The boom of compact cameras is the most exciting change in the already saturated photography market. It now appears that this trend is gradually gaining more momentum, with Ricoh reportedly working on a new series of compact cameras — such as the Ricoh GRIV. The rumor says the launch may take place early next year, but of course, there is no way of knowing it. What is interesting is that, following the popularity of Pentax 17, it seems that the company is ready to give innovation another try. Here’s what the whole new deal is about.
Ricoh to Launch New GR Series Cameras: Ricoh GR IV Incoming
According to Mirrorless Rumors, Ricoh is likely to launch the Ricoh GRIV, the successor to the GR III launched in 2018, next year. While sources haven’t confirmed the specification so early on, they did mention it will feature a new sensor and some tweaks of the ergonomics. The GR III featured a 24MP sensor but had its own quirks. While the colors of the JPEGs were the best, there were issues with the autofocus, grainy images at higher ISO, and no weather sealing. Sure, we enjoyed the almost perfect camera for street photography, but it was still too niche to be used by people in other genres.
Ricoh’s GR lineup has been loved by many, but in recent years, the sales of GR III have been fantastic. If the company hopes to launch a successor, it must compete with Leica and Fujifilm. As a result, the camera has to perhaps get a full-frame sensor and other features that were skipped before.
With the Pentax 17, they really did a magical number, and if that became so popular, imagine the new heights the GR IV can reach with the right ingredients.
There Could Also be a New Variant Like Leica’s
Leica has a great strategy that works for many. The company launches a new camera in its M or Q lineup, and after every two or three years, the same camera has a monochrome version. It seems that learning from Leica’s success, Ricoh is also keen on working on a new Ricoh GRIV with a monochrome sensor. While this is a very niche segment, I can imagine the amount of people who will opt for it. From street to portrait, and even travel photographers would simply love to get one. This could really help people to move out of their usual comfort zone and enjoy black-and-white photography without any hindrance. Who wouldn’t like a camera that gives you a chance to test your skills? I, for one, will certainly be up for that.
If Ricoh is Successful, Others Will Follow Suit
This is often the case. If Ricoh proves that compact cameras, especially full-frame ones, have higher demand, other companies will gradually shift their gaze to this segment. While Sony, Nikon, and Canon produced some good compact cameras over the years, they also ended with the boom of professional cameras. Mirrorless Rumor notes that Canon is also planning to launch a fixed-lens camera, but we doubt that this is the case. Canon is fighting to gain more market shares in the mirrorless segment, and they believe that EOS R1 and R5 Mk II will be able to achieve just that. Sony and Nikon, too, are not exactly focused on smaller cameras. So this gives Ricoh the best chance to get to the center stage.
Overall, Ricoh is doing exactly what we want Sony, Nikon, and Canon to do: innovate. The company may have finally found a solution to remain relevant in a congested market.