Last Updated on 01/15/2026 by Chris Gampat
Ricoh is one of the few APS-C cameras that remain ideal for street photographers. The company launched the Ricoh GR IV last year, a much-awaited update to the popular GR III. It now appears that the company is finally taking the updates a step further with the launch of a new GR IV Monochrom, a camera that eliminates the color sensor to focus on black and white tonality. Here is a look at what it has to offer.
The new Ricoh GR IV Monochrom is a premium compact camera that features a dedicated 25MP monochrom sensor. By removing the Bayer filter and interpolation process, Ricoh says the camera will deliver sharper details, tonal gradation, and high ISO grain performance, qualities that many black and white photographers like. They have also introduced a new GR Engine 7, which allows the camera “to make full use of the brightness information captured by each pixel.” The launch is special since it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the GR series, marking the birth of the film-based GR1 camera.
- 28mm equivalent f2.8 lens
- 5-axis image stabilisation
- ISO between 160-409,600
- 53BG built-in storage
- Full HD video up to 1080/60p
- 3-inch 1.037M dot LCD
- Electronic shutter support of up to 1/16,000 sec (via firmware)
- Wi-Fi 6
- USD $2,199
Additionally, the company offers a physical red filter that can be switched on demand, allowing photographers to darken skies, increase cloud separation, and enhance subject contrast. Ricoh has also introduced monochromatic-specific profiles, such as Solid and Grainy, both of which help achieve crisp tonal transitions and clarity, as well as film-inspired texture by preserving highlights and shadows.
The camera also features a new design, with the GR IV Monochrome boasting an all-matte black finish that has a “subdued sheen, deep texture, and a soft tactile feel.” The logo, too, has a semi-glossy finish.
In many ways, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrom seems to be here to break Leica’s monopoly in the black and white photography market. Leica already offers the Q3 Monochrom and the M11 Monochrom, both of which are full-frame cameras and cost between $6000 and $10,000. While Leica can only be afforded by a few, Ricoh is trying to change that with the new model, which costs less than $2,500. The camera is pocketable, giving young photographers and even professionals a chance to understand how much a black and white sensor can enhance their images.
Now, whether the camera is able to perform or not depends on our tests, which we will certainly update soon. However, on paper, Ricoh is attempting to do something that other brands, such as Canon, Nikon, and Sony, should have tried ages ago. And for that reason, Ricoh wins this round.