Thank you Ricoh for the new GR IV premium compact, but I'm going to stick
with my GR III for now here's why

Date:
Sat, 23 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Description:
Ricoh's new GR IV is a minor update of the GR III, equipped with a new 26MP sensor, a new 28mm f/2.8 lens, and various design tweaks. Is it worth upgrading for, or should you save money and opt for the GR III instead?

FULL STORY ======================================================================

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. Holding my own GR IIIX. In my book, a model from the GR III series is the thriftier purchase than the new GR IV (Image credit: Future)

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. You might also like I used my vintage point-and-shoot for the first time in years heres how it compares to my Pixel phone The best compact camera for 2025: top pocket choices to take anywhere Ricoh GR III gets a dreamy successor, but it's not the GR IV I was hoping for



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/compact-cameras/thank-you-ricoh-for-the-new- gr-iv-premium-compact-but-im-going-to-stick-with-my-gr-iii-for-now-heres-why


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