Some YT reviews show that AF on the IV hasn't improved a lot from where the GR III stands. If you use Snap Focus mostly, there seems no need to upgrade.
I wanted this camera so badly, but the opportunity cost is too great at its USA price. As an alternative to the monochrome GRIV, one could get a used GRIII converted to monochrome by monomod.edu for the price of a standard GRIV. Converted monochrome is also available by LDP LLC and Monochrome Imaging Services.
Does anyone have any experience with the weather sealing on the GRIII or GRIV? Has anyone ran into actual issues where the camera stopped working etc? Specifically from usage in snow or rain? I'm looking for a small camera to bring while skiing - take some landscape shots, family shots etc... Will mostly be in my pocket in a padded camera pouch but I'll plan on using it every now and then.
I had a Fuji X100VI before for this but I sold the camera since I do not like the way it renders and it's still a tad big. I love using my Leica M camera over the X100VI but do not trust myself enough to bring it on the slopes in case I wipe out. If the GRIV is that fragile, I'll probably pick up another X100VI but would appreciate any insights into this topic.
tzhang4284 wrote:
Does anyone have any experience with the weather sealing on the GRIII or GRIV? Has anyone ran into actual issues where the camera stopped working etc? Specifically from usage in snow or rain? I'm looking for a small camera to bring while skiing - take some landscape shots, family shots etc... Will mostly be in my pocket in a padded camera pouch but I'll plan on using it every now and then.
I had a Fuji X100VI before for this but I sold the camera since I do not like the way it renders and it's still a tad big. I love using my Leica M camera over the X100VI but do not trust myself enough to bring it on the slopes in case I wipe out. If the GRIV is that fragile, I'll probably pick up another X100VI but would appreciate any insights into this topic....Show more →
I have used the Pelican case hack to keep mine safe while backpacking. Keeps it safe from impacts in your bag and it is waterproof. I can't remember the exact Pelican case that fits, I think it was the 1010...you just have to use a small exacto knife and trim out a bit of the rubber lining of the case and then the GR fits like a glove. Probably too big to pocket in your jeans but it would fit in ski pants I think.
524f44 wrote:
Pass. A number of nice refinements, but the return of the rocker switch is a deal killer for me.....
—
Rod
Time to eat a little crow. TL;DR I bought a GR IV, and am liking it, pretty much.
The longer narrative. I kept my GRIII for a while, but sold it in anticipation of the GRIV Monochrome. We all know that story $2200, gulp, to rich for me. Eventually I regretted selling the GRIII, and the Monochrome output of the GRIII was pleasing to me, so I caved in and bought a brand new GR IV. (A care givers respite treat for me).
So what about that rocker switch on the back? So far a little better that the old GRII, but still somewhat problematic. We'll see how it plays out in the long run.
The big surprise was the image brightness, I find I have to correct -1/3 to -2/3 EV, and protect the highs a little more. Not a biggie really, just surprising.
Then there is the way managing the U1/U2/U3 settings has changed. Settings can be stored in U1-U3 directly, but there are 6 "BOXES" that can store settings as well, then recalled and loaded into U1-U3. Similar to Fuji cameras. It resonates with me, and I find it will play nicely with how I envision setting up the camera. The GRIII had this ability but setting up the "BOXES" was a little more obtuse, at least it was for me.
The 53Gb of internal memory is also a nice to have (I, like others I'm sure, have left home with out a memory card). And having "lost" the Micro SDCard for 24hours, the internal memory proved its wealth.
Finally the two new color settings, cine-yellow & cine-green are kinda fun. I used the cine-yellow for a post elsewhere in this forum, and will probably use it more. Its reminiscent to me of Fuji's Classic Chrome.
524f44 wrote:
Time to eat a little crow. TL;DR I bought a GR IV, and am liking it, pretty much.
The longer narrative. I kept my GRIII for a while, but sold it in anticipation of the GRIV Monochrome. We all know that story $2200, gulp, to rich for me. Eventually I regretting selling the GRIII, and the Monochrome output of the GRIII was pleasing to me, so I caved in and bought a brand new GR IV. (A care givers respite treat for me).
So what about that rocker switch on the back? So far a little better that the old GRII, but still somewhat problematic. We'll see how it plays out in the long run.
