The Ricoh GR IV is the premium compact and Fujfilm X100VI rival that many keen photographers have been waiting for. This week, finally, preorders went live.
You’d think I’d be happy, but as a (mostly) satisfied Ricoh GR III user for several years, I was sorely disappointed when I saw the specs and first product images – the GR IV looks like a really minor upgrade.
I put together my Ricoh GR IV wishlist a long while back, and it looks like I’m going to have to hope and pray that the next generation delivers.
Yes, my top wish for the new model was that it remained as small as its predecessor. Ricoh went one better by making the GR IV even slimmer… fractionally. However, keeping something the same is hardly a reason to upgrade, is it?
Better autofocus was another wish of mine. I’ve not used the new GR IV yet, but the first hands-on video by a Ricoh ambassador suggests autofocus is slightly quicker, but only by baby steps. Again, not enough of a reason to upgrade.
And here comes the real sting in the tail – Ricoh has hit fans with a huge price hike, especially for shoppers in the US. The new GR IV costs $1,499 / £1,199 / AU$2,099. Ouch.
There’s simply no way that a camera with updates this minor can merit such a price increase (of around 20-35%, depending on where you live).
The sensor only sees a small resolution bump – from 24MP to 26MP. There’s a new 28mm f/2.8 lens, but it’s unclear to me yet if it is noticeably better.
I wanted a tilt screen, but we still have a fixed one. I asked for a built-in flash, but again, that’s a no. Better build quality? You guessed it – nope.
Yet here we are with a steep price increase that pushes the new model into a category with much fiercer rivals, such as the powerful (if bulkier) X100VI.
The GR series has comfortably sat around the $1,000 / £900 for years (with a slight price increase due in part, no doubt, to demand). That price feels fair.
If the price of the new model were around the same as before, I’d be tempted. But if I’m buying anything this week, it’s going to be Ricoh’s shiny new GF-2 external flash ($119.95 / £99 /AU$ TBC).
The new flash gun slots into the camera’s hotshoe and is appropriately tiny, plus it’s compatible with my GR III (although at the time of release, auto exposure isn’t supported for older models – Ricoh says that’ll come via a firmware update).
I’d rather the flash be built into the camera, but at least there’s a good external option now.
With the GR IV, I think Ricoh has been stingy and greedy in one fell swoop, even if I’m delighted it has kept the series alive.
Want my advice? If you’re keen on the GR series – and you should be, the GR III is one of the best point-and-shoot cameras with top image quality from a genuinely pocketable compact – then I suggest saving some cash by buying the older Ricoh GR III instead of the GR IV. You’ll need to hurry to grab one while stocks last, though. Ricoh has discontinued it.
