Few names in photography carry as much of a following as the Ricoh GR. This is a camera series that is cherished by street photographers and travellers for its compact, lightweight and pocketable design, not to mention the quality of the images it pumps out. It’s always been about doing more with less.
Now, Ricoh has officially announced that the GR IV is in development and expected in Autumn 2025. This iteration promises to be more than just an upgrade, with a complete overhaul including a newly designed lens, a new sensor, and an all-new imaging engine. So, these aren’t just tweaks - they’re a complete rethink, that hopefully takes an already beloved system (the GR III and IIIx) to the next level
What’s new then?
Starting with the lens redesign, the GR IV will have a designed 18.3mm f2.8 lens, equivalent to 28mm in full-frame terms. This range is one of the reasons the GR III was and still is loved by street photographers (although, my first thought is: will there be a IVx version with the 40mm equivalent?). But it’s the optical formula that gets the rethink with seven elements in five groups, including three aspherical elements, designed to reduce distortion and edge softness for crisp, high-contrast results even wide open. And, it’s worth mentioning that another reason everyone loves the GR III/IIIx is how sharp its lens is. They could probably keep the same lens, and we’d be satisfied.
The new 25MP CMOS sensor offers more resolution (not that much more, but still more) without compromising on dynamic range or low-light performance. The maximum ISO range is increased to 204800, and now with its upgraded 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilisation, the GR IV should offer improved low-light performance, especially while shooting handheld - not that anyone shoots at ISO 204800.
These will be accompanied by a new imaging engine that will be expected to further enhance image processing speed and quality, but we must wait for more details on that.
This iteration will arrive with Ricoh’s AA Filter Simulator, which will help reduce moiré without the need for a physical anti-aliasing filter, as well as ultrasonic vibration-based dust removal to keep your sensor clean on the go. It will continue to support 14-bit RAW (DNG) shooting alongside JPEGs, giving you full control over the edit.
Beyond the specs
Beyond these new specs, we will also get access to the new GR WORLD app. This will give you remote control, sharing, image management, and it’ll be compatible with other GR models (GR II and up). This will be a nice addition, and it shows that Ricoh understands how people use their current offerings, i.e. sharing images on the fly.
There’s also an HDF variant on the way. The GR IV with a Highlight Diffusion Filter (HDF) will give a soft, filmic glow to highlights straight out of camera, giving us even more flexibility without needing post-production. That’ll come later than this launch, though. My question (again): will there be a IVx version with the 40mm equivalent?
Bring on the GR IV
This is pretty exciting news. The GR III has somewhat of a cult following - and for good reason. All signs suggest that the GR IV will continue that loyalty, with even more to offer.
There’s definitely been a shift towards, or a return to, compact cameras in recent years. Whether it’s the need for something more travel-friendly or wanting a dedicated camera that doesn't come with the size and weight of a pro camera, compacts are clearly a winner with people out there at the moment. What seems to set Ricoh apart from other compacts is the sheer quality of its images and performance in such a small package.
The GR IV is on the way, and I expect it will be a huge hit. Register your interest for the Ricoh GR IV here!
Here's a taster of what's to come with our review of the Ricoh GR IIIx :
About the Author
Leo White has been a member of the Wex Photo Video team since 2018, working in a variety of roles ranging from the contact centre to the product setup team. With both a photography BA and MA, Leo has a wealth of knowledge he's ready to share.
