Ricoh GR IV Goes Monochrome

[Richard CR]

It has been a very busy few months for the Ricoh camp. Following the successful launch of its standard GR IV in September 2025, which managed to knock Fujifilm off its perch at the top of the Japanese best-selling charts, Ricoh has certainly not stopped and has continued to reinvent what one camera can do. […]

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[Sporgon]

The red filter isn’t on all the time, it can be applied in the same way as an optical ND filter. I’d have thought that orange would be more versatile but I’m sure Fuji have done their homework.
As a B&W shooter I’m still unconvinced as to the practical output benefits of a monochrome digital sensor, but I can see the appeal in making the photographer think B&W when using the camera.
I suppose I’d have to try one before being critical.

 

[GirlsAreBeautiful]

Beautiful camera and great company, this makes way more sense than the HDF version in my opinion, the base GRIV is the only camera I'd really consider beside the R52.

 

[Martin0815]

To me Ricoh's GR IV Monochrome price appears far too expensive considering this is an APS-C sensor with 26MP and a fixed 28mm equivalent F2.8 lens (the Leica Q3 Monochrom is 60MP and F1.7 Full frame):
While roughly 2/3 of an F-stop increased sensitivity is certainly appreciated (thanks to the removal of the Bayer filter array), the main benefit is that this GR IV 'forces' to shoot black & white (aka monochrome) as the only option at the time of shooting. However, most modern cameras have settings to shoot black & white, alternatively almost every post-processing software can generate it afterwards, some with options including a variety of color filters.
For me the R5 / R5 II setting 'Monochrome' and optional color filters do the same on a vastly more capable camera.

 

[David - Sydney]

Help me out here…. If there is no bayer/AA filter layer then isn’t it full spectrum by definition?
Clearly the red filter makes it specifically IR

 

[P-visie]

Help me out here…. If there is no bayer/AA filter layer then isn’t it full spectrum by definition?
Clearly the red filter makes it specifically IR

The sensor has an internal IR cut filter. That needs to be removed to make a full spectrum camera.

See: https://kolarivision.com/full_spectrum_conversion/