Key Features:
Based on the RICOH GR IV premium compact camera, the GR IV Monochrome is exclusively designed for monochrome photography.
With the exceptional image quality, quick response, and outstanding portability that the GR series is known for, the GR IV Monochrome incorporates a monochrome-dedicated image sensor. By eliminating the color filter used to acquire color information, as well as the interpolation process required to generate color images, the camera can fully draw out the capabilities of the high-performance GR lens, delivering refined rendering and rich tonal gradation.
A built-in red filter enables more distinctive monochrome photography, while two newly developed Image Control options dedicated to monochrome imaging provide deep and diverse monochrome expressions.
MAIN FEATURES:
Monochrome-dedicated design
With the pursuit of the ultimate monochrome expression, the camera incorporates an anti-aliasing (AA) filterless monochrome-dedicated APS-C CMOS image sensor, capable of producing high-definition images with approximately 25.74 effective megapixels. Unlike monochrome images produced using a general color image sensor—where each pixel receives light through one of red (R), green (G), or blue (B) color filters, the information is interpolated to generate a color image, and the result is then converted to monochrome—each pixel of the monochrome-dedicated sensor captures the subject’s brightness information. Because it directly takes in the light information entering through the lens without interpolation processing, it enables sharp monochrome rendering with rich tonal gradation and also makes it possible to create works that emphasize grain effects by taking advantage of high-sensitivity performance.
Built-in red filter in the lens unit
A red filter that can be turned ON/OFF with a single operation is built into the lens unit. By allowing only red wavelengths of light to pass through, it enables dramatic rendering—for example, by darkening the tones of a blue sky to enhance contrast with white clouds, or by rendering red subjects brighter to make them stand out more clearly.
Support for diverse monochrome expressions
The camera features monochrome-dedicated Image Control options to enable a wide range of monochrome expressions. “Solid” uses a hard tonal curve to express a crisp, clean look, and renders edges with refined clarity. “Grainy,” characterized by a strong grain effect, delivers a finish reminiscent of silver-halide prints and printed materials by avoiding complete highlight blowout and preventing shadows from being crushed to solid black, while producing grain that is clearly visible even on smart devices.
Carefully crafted exterior design
To evoke the world of black-and-white photography by unifying the overall color and texture, the magnesium-alloy body, as well as the shutter release button and ring cap, are finished in matte black. The subdued sheen, deep texture, and softly tactile feel together make the GR’s special nature immediately apparent. The front GR logo is finished in semi-gloss black, with a luster distinct from that of the body finish. The power button illumination has also been changed to white. The monochrome aesthetic is expressed throughout the design.
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Other Features
Electronic shutter enabling high-speed shooting up to 1/16000 second
In addition to the conventional mechanical shutter, the camera is equipped with an electronic shutter that enables shooting at higher shutter speeds. The shutter speed can be increased up to 1/16000 second, which is effective for creative work that takes advantage of the monochrome sensor’s high-sensitivity characteristics in bright conditions, and for situations where it is desirable to shoot with the aperture open even in very bright environments.
Samples shots taken by pre-production camera:
UPC: 027075312012