Ricoh Announces Updated Version of My Favorite Travel Camera

With the popularity of the upward pocket camera, Ricoh announced the GR IV, an updated version of His Excellent, tiny (and quite old) GR III. It is a fixed lens camera that can easily hold in a pocket, but inside is a large APS -C image sensor – much larger than you can get in a phone. The larger image sensors generally mean better image quality compared to smaller sensors.

I really liked the GR III and I chose it as the best points camera to travel. The images he captured was better, especially in low light, than most of the other small cameras that I tested. However, it was completely dated. The new GR IV, on paper at least, seems to improve many of the older aspects in the GR III, but maintains the vast majority of the camera. It is usually a good thing.

Large sensor, small camera

• Images of 25.7 megapixels (6.192×4,128)
• 18.3 mm f / 2.8 Lens (28 mm in 35 mm equivalent)
• Video 1080p / 60
• 5 -axis image stabilization
• Faster startup compared to previous GR cameras (claimed to be 0.6 seconds)
• Integrated ND filter (2 stops)
• Internal 53 GB storage (also microSD)
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3

The two advantages of GR III and its predecessors take place towards GR IV: it is an extremely small camera with a large image sensor. The body is 4.3 by 2.4 by 1.3 inches, which is about the same width as a smartphone, thicker but shorter. It should adapt easily in most pockets. The IV is very slightly smaller than the GR III.

Again, inside is a new APS-C size sensor, although the same size used in the GR III and essentially the same resolution. Ricoh says that he has “higher sensitivity and reduced noise” compared to the GR III sensor. It would have been great to see a higher resolution sensor, allowing more details when it is collecting on an image, since the GR IV has a fixed and angle lens.

This lens is a whole new design, with a focal distance of 18.3 mm (equivalent to 28 mm). This corresponds to the GR III, just like its opening F2.8. This is at the narrow end of what is generally considered to be a wide angle objective, but it is similar to the field of vision of the main cameras on most smartphones. Ricoh says that the glass elements of the lens allow “sharpness on board on board”.

The GR IV has a 5 -axis Shake reduction, compared to 3 axes on the GR III, to help reduce the blur during longer shutter speeds. Ricoh says it offers up to six stabilization stops. This, with the higher sensitivity of the image sensor, could mean that the GR IV behaves very well in low light.

With the launch of GR IV, Ricoh has announced several accessories, including a compact flash that connects via the hot shoe on the top of the camera. After years of cameras trying to reduce the need for flashes, the resurgence of retro digital cameras and their aesthetics bring them back. In addition, there will be cosmetic alternatives, including a hot metal shoe cover, as well as a wrist strap (illustrated in the upper image) and an objective adapter to adapt to the GW-4 conversion objective which is currently available for the GR III.

Should you wait for GR IV?

On paper, the GR IV updates seem quite soft. Same global design, same resolution, same focal distance. However, there is certainly one aspect “if it is not broken, do not repair it” to all of this. The GR III worked very well, creating high quality images in a pocket camera. It is often said that the best camera is the one you have with you, and it was very easy to have the GR III with you.

The new lens, the image sensor and stabilization can be solid upgrades. I will not know before testing the GR IV (probably next month when it was launched). I am a little disappointed that it is not a higher resolution. It is not a huge affair, but I use A fixed goal camera for several months now Like my main camera, and be able to crop on 40 MP images is useful. Again, if I was in a situation where I wanted to capture something in the distance, I would generally use the telephoto lens on my Pixel 9 Pro.

If you are interested in a GR camera, I would recommend waiting for a few weeks if you can. Either the GR IV will be a worthy upgrade and deserves to be obtained, or it will be just a minor improvement and the old and probably cheaper, GR III will be the best option. The Ricoh GR IV will be available in mid-September for $ 1,500.