Ricoh GR Digital IV Review | 108 Data compared

The Ricoh GR IV is a premium, pocket-sized compact camera built specifically for street and travel photography, featuring a new 25.7-megapixel APS-C BSI sensor paired with the GR Engine 7 processor. Reviewers broadly praise its exceptional, center-sharp image quality, robust magnesium alloy body, and highly pocketable design that is even slightly thinner than its predecessor. Significant practical upgrades include a massive leap to 53GB of internal storage, a 25% increase in battery life via the new DB-200 battery, improved 5-axis image stabilization (up to 6 stops), and a fast 0.6-second startup time. Photographers also appreciate the tactile interface, which returns to a dual command dial layout and features a highly efficient "snap focus" mode ideal for candid shooting. Despite these improvements, the camera suffers from notable limitations, most notably a disappointing continuous tracking autofocus system that lags far behind modern mirrorless cameras. It lacks several contemporary features, such as 4K video recording (maxing out at Full HD 60fps), weather sealing, a tilting screen, and AI-driven subject recognition. Additionally, critics point out that the substantial price increase makes the camera quite...

Ricoh GR IV The Ricoh GR IV is a pocket-sized, high-performance compact camera featuring a upgraded 26-megapixel APS-C Backside Illuminated sensor and a redesigned 18.3mm F2.8 lens (28mm equivalent). Designed primarily for street and documentary photography, it boasts a lightning-fast startup time of 0.6 seconds and an updated physical layout that improves usability over its predecessor. Key hardware upgrades include an effective built-in image stabilisation system, an integrated 2-stop ND filter for bright conditions, and a massive 53GB of internal storage, which compensates for its switch to a smaller Micro-SD card slot. Its standout feature remains the "Snapshot" (Snap Focus) mode, allowing photographers to instantly bypass autofocus by shooting at a pre-set focus distance and depth of field. The camera excels in image quality, delivering excellent sharpness, contrast, and high dynamic range, though mandatory noise reduction is applied to RAW files at high ISOs. Its primary advantages are its unmatched pocketability for an APS-C sensor camera, exceptional optics, and the highly efficient Snapshot setting. However, it suffers from notable drawbacks, including unreliable continuous autofocus (C-AF) and tracking, which lag behind...

The Shoot.be review presents the Ricoh GR IV as an incremental rather than revolutionary update, concluding that it delivers meaningful handling tweaks but misses some highly anticipated features. On the positive side, the camera boasts a slimmer body that enhances the grip, making single-handed operation much more comfortable and secure than its predecessor without requiring an external thumb rest. It successfully brings back the dedicated plus/min exposure compensation button on the back panel, which is highly convenient for quick exposure tweaks on the fly. Additionally, the review highlights the device's significantly improved 5-axis image stabilisation system, which allows street photographers to confidently shoot steadier handheld shots at much slower shutter speeds. Conversely, the review identifies several notable downsides and missed opportunities that might disappoint long-time fans of the series. A key ergonomic flaw is that the newly reintroduced exposure compensation button is easily triggered by accident during regular handling. Furthermore, while the camera benefits from refined stabilisation and a more ergonomic shape, the review points out that it fails to deliver other major, widely expected upgrades. For instance, it still...

The Ricoh GR IV Monochrome is a highly portable, pocket-sized digital camera designed specifically for black-and-white photography enthusiast niche markets. Retaining the ultra-compact, 272-gram chassis of the standard GR IV, it features an improved 18.3mm f/2.8 fixed lens (28mm full-frame equivalent) that delivers sharper corner-to-corner details and great close-up performance. Key strengths include a 26-megapixel sensor completely stripped of a colour filter array, resulting in significantly lower shadow noise, better high-ISO performance, and crisper details compared to standard black-and-white digital profiles. Users also benefit from an upgraded 6-stop in-body image stabilization system, 53GB of built-in storage, a physical red filter that drops exposure by two stops for dramatic high-contrast skies, and an electronic shutter speed reaching 1/16000 of a second. Despite its excellent monochrome capabilities, the camera carries several distinct downsides. The most prominent disadvantage is its steep $2,200 price tag, which represents a hefty $700 premium over the base model and creates a major financial barrier for casual buyers. Additionally, its highly streamlined, pocketable design lacks a built-in viewfinder, forcing photographers to rely entirely on the rear LCD screen...