The big surprise was the image brightness, I find I have to correct -1/3 to -2/3 EV, and protect the highs a little more. Not a biggie really, just surprising.
Then there is the way managing the U1/U2/U3 settings has changed. Settings can be stored in U1-U3 directly, but there are 6 "BOXES" that can store settings as well, then recalled and loaded into U1-U3. Similar to Fuji cameras. It resonates with me, and I find it will play nicely with how I envision setting up the camera. The GRIII had this ability but setting up the "BOXES" was a little more obtuse, at least it was for me.
The 53Gb of internal memory is also a nice to have (I, like others I'm sure, have left home with out a memory card). And having "lost" the Micro SDCard for 24hours, the internal memory proved its wealth.
Finally the two new color settings, cine-yellow & cine-green are kinda fun. I used the cine-yellow for a post elsewhere in this forum, and will probably use it more. Its reminiscent to me of Fuji's Classic Chrome.
A tiny bit maybe, I should have waited to sell the GRIII until the Mono version and its price were announced. Had I done that I may still have the GRIII.
Really worth the price difference selling your used GR III for the IV?
Well in my mind part of that price rise is due to tariffs, we all have to decide for ourself how we reconcile with that. Another part is pricing to what the market will bear. And compact cameras are a hot commodity these days. From a technical perspective, probably not worth it. But when you factor in others considerations, tariffs, [GRIII] sellers remorse, care givers respite treat...it was worth it to me.
I learned a lesson this time around. The next time I'm thinking about selling a camera, for what ever reason, I won't. Instead I'll pack it away for a few months, and revisit the situation down the road.
524f44 wrote:
A tiny bit maybe, I should have waited to sell the GRIII until the Mono version and its price were announced. Had I done that I may still have the GRIII.
Well in my mind part of that price rise is due to tariffs, we all have to decide for ourself how we reconcile with that. Another part is pricing to what the market will bear. And compact cameras are a hot commodity these days. From a technical perspective, probably not worth it. But when you factor in others considerations, tariffs, [GRIII] sellers remorse, care givers respite treat...it was worth it to me.
I learned a lesson this time around. The next time I'm thinking about selling a camera, for what ever reason, I won't. Instead I'll pack it away for a few months, and revisit the situation down the road.
tzhang4284 wrote:
Does anyone have any experience with the weather sealing on the GRIII or GRIV? Has anyone ran into actual issues where the camera stopped working etc? Specifically from usage in snow or rain? I'm looking for a small camera to bring while skiing - take some landscape shots, family shots etc... Will mostly be in my pocket in a padded camera pouch but I'll plan on using it every now and then.
I had a Fuji X100VI before for this but I sold the camera since I do not like the way it renders and it's still a tad big. I love using my Leica M camera over the X100VI but do not trust myself enough to bring it on the slopes in case I wipe out. If the GRIV is that fragile, I'll probably pick up another X100VI but would appreciate any insights into this topic....Show more →
I think the GRIV would be fine on the slopes, my cat dropped it off my desk and it was fine. In your padded pocket falling on snow should be fine. I wouldn't take it into the rain though, there are a lot of ingress points.
Just got my GR IV Mono last week and would agree, i definitely would not want to take it out in the rain after seeing how the lens barrel extends and all the gaps around it water could get in.
JJkawa1 wrote:
I think the GRIV would be fine on the slopes, my cat dropped it off my desk and it was fine. In your padded pocket falling on snow should be fine. I wouldn't take it into the rain though, there are a lot of ingress points.
Thanks, I ended up pulling the trigger on a HDF version and took it on the slopes in a small camera pouch. Overall worked fine and didn't have any issues and it was fairly easy to minimize exposure. The JJC petal hood was also helpful to provide some coverage.
Some pictures in case anyone is curious (these are low res so it can fit the upload file size). Also, the HDF effect is a bit overpowering but I found the ND filter to not be particularly useful to me.
RICOH GR IV HDFGR IV LENS 18.3mm F2.8 lens18mmf/5.61/640s100 ISO0.0 EV
RICOH GR IV HDFGR IV LENS 18.3mm F2.8 lens18mmf/2.81/125s6400 ISO0.0 EV
RICOH GR IV HDFGR IV LENS 18.3mm F2.8 lens18mmf/5.61/1000s100 ISO0.0 EV
