Ricoh GR IV Monochrome Review

The Ricoh GR IV Monochrome is a dedicated black-and-white compact built around a 25.7-megapixel APS-C sensor that omits the Bayer color filter array entirely, capturing luminance data only. It pairs this sensor with a new 28mm-equivalent f/2.8 lens, improved autofocus with better low-light performance, and 5-axis shake reduction rated to 6 stops. Reviewers widely praise the image quality, noting excellent dynamic range, low read noise, and impressive sharpness across the frame, especially in close-up work. The compact, pocketable form factor and thoughtful street-shooting features like snap distance priority and focus limiter earn consistent approval, with one reviewer calling it "the ultimate street-shooter."

The built-in red contrast filter is a welcome nod to classic monochrome photography, and the touchscreen LCD and hybrid storage system (53GB internal plus microSD) are practical updates. Reviewers appreciate the dedicated monochrome approach, which delivers cleaner, more nuanced black-and-white files than software conversion. However, the $2,200 price is a frequent point of contention, and some question whether the monochrome-only constraint justifies the premium over the standard GR IV. A few also note that video remains limited to 1080/60p, though this is clearly a stills-first tool.