Ricoh GRIV Announcement

[Freakscene]

Trouble is that I much prefer the GRiiix - though I would think a mono version of that will come as well. Might get the Mono GRIV anyway, especially if the lens is on the same level as the GRiiix.

I am sure that a GRIVx will follow, and hopefully a GRIVx mono after that. But Ricoh is a bit of an odd cat.

 

[ellisson]

Like Leica, they make two (or more) popular focal length fixed lens autofocus cameras. Q28 and Q43 vs GRiii and GRiiix.
Covers a lot of what people use with interchangeable lens cameras, especially for travel.

I have the GRiv monochrome on the way. Apparently, these are moving quickly. Given the trend, an x version could follow.

 

[Archiver]

The GR IV Monochrome is $3249 AUD! That's like a high-mid mirrorless body!

 

[Freakscene]

The GR IV Monochrome is $3249 AUD! That's like a high-mid mirrorless body!

That’s what a custom sensor does to your RRP.

It was never going to be cheap.

$AU2999.95 in shops.

 

[Godfrey]

That’s what a custom sensor does to your RRP.

It was never going to be cheap.

$2999.95 in shops.

I see it listed as US$2200.00 or so in NY. Add the charger, the GA3 lens adapter, and the 21mm wide converter, and you have a US$2600 kit (add sales tax and shipping as well). It's tempting, but I already have an M10 Monochrom and a 28mm lens... and never mind that the lens cost more than the whole Ricoh kit. LOL! 😉

G

 

[Rick Waldroup]

B&H out of New York has the monochrome on preorder for $2196.00.

It certainly is tempting...

 

[ellisson]

The GR IV Monochrome is $3249 AUD! That's like a high-mid mirrorless body!

True. But cheaper than the heavy Leica SL tele-zoom lens that I'm selling to cover the cost! And better for overall health. 😅.

 

[Godfrey]

B&H out of New York has the monochrome on preorder for $2196.00.
It certainly is tempting...

heh .. That's where I looked.
I'll likely just continue to enjoy what I have. 🙂 I'm more likely to spend that money on the Hasselblad 28P lens ...

G

 

[trix4ever]

That’s what a custom sensor does to your RRP.

It was never going to be cheap.

$2999.95 in shops.

And for that I can buy a used K3m and a lens, and at least I can clean the sensor...
Actually the K3m's have plummeted in price on the used market.
MAP have sold several at au$2200 and I never pay duties buying off them, add a 20-40mm or 21mm and I'm set.

 

[Freakscene]

And for that I can buy a used K3m and a lens, and at least I can clean the sensor...
Actually the K3m's have plummeted in price on the used market.
MAP have sold several at au$2200 and I never pay duties buying off them, add a 20-40mm or 21mm and I'm set.

But good luck putting it in your pocket.

The 20-40 is almost miraculous, you could almost weld it on.

 

[trix4ever]

But good luck putting it in your pocket.

The 20-40 is almost miraculous, you could almost weld it on.

Well that might stop the dust problem...

 

[olakiril]

In europe it's 1800€ which is the same price as the X100VI. So I would say the price is quite reasonable given the specialized sensor and that there is nothing like it in the market right now. As @Freakscene mentioned, the major advantage of the GR line is the pocketable size so there is no reason to look at it if you don't care about that.

 

[Freakscene]

In europe it's 1800€ which is the same price as the X100VI. So I would say the price is quite reasonable given the specialized sensor and that there is nothing like it in the market right now. As @Freakscene mentioned, the major advantage of the GR line is the pocketable size so there is no reason to look at it if you don't care about that.

Pocketable and lighter than a lens for most cameras are definitely the advantages. @Peter_S takes a GR into the mountains, for example Let's See Your Ricoh GR Photos I will have one of these for hiking and a GR IVx Monochrome too if they make one.

I will be very interested to see what the native tonality looks like.

 

[Peter_S]

Pocketable and lighter than a lens for most cameras are definitely the advantages. @Peter_S takes a GR into the mountains, for example Let's See Your Ricoh GR Photos I will have one of these for hiking and a GR IVx Monochrome too if they make one.

I will be very interested to see what the native tonality looks like.

That is the reason why the monochrom variant or the converted versions are so attractive to me - I can take a colour version and a monochrom version without much combined weight, and leave one when weight really matters (and I need no dedicated chargers!). I used the M Monochrom and the X1 (or Merrill DP2) before, which was nice, but certainly a lot more to take. One advantage of the GR models in monochrome over the M9M is highlight-weighted metering, which eliminates blown highlights.
The pricing can be debated, but when I look at mirrorless or other compacts, I think the GRIV Monochrom (which likely out-resolves anything else in that price range) is not a bad option from a cost-benefit perspective. The trouble with GRs is that they hardly depreciate over time, so used does not save much. But the M9M is more expensive now than when I bought and sold it.
As for dust...dust removal with Ricoh costs less (at least where I live) than rangefinder calibration for the M. So there is that.

 

[trix4ever]

In europe it's 1800€ which is the same price as the X100VI. So I would say the price is quite reasonable given the specialized sensor and that there is nothing like it in the market right now. As @Freakscene mentioned, the major advantage of the GR line is the pocketable size so there is no reason to look at it if you don't care about that.

I already have the original 16mp GR and love it, partly for it's pocketable size.What also amazes me is how good the raw files convert to black and white. I actually don't particularly like the native colour from GR's, but I leave mine in mono and then only use the raw file and it is easy to create a terrific black and white print from it, with detail that seems better than most of my 24mp cameras.
I would really like to see a direct comparison between the mono and colour GR as well.

