Ricoh GR IV Monochrome

The camera is designed around the GR lens, with an 18.3 mm F2.8 focal length (approx. 28 mm in 35 mm equivalent). The optical construction is 7 elements in 5 groups, including 3 aspherical elements, to keep sharpness high across the frame from center to edges. In monochrome, this helps textures and fine lines stay clear without looking artificial.

A key feature for classic black-and-white control is the built-in red filter in the lens unit. It can be switched on and off with a single operation, and is assigned to the Fn button by default. The red filter passes red wavelengths of light, which can darken blue skies to increase contrast with clouds and make red subjects render brighter for stronger separation. This gives you a traditional filter effect without adding any external accessories.

For creative rendering, the camera includes monochrome-focused Image Control options. Solid uses a harder tonal curve to give a crisp, clean look and refined edge clarity. Grainy adds a strong grain effect inspired by silver-halide prints, while helping avoid complete highlight blowout and preventing shadows from being crushed to pure black. This keeps more visible detail across the tonal range, while still delivering a bold monochrome character. Image Control parameters can also be adjusted, including contrast (highlight and shadow), sharpness, clarity, toning, and grain effect, depending on the selected setting.

The GR IV Monochrome is made for real-world handheld shooting. It includes 5-axis in-body image stabilization using sensor-shift shake reduction, rated at up to 6 stops of compensation. It also includes an AA Filter Simulator for moiré reduction using the stabilization unit (off, low, high), which can be useful because the sensor is AA-filterless.

High sensitivity is another strength. Standard sensitivity runs from ISO 160 up to ISO 409600, supporting low-light monochrome work and allowing photographers to use grain creatively when desired. For bright conditions, the camera adds a high-speed electronic shutter up to 1/16000 s, useful when you want to shoot wide open at F2.8 even in strong daylight. The electronic shutter range is 1/3,200 to 1/16,000 s at F2.8 and 1/5,000 to 1/16,000 s at F5.6 to F16.

File handling is built for photographers who want control in post. The camera records 14-bit RAW in DNG format, and JPEG with selectable color spaces including sRGB and AdobeRGB. There is also internal memory of approx. 53 GB, stated as enough for at least 995 RAW images, plus support for microSD cards.

The exterior design matches the concept. The magnesium-alloy body and key parts are finished in matte black, with a subtle semi-gloss GR logo and a white power button illumination. It is a focused, monochrome-first camera in both function and appearance.