I've been committed to GRs for a long time, almost exclusively shooting BW with them. So I was initially very interested in the monochrome edition.
Lately I've been looking at a lot of online galleries of GR IV Monochrome pics, and I'm just not seeing a significant improvement in rendering. It's apparent to me in the Leica fullframe monochroms, which I have owned, but I am not seeing it from the Ricoh. So as much as I like the concept, I'm sticking with my III versions for now.
I had the Leica Q2M and now the Q3M and from my memories of shooting film with a red filter I think the effect seems to be less pronounced when trying to darken a sky with a digital sensor. Difficult to do a direct comparison as I no longer shoot film (my Olympus OM4 ti has had a roll sitting in it for the lat six years or so!!) To really darken a sky on the Leica I have to combine either a red or orange filter with a polariser
From yesterday Q3M with red and polariser filters Wimbledon Common by David Viramati Sampson, on Flickr
Viramati wrote:
I had the Leica Q2M and now the Q3M and from my memories of shooting film with a red filter I think the effect seems to be less pronounced when trying to darken a sky with a digital sensor. Difficult to do a direct comparison as I no longer shoot film (my Olympus OM4 ti has had a roll sitting in it for the lat six years or so!!) To really darken a sky on the Leica I have to combine either a red or orange filter with a polariser
From yesterday Q3M with red and polariser filters https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55066311788_6fea860219_b.jpg Wimbledon Common by David Viramati Sampson, on Flickr
I often thought: for the black and white devote, polarising filters with e.g. orange glass would be ideal; rather than stacking two filters. The market size must be too small :-(
FrozenInTime wrote:
I often thought: for the black and white devote, polarising filters with e.g. orange glass would be ideal; rather than stacking two filters. The market size must be too small :-(
FrozenInTime wrote:
I often thought: for the black and white devote, polarising filters with e.g. orange glass would be ideal; rather than stacking two filters. The market size must be too small :-(
Probably introduce potential of a lot of issues particularly surrounding flare with light having to go through two additional pieces of glass
rsolti13 wrote:
Probably introduce potential of a lot of issues particularly surrounding flare with light having to go through two additional pieces of glass
That is the issue with stacking screw on filters. In a normal polarising filter, the polarising foil is sandwiched between two clear glass plates; my suggestion is to replace at least one of those with a bulk dyed glass.
Viramati wrote:
I had the Leica Q2M and now the Q3M and from my memories of shooting film with a red filter I think the effect seems to be less pronounced when trying to darken a sky with a digital sensor. Difficult to do a direct comparison as I no longer shoot film (my Olympus OM4 ti has had a roll sitting in it for the lat six years or so!!) To really darken a sky on the Leica I have to combine either a red or orange filter with a polariser
From yesterday Q3M with red and polariser filters https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55066311788_6fea860219_b.jpg Wimbledon Common by David Viramati Sampson, on Flickr
The photo illustrates the differential effects of filters on monochrome sensors--I did not know about this. It helps explain the rationale Ricoh used in adding a red filter rather than orange or yellow. Also, great photo!
So we went from $899.95 for the GR III in 2019 to $1,499.95 for the GR IV in 2025 to $2,199.95 for the GR IV Monochrome in 2026... impressive...
I also sincerely hope that Ricoh is not releasing this model too early. I bought the GR IV in December and it has the lens error issue, i.e. the lens does not retract back into the body when switching the camera off, I will need to send it back. Samuel Streetlife in a recent video (starting at 48:00) kind of downplayed this and other GR IV issues that are summarized in a Reddit thread but to me it seemed that releasing another model already might be a bit premature at this point in time.
Viramati wrote:
I had the Leica Q2M and now the Q3M and from my memories of shooting film with a red filter I think the effect seems to be less pronounced when trying to darken a sky with a digital sensor.
I had the Q2M for about a year, and a M246 before that, and noticed the same. It took a stronger filter for the same effect as film. I also noticed that the red filter softened skin way more than on film, almost to the point of looking fake, but maybe that was the specific filter I used. I ended up buying an orange filter and used it much of the time for general shooting as my preference on film is yellow, and I felt yellow did almost nothing on the digital sensor. On the other hand, a guy was pretty amazed when I turned his bright red 1962 Corvette almost white with the red filter.
I did preorder the GRIV Mono to see what I think of it. Yes, the price is way too high but still less expensive than the Leica alternative (although I'm not saying they will be in the same league).
DougVaughn wrote:
I had the Q2M for about a year, and a M246 before that, and noticed the same. It took a stronger filter for the same effect as film. I also noticed that the red filter softened skin way more than on film, almost to the point of looking fake, but maybe that was the specific filter I used. I ended up buying an orange filter and used it much of the time for general shooting as my preference on film is yellow, and I felt yellow did almost nothing on the digital sensor. On the other hand, a guy was pretty amazed when I turned his bright red 1962 Corvette almost white with the red filter.
I did preorder the GRIV Mono to see what I think of it. Yes, the price is way too high but still less expensive than the Leica alternative (although I'm not saying they will be in the same league). ...Show more →
I hardly ever use the red filter and a yellow lives on my QM and will use the orange at times. I also agree about it's effect on skin tones and where as back in film days I would sometimes use red to smooth skin I don't like the effect with a digital sensor I can only presume that as different B&W film stocks would react to colours in different ways depending on spectral sensitivity so are the monochrome sensors. Maybe this explains why a red filter is having less of an effect in darkening blues
SlowDriver wrote:
So we went from $899.95 for the GR III in 2019 to $1,499.95 for the GR IV in 2025 to $2,199.95 for the GR IV Monochrome in 2026... impressive...
I also sincerely hope that Ricoh is not releasing this model too early. I bought the GR IV in December and it has the lens error issue, i.e. the lens does not retract back into the body when switching the camera off, I will need to send it back. Samuel Streetlife in a recent video (starting at 48:00) kind of downplayed this and other GR IV issues that are summarized in a Reddit thread but to me it seemed that releasing another model already might be a bit premature at this point in time. ...Show more →
You'd have to be a rube to throw over 2 bands on a unit with such egregious known issues.
I did a pre-order to ensure my place in line, so now I need to decide quickly whether to stick with it. Ricoh's store says they will ship on Tuesday (10th), and I assume the other retailers won't be far behind.
I emailed B&H about availability again and they told me this morning they are expecting a very large shipment of GR Monochromes in the next day or two. Expected to ship to pre-order customers asap.
I just took a look at my B&H order, and it now says "Expected delivery February 18th." I suspect that's delivery to their warehouse rather than my door, but not sure which. Either way, it looks like a few of us may have them by the end of the week.
Tarekith wrote:
I emailed B&H about availability again and they told me this morning they are expecting a very large shipment of GR Monochromes in the next day or two. Expected to ship to pre-order customers asap.
Jackiemo wrote:
I wanted to buy this until I checked the price...
I both excited and terrified over the possibility of a 40mm GR IVx monochrome being released next; which will undoubtably carry a further price premium :-(
I did just buy from stock the basic 28mm color GR IV for casual grab shots, but for the more serious B&W photography the preference would be closer to 50mm.