 

[Peter_S]

I could only compare the GRiii with the GRiiix converted to Mono with WA adapter if of interest. Quite fair, as the GRiiix is with adapter on par with GRiii.

 

[Freakscene]

I already have the original 16mp GR and love it, partly for it's pocketable size.What also amazes me is how good the raw files convert to black and white. I actually don't particularly like the native colour from GR's, but I leave mine in mono and then only use the raw file and it is easy to create a terrific black and white print from it, with detail that seems better than most of my 24mp cameras.
I would really like to see a direct comparison between the mono and colour GR as well.

Wood Street! I never saw any art there . . .

 

[Rob-F]

I'm surprised, taken aback, by such lively discussion over a camera brand I've never even seen nor held in my hands. The manager at our local pro camera store, says he's never seen one either. I read through the posts, over a couple of prior pages, about the relative amount of tax or tariff for
Japan, vs. Korea, etc.; how much it is in Australian dollars--none of which really determines if it is a nice camera, or not--then settled down to try to read what makes a Ricoh a good choice, and why anyone would want one. I had always assumed they were just a sort of budget model. Until I saw the numbers you guys are quoting: $3500, $2999; not budget numbers after all. I read through some comments, e.g. someone likes the RAW files, or the B&W conversions, but not the color (etc.)

So I look over all that, and wondered, "really, they would rather have that than a Leica X something, or a Fuji X100v? (or something-whatever). (without the opportunity to shoot with a Ricoh to see if I liked it.) So what's my point? I don't know, just surprised, an eye-opener, because they don't seem to be often talked about here. I wonder if I will ever buy one.

 

[Freakscene]

I'm surprised, taken aback, by such lively discussion over a camera brand I've never even seen nor held in my hands. The manager at our local pro camera store, says he's never seen one either. I read through the posts, over a couple of prior pages, about the relative amount of tax or tariff for
Japan, vs. Korea, etc.; how much it is in Australian dollars--none of which really determines if it is a nice camera, or not--then settled down to try to read what makes a Ricoh a good choice, and why anyone would want one. I had always assumed they were just a sort of budget model. Until I saw the numbers you guys are quoting: $3500, $2999; not budget numbers after all. I read through some comments, e.g. someone likes the RAW files, or the B&W conversions, but not the color (etc.)

So I look over all that, and wondered, "really, they would rather have that than a Leica X something, or a Fuji X100v? (or something-whatever). (without the opportunity to shoot with a Ricoh to see if I liked it.) So what's my point? I don't know, just surprised, an eye-opener, because they don't seem to be often talked about here. I wonder if I will ever buy one.

Ricoh has owned Pentax since 2011, and has made cameras since the 1950s. They have made the GR cameras since 1996 and digital GRs since 2005. The GRs are the only ultralight, pocketable cameras that produce outputs comparable to professional grade cameras. They stand pretty much alone in 2026. If you don't need the compactness or the very light weight, there is almost no need to even consider them.

 

[Peter_S]

I'm surprised, taken aback, by such lively discussion over a camera brand I've never even seen nor held in my hands. The manager at our local pro camera store, says he's never seen one either. I read through the posts, over a couple of prior pages, about the relative amount of tax or tariff for
Japan, vs. Korea, etc.; how much it is in Australian dollars--none of which really determines if it is a nice camera, or not--then settled down to try to read what makes a Ricoh a good choice, and why anyone would want one. I had always assumed they were just a sort of budget model. Until I saw the numbers you guys are quoting: $3500, $2999; not budget numbers after all. I read through some comments, e.g. someone likes the RAW files, or the B&W conversions, but not the color (etc.)

So I look over all that, and wondered, "really, they would rather have that than a Leica X something, or a Fuji X100v? (or something-whatever). (without the opportunity to shoot with a Ricoh to see if I liked it.) So what's my point? I don't know, just surprised, an eye-opener, because they don't seem to be often talked about here. I wonder if I will ever buy one.

They were not on my radar either until mid-2024. I have always carried two cameras (either film + digital or digital colour + digital monochrome) in places where size and weight matter. The X1 was a favourite and is still unmatched in handling...and that lens! Used, older cameras were never a problem for me, and even preferred. That was fine in Vienna, with plenty of repair/service options. Living full-time in Norway changed that.
Pentax has service points, and new GRiii/x prices are not far from the used prices of anything else. Really, the GRs replace my X1 and small Contax cameras, which have become unviable due to costs and service challenges. That GRs can be converted to monochrome (unlike the Fuji X or Leica X2, at least in Europe, which ruled them out for me) and work well with tele (GRiiix) and wide-angle converters. I tested the GRiii and GRiiix throughout before committing.

The GRiiix is also the only compact camera I have used that matches (in practice) the Merrill DP2 in resolution (also a fine device, but 46 mm is not ideal for me, and there are other issues), and the monochrome GRiiix replaced my M9M. If only the GRs had a 35mm focal length!

I think one "issue" with the GRs is that they are marketed as "street" cameras with cool JPG presets. They are, sure, but they are very capable off-street too, and the RAWs are something. I think you need to go to Q2/Q3/Q43 territory to get substantially "improved" output, but the monochrome versions certainly close that gap considerably. The downside is many small buttons to get used to, but once you have, they are fast cameras. To be honest, if I go larger to have something "better", I would consider going straight to medium format. But in the end, the GRs are the smallest and most economical options to support my income, be it colour or monochrome.