Pentax Ricoh GR IV

Ricoh GR IV

Designed to faithfully evolve the core values of the GR series, high image quality, quick responsiveness, and portability, the RICOH GR IV is equipped with newly developed key components, including lens, image sensor, imaging engine and enhanced image stabilization. It delivers high-quality, high-resolution images with intuitive, responsive snapshot operation, making it an excellent choice for snapshot photography.

Key Features:

• Newly designed, super slim, high-performance GR lens
• High-quality, high-resolution images
• More advanced SR mechanism
• Advanced AF system with reduced start-up time and high-speed autofocus operation
• Compact, slim and functional body design
• Quick setting of the desired exposure mode best suited for a given subject
• New Cinema mode added to the Image Control function to expand the range of visual expressions
• High-definition LCD monitor with outstanding outdoor visibility 
• Bluetooth and wireless LAN dual communication

The GR IV features a newly developed back-illuminated APS-C-size CMOS image sensor for higher sensitivity and reduced noise with the new GR ENGINE 7 imaging engine. The new GR lens delivers exceptional imaging performance. The newly designed lens barrel and optimized start-up sequence reduce the start-up time to approximately 0.6 seconds, the shortest in GR-series history. For greater operability and usability, the connectivity has also been upgraded, with a dual-communication system combining Bluetooth® and wireless LAN, plus operation with new applications. 

The GR IV’s body has been thoroughly redesigned, offering enhanced performance in a compact and slimmer body, while layout of control buttons and dials have been redesigned, improving the camera’s functionality. A new, high-capacity rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides improved battery life.

A host of new accessories are available for the GR IV, including the new RICOH GF-2 External Flash. With a maximum guide number of 3 (at ISO 100/m), this super-compact, ultra-lightweight accessory flash unit provides an auto flash function when mounted on the camera.

Newly Designed, Super Slim, High-Performance GR Lens

The GR IV incorporates a newly designed GR LENS 18.3mm F2.8, which delivers exceptional imaging performance with a slim design, while retaining the 28mm angle of view (equivalent in 35mm format) and large F2.8 maximum aperture. Consisting of seven optical elements in five groups, the latest optics incorporate glass-molded aspherical lens elements, including a large-diameter element used as a final lens, and high-refraction, low-dispersion glass elements to deliver high-contrast, high-resolution images with edge-to-edge sharpness, while minimizing distortion and chromatic aberration.

High-Quality, High-Resolution Images

To enhance image resolving power, reproduce rich gradation and upgrade sensitivity, the GR IV features a newly designed, backilluminated APS-C-size CMOS image sensor for higher sensitivity and reduced noise with an upgraded GR ENGINE 7 imaging engine. With super-high-resolution images assured by approximately 25.74 effective megapixels and improved image processing performance, the GR IV produces exceptionally high-quality images rich in resolution and gradation. The GR IV also features the RICOH original accelerator unit, designed to optimize the high signal-to noise ratio image data captured by the image sensor and deliver it to the imaging engine, making it possible to assure top sensitivity of ISO 204800 for super high-sensitivity photography.

More Advanced SR Mechanism

The GR IV incorporates an updated version of the original SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism built into the camera body, enabling it to effectively compensate for camera shake at the time of shutter release. Assisted by a much-improved compensation algorithm, this five-axis mechanism minimizes adverse effects caused by pitch, yaw and roll during normal shooting, as well as shift shake during macro photography, by as much as six shutter steps.

Advanced AF System with Reduced Start-Up Time and High-Speed Autofocus Operation

The GR IV’s newly designed lens barrel and optimized start-up sequence reduces the startup time to approximately 0.6 seconds, the shortest in GR-series history. This combination also reduces the time required for switching to the Macro shooting mode and during lens storage action, greatly enhancing the camera’s quick-shooting capabilities. The camera’s high-speed lens driving mechanism and the image sensor’s high-speed data readout also assure high-speed focusing operation and improve autofocus precision. The autofocus speed in low-illumination ranges and the precision and coverage area of the image-plane phase-matching AF system have also been optimized to greatly improve the GR IV’s overall AF performance.

Compact, Slim and Functional Body Design

To improve the camera’s quick-shooting performance, the GR IV’s body has been redesigned to be compact, slim, and functional - key elements required in a snapshot camera. The body is slimmer than that of conventional GR-series models to assure a firm hold of the camera, while the thumb grip on the camera’s back is contoured to assure a tight but comfortable grip in the photographer’s hand. 

The layout of control buttons and dials have been redesigned, while the mode adjustment (ADJ) lever has been changed to a dial type for ease of operation, making the GR IV more functional and accessible than ever before. The camera’s body frame is made of a lightweight, high-rigidity magnesium alloy to enhance durability and reliability during shooting and carrying.

Quick Setting of the Desired Exposure Mode Best Suited for a Given Subject

When the camera’s exposure mode is set to Program AE, the GR IV features a new Program Auto Ex function, which allows the photographer to instantly shift the exposure mode, with a simple turn of the front e-dial to Aperture-Priority AE, or that of the rear e-dial to Shutter-Priority AE. A Snap Distance-Priority AE (Sn) mode has been also added to the range of selectable exposure modes. This new mode allows the photographer to capture images with an emphasized depth of field, based on the combination of the subject’s distance in snapshot shooting and a depth-of-field visual effect, to further expand the choice of exposure mode.

New Cinema Mode Added to the Image Control Function to Expand the Range of Visual Expressions

In addition to the 12 conventional effect modes of the Image Control function, the GR IV now features a new Cinema mode (with a choice of yellow or green tone), allowing the photographer to create an atmosphere reminiscent of nostalgic film-format movies of yesteryear. In addition to basic parameters such as Saturation, Hue, Key, Contrast and Grain Effect, this new mode also lets the user adjust two other parameters, strength and size, to the desired level, making it possible to create more diverse visual expressions and choose the desired finishing touch best suited to a captured image. User-selected settings can be added to the Image Control menu as a custom mode.

High-Definition LCD Monitor with Outstanding Outdoor Visibility 

The GR IV features a 3.0-inch high-definition LCD monitor with approximately 1,037,000 dots. It incorporates an air gapless construction, in which special resin is placed between the monitor’s touch-screen panel and the protective cover made of reinforced glass, to effectively reduce the reflection and dispersion of light for improved visibility during outdoor shooting. The Outdoor Monitor Setting function assures outstanding visibility in both bright outdoor and dark indoor locations. This function also features the new Auto setting, which automatically adjusts the monitor’s brightness level based on the lighting condition of the given location.

Bluetooth and Wireless LAN Dual Communication

The GR IV provides a dual-communication system combining Bluetooth® and wireless LAN for easy pairing with mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Exclusively designed for the RICOH GR series, a new GR WORLD application simplifies a variety of communication operations, including image data transfer to a smartphone, remote shutter release from a smartphone, and transfer of the camera’s location data to a smart device.