RICOH has announced a new variant of their GR IV compact camera: the GR IV Monochrome. It keeps the same compact design and image quality of the original GR IV, but the sensor is now dedicated to black-and-white photography.
The color filter has been removed from the sensor, which helps the camera deliver richer tonal gradation. One of the most notable features is the built-in red filter, which replaces the traditional ND filter and provides more contrasty, dramatic B&W effects straight out of the camera.
The Monochrome version also gets a faster electronic shutter, capable of speeds up to 1/16,000 of a second. This allows shooting at larger apertures even in bright light. RICOH has said this high-speed shutter will also come to the standard GR IV through a firmware update.
The body is finished in matte black with the engraved GR logo in semi-gloss black, keeping the monochrome look consistent, including the shutter and power buttons.
It’s an interesting addition for anyone who enjoys compact cameras and black-and-white photography, particularly for street and everyday shooting.
johnvanr wrote:
That price is crazy. Wonder what non-US prices will be.
It's even more insane when you consider how many QC problems folks have been having with the GR IV. These are NOT robust cameras and you need to handle them with some care.
My personal hack to US pricing is to wait until I have business travel to a geo where the $USD has an advantage and claim the tax back. An RX1Rmk3 is ~$4500 if you take my strategy in Australia, for example.
No way.. I was a die-hard "I'm ordering the moment it's announced!" person.. but that price is insane. My plan was to evaluate it against the Q3M and see if it was good enough to replace the Q3M for my needs..
Yeah, the price is bonkers. You could justify a $100-$200 premium over the standard GR IV, but this is insane. The plain jane GR IV does monochrome just fine...
I like the samples from that first look video. Grainy mode should have been called Moriyama mode. I already have an M10M, but if I didn't have one I would consider this model. Then again, if I didn't own an M10M, I would think a monochrome only camera was crazy. You have to shoot one to know. Another interesting feature of the new Ricoh is the electronic shutter that goes to 1/16,000 sec.
The price is very high, but so is a dedicated monochrome Leica body. It will be a niche, low production camera that will probably sell out.
I was expecting $1,700 to $1,800. I went ahead and placed a pre-order so I can take the time to think about it, but that price is very high.
I do like the idea of a built in red filter. I've shot with an M9M, M246, and Q2M, with the best files coming out of the Q2M. I wish I could justify tying up the dollars in Leica as the results are beautiful. I also tried the Pentax K3 Monochrome but didn't want a whole separate kit of lenses. I sure wish Ricoh had made the X a monochrome with the 40mm lens.
