- Ricoh announces the development of GR IV Monochrome and HDF variants
- The GR IV HDF is a direct replacement for the Ricoh GR III HDF
- Ricoh GR IV Monochrome removes the color filter array for superior noise and detail in black and white images
Ricoh has announced that it is working on two new additions to its family of high-performance compact cameras, the GR IV Monochrome and the GR IV HDF.
The Ricoh GR IV launched in September 2025 to mixed reviews, replacing the already fan-favorite GR III. Featuring an APS-C format sensor, the camera uses a 25.74 MP resolution, a 28mm equivalent lens, a 5-axis image stabilizer, and RAW file support. It’s fast becoming a staple in many street photographers’ handbags, thanks to its compact size, low weight and powerful image creation engine.
Although compact cameras slowed down at the start of the decade, largely due to better camera phones and affordable mirrorless cameras hitting the market in recent years, they are experiencing something of a renaissance.
Brands like Ricoh obviously see that there is a gap here that can be filled by a powerful, pocket-sized device, with many of the features previously reserved for professional or amateur interchangeable lens cameras.
Therefore, it wasted no time in following up the standard GR IV with two variants, one that will be predictable for long-time followers of the product line and another that is a little more unexpected.
The Ricoh GR IV Monochrome and GR IV HDF focus on stylized images
Ricoh cameras have long been considered among the best compact cameras. The Ricoh GR IV HDF (which stands for Highlight Diffusion Filter) is a direct replacement for the Ricoh GR III HDF, which launched in March 2024. The GR IIIx, which has a slightly longer focal length lens, also received an HDF variant, so we probably could have seen this development coming.
The camera uses a 23.5 x 15.6mm APS-C sensor, just like its predecessor, capable of producing images measuring 6,192 x 4,128 pixels. It also benefits from 5-axis IBIS and Full HD video shooting at 60 frames per second. Meanwhile, the highlight diffusion filter referenced in the name can be used to apply a unique diffusion effect for a soft, dreamy atmosphere, captured in-camera. This filter replaces the built-in 2-stop ND filter found in the standard GR III, GR IIIx and GR IV bodies.
The biggest differences from the GR III HDF are a slight increase in resolution, from 24 MP to almost 26 megapixels, a wider sensitivity range that extends to 204,800 instead of 102,400, and two additional levels of image stabilization, compensating up to 6EV instead of 4EV. You’ll also find 53GB of internal image storage compared to 2GB. These specifications are of course also found on the standard GR IV.
Meanwhile, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome will be good news for black and white photographers. Following a trend seen in cameras like the Leica Q2 Monochrom and the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome in the Ricoh family, this body is built without the usual color filter array that sits above the image sensor in most digital cameras.
CFA allows the capture of color images via a demosaicing process (a fancy term for digital processing), but it results in a loss of light-gathering capacity and detail. By removing this component, the GR IV Monochrome can only capture black and white images, but with the potential to achieve superior noise performance and increased resolution of fine textures.
In a press release, Ricoh mentions that the camera will also feature “specialized image control options for black and white photography to deliver the expressiveness and depth typical of monochrome images.” It’s unclear exactly what these will be at this point, but we can expect them to include additional or more expanded black and white modes, like those already well-received on the GR IV.
We have yet to receive specific release dates for either model, other than “winter 2025” and “spring 2026” for the GR IV HDF and GR IV Monochrome, respectively. Did you use a Ricoh compact? Would you choose the standard GR IV or one of these two exciting new variants? Let us know in the comments.
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