroom Classic or Capture One Pro before sharing on most platforms. You can also edit DNGs using the iPhone camera app, or convert them to JPGs in-camera. Snapping photos in DNG gives you the flexibility to experiment with different looks. As with almost every serious camera, the GR IV supports DNG+JPG paired capture, DNG-only, or JPG-only.
The GR IV is preloaded with a good set of natural and stylized JPG looks, so you can get photos that stand out from the crowd without spending time editing if you prefer. Built-in looks include typical options like Standard, Vivid, and Monotone (black-and-white), as well as stylized profiles like Soft Monotone, Hard Monotone, High Contrast B&W, Negative Film, Positive Film, Cinema (Yellow), Cinema (Green), Cross Processing, Bleach Bypass, Retro, and HDR Tone. The names aren't as flashy as the Film Simulations that Fuji puts in the X100VI, but Ricoh's built-in options are just as useful. I swapped between Vivid and Positive Film for a day out at a conservatory, and got good results from Cinema (Yellow) and Hard Monotone for some pet pictures. Cross Processing is also fun; it shifts colors to mimic the look you get when you use color negative chemicals to develop positive slide film.
You can customize any of these profiles to taste, and there are three slots that let you roll your own from scratch if you want to experiment. The GR IV's JPG engine is very customizable; it lets you add grain, adjust saturation, contrast, and white balance, and adds a film grain simulation that wasn't included in the GR III. If you're looking for inspiration, check out the Ricoh Recipes for some suggestions—it hasn't yet added GR IV-specific profiles, but the author says the GR III recipes will deliver results similar, but not identical, to those with the GR IV.
Video: An Unapologetic Photo Camera
The GR IV supports video, but it seems like a feature meant to tick a box rather than be useful to anyone who cares about making movies. If you do want to record a clip, be aware that 1080p is as good as it gets, with 24, 30, and 60fps frame rate options. The audio sounds hollow and picks up plenty of background noise. If you want to take a quick video clip, you'll get better results with your smartphone.