Ricoh GR IV Monochrome digital camera

Ricoh GR IV Monochrome digital camera

When black and white photography is a passion! The Ricoh GR IV Monochrom is the much-rumored and anticipated camera. This includes all the innovations of the GR IV except for the colors!

The Ricoh GR series of cameras has been a staple in street photography for years. It's a compact camera that fits in your pocket, very small in size, but inside the camera is an APS-C sized image sensor found in most DSLR cameras.

• True black and white sensor, higher sensitivity and better sharpness than the color version
• Built-in red filter activated with one button!
• 25.7MP APS-C size sensor and GR ENGINE 7 processor
• 5-axis image stabilization, 6-stop power
• Fast phase-detection autofocus
• ISO sensitivity up to 409600
• Extremely compact size, a true go-anywhere camera
• 53GB internal memory + microSD memory card slot

The Ricoh GR IV Monochrom features a true black and white sensor - you won't get color images with this. Everything related to color wavelength filtering and color images has been removed from the sensor. The result is an efficient and sharper sensor.

The minimum sensitivity is ISO 160 and the maximum is a whopping ISO 409600, performance in low light is about one f-stop better than the color version.

The Ricoh GR cameras are special because of their built-in filter that can be activated with the push of a button. The basic version has an ND gray filter, the HDF version has a diffusion filter that softens the image. This black and white version has a built-in red color filter!

When shooting on black and white film, the red filter gives a dramatic dark sky, i.e. a striking contrast between the sky and the clouds, and brightens skin tones. And because the Monochrom is a true black and white camera, the effect is exactly the same as with film materials.

Otherwise, the camera is similar to other versions of the Ricoh GR IV, meaning the optics are better in terms of design. The old version was good too, but the new one has a slightly different look in addition to sharpness, which is especially noticeable in highlights.

Speaking of highlights: a black and white sensor behaves a little differently than a color sensor, meaning that in addition to better sensitivity, the brightest objects burn out a little more easily. Ricoh has High-light weighted exposure metering , which exposes the image so that even the brightest areas have details and the shadows are probably very dark.

In image processing, you can then enhance the shadows from the 14bit DNG raw images taken by the camera according to the mood, which means that this is a really great starting point when the images have bright light and shadow details, meaning that this is truly an atmospheric street photographer's camera.

There is also no AA (antialiasing) filter on the sensor, so the image is as crisp as possible. But this can sometimes cause moire in images, for example on certain fabrics and building details. There is a setting in the camera where this filter can be simulated using the image stabilizer.

Thanks to the new fourth-generation processor and a lighter lens, autofocus is faster and more accurate. In addition, Ricoh has combined phase-detection autofocus with the black-and-white technology, so the performance should be the same as in the color version. In practice, the focus is faster than before and works more reliably and does not lag in the same way as previous models, especially in low light.

The image stabilization is the same surprisingly effective 5-axis in-camera stabilization with a power of six aperture stops. Combined with the brightness and wide focal length, this allows you to get really sharp images, especially of static subjects in low light, without a tripod.

Usability

First things first: the camera starts up in just 0.6s. Functions like changing shooting mode, closing the lens, and turning off the camera are faster, so you can react to fast-paced situations and always have your camera ready.

The Ricoh GR IV is a photographer's tool, the controls are very good for its size, so if this becomes a second camera or a so-called feel-good camera alongside a larger system, it will be possible to use it without frustration! There are adjustment rings on the front and back. One-handed usability is good and clearly thought out by listening to photographer feedback.

At first glance, this looks very similar to its predecessor, but the new GR IV has been designed to be smaller and thinner. Thanks to the thinner body and a thumb rest shaped to fit better in the hand, shooting feels even more comfortable. Black and white and minimalism have also been carried over to the camera's exterior: The logos are blackened, the finish combines matte and glossy black. Even the color of the light that lights up when the camera is on has been changed from green to white.

Ricoh has its own comprehensive preset adjustments for its cameras, but with this camera you don't have to worry about colors. Instead, you can influence the contrast of the images in a very comprehensive way, meaning that in addition to raw images, you can get softer or very sharp MV images, and if you want, you can also get a MV image with a fair amount of grain.

If you have to leave your photoshoot suddenly and forget your memory card at home, don't panic, the camera has 53GB of built-in memory and the battery can be charged directly with a USB-C cable, for example via a power bank. According to the strict CIPA standard, you can get about 250 photos on a single charge, but in practice this is often exceeded by a considerable amount, meaning the battery life is clearly better than in the GR III models.

Transferring images and remotely controlling the camera is very convenient with the GR World app via Bluetooth or Wifi on a smartphone.

Specifications:

• Image sensor: APS-C sized 25.74 megapixel CMOS sensor
• Black and white camera, no color images!
• Resolution: 6192 x 4128 pixels
• Sensitivity: ISO 160-409600
• Shutter speeds: max. 1/4000 with mechanical, 1/16000 with electronic shutter
• 5-axis in-cell image stabilization, 6-stop power
• Focal length: 18.3mm (cinema equivalent 28mm)
• Aperture: f/2.8 (min. f/16)
• Phase detection autofocus with face detection
• Snap Focus: the camera immediately takes a picture from a predefined distance (e.g. hyperfocal, i.e. the distance that provides the widest possible depth of field)
• Closest focusing distance: 10cm at normal setting, 6cm at macro setting
• Video: Full HD 24P/30P/60P
• 53GB internal memory and microSDXC UHS-I card slot
• 3" touchscreen, resolution 1.037 million dots
• Hot shoe
• Wireless connection: Wifi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3
• USB-C connection for data transfer and charging (no separate charger included)
• Size: 109.4 x 61.1 x 32.7mm
• Weight: 262g (with battery and memory card)
• Battery type: DB-120, shooting capacity approx. 250 shots per charge (CIPA)