After six years with the same sensor, Ricoh has finally announced the GR IV – and the photography community couldn’t be more excited about this pocket-sized powerhouse getting an upgrade.
What Makes the GR Series Special
If you’ve never heard of the Ricoh GR series, here’s what you need to know: these cameras pack an APS-C sensor (the same size found in many professional cameras) into a body smaller than most smartphones. The result? Professional-quality photos from a camera that actually fits in your pocket.
Unlike phone cameras that rely heavily on computational photography to enhance images, the GR series produces what many photographers call “real photos” – images with natural contrast, authentic colors, and that classic film-quality.
I’ve used both the GR III and slightly more zoomed in GR IIIx for family portraits and street photography, and there’s something magical about the images it produces. When I compare photos from my GR to those from even the latest iPhones, the difference is immediately apparent. The GR captures authentic skin tones and natural light in ways that phone cameras, despite all their AI processing, simply can’t match.
Why the GR IV Matters
The GR III, launched in 2019, has been beloved by photographers but limited by its aging 24MP sensor, especially in low-light situations. The GR IV addresses these pain points with significant upgrades:
26MP sensor upgrade: A small jump in resolution. This will give a more flexibility for cropping – particularly useful for a fixed-lens camera.
Improved low-light performance: After six years of sensor technology advances, expect much better high-ISO performance for those dimly lit restaurants and evening street scenes. This is what I’m most excited about. The GR III is super noisy at even 6000 ISO, as one would expect from an old sensor.
5-axis image stabilization: The GR III had 3-axis stabilization, but the additional axes should mean sharper handheld shots, especially in challenging conditions.
53GB internal storage: No more worrying about forgetting your SD card. You can shoot immediately out of the box.
Enhanced connectivity: Better WiFi and a new companion app should make transferring and sharing photos easier.
The Reality of GR Photography
Here’s what every potential GR owner needs to understand: this isn’t a camera for every situation. You won’t be shooting sports or wildlife with it. The fixed 28mm equivalent lens (or 40mm on the x line) means you need to move your feet to compose shots.
But for street photography, travel, daily documentation, and casual portraits, the GR series is unmatched in its combination of image quality and portability. There’s something liberating about having a truly capable camera that you can slip into any pocket.
What This Means for Current GR Users
Ricoh is discontinuing the GR III in July 2025, but the GR IIIx will continue production “for the time being.” For those of us who prefer the 40mm focal length of the IIIx, this lmeans waiting for a GR IVx – which, based on Ricoh’s release pattern, probably won’t arrive until 2027 or 2028.
The Bottom Line
The GR IV represents exactly what the photography community has been waiting for: a meaningful upgrade to one of the most beloved compact camera series. In an era where phone cameras dominate casual photography, the GR series continues to prove that there’s still a place for dedicated cameras that prioritize image quality over convenience features.
For photographers who value authentic image quality, appreciate the craft of photography, and want professional results in an incredibly compact package, the GR IV can’t come soon enough.
The Ricoh GR IV is scheduled for release in Fall 2025. See Ricoh’s press release:
https://ricohgr.eu/blogs/news/22-05-2025-development-anouncement-of-ricoh-gr-iv