Ricoh just announced the GR IV. I know this is a Fujifilm blog, but a number of you have a Ricoh GR camera, and some even use my Ricoh Recipes, so this is related to a degree. The GR IV is very, very similar to the GR III, and yet completely revamped—new sensor, new processor, new AF, new lens, new IBIS, new body construction. It also comes with a new price tag: $1,500. I’m not sure if it’s enough of an update to be worth the upgrade from a GR III (especially at that price), but I have zero doubts that this will be a highly successful camera. It’s going to fly off the shelves. I preordered one, and will find out if the GR III/IIIx Recipes are compatible once it arrives in the mail.
I think this is a good reminder to Fujifilm that they should release a long-overdue successor to the X70. That was Fujifilm’s closest competitor to the GR (at the time, the GR II). I would love a more pocketable X-series camera ideal for street and travel photography. The Fujifilm X half is fun, and to an extent it can fill that void, but only to a small extent. I hope that Fujifilm does someday release a proper followup to the X70. Mark my words: it will be massively successful, one of their biggest hits.
Preorder the Ricoh GR IV at B&H
Sounds exciting. But I am following Reggie’s lead and pairing the X-E5 with the Voigtlander 18mm Color Skopar f/2.f8 (Manual focus) lens. It’s smooth and silky and small. Can’t wait to test it out.
I love the X-E5 (not that I have one yet…), and with that Voigtlander (or the Fujinon pancakes) it is quite portable. It’s still notably larger than the Ricoh GR IV. I think the appeal of GR (and the Fujfilm X70) is just how pocketable they are. I typically have my GR III when I don’t want to carry a camera, I just slip it in my pocket where it’s not in the way. The X-E5, while larger and heavier, is still quite compact for travel, but it’s not really pocketable (unless you have large pockets, like a sweater maybe).
I welcome this Ricoh GR IV completely revemped.
Always nice to have a new member in the family.
But yeah the prices are just keeping raising for all brands 😓
At Fujikina Brussels in May, I’ve voice ‘loudly’ to Shin & Kunio that Fujifilm is more than long overdue for a X80 or a XF20 (this time with a X-Trans sensor) as the XF10 was supposed to go against the GR…
The XF10 on second hand market is selling now more or even at the double of its retail price. Not even talking about the X70 !
But I said to them both also to get firmware updates for having the Instax Link BT printers compatibilty. Instead, via the European RED Directive, Fujifilm just removed the Inxtax SP Wi-Fi Printers compatibilty to latest models altogether with no replacement! A first !
So I wonder now…
We get the X-Half which is selling very well but the target audience is not the same as well what is inside the thing.
We are still waiting and keeping asking for a true successor…
Now Fujifilm CEO said that several new products are in the pipeline. I sincerely hope that the X80 or XF20 or something even better but as pocketable as the GR is one of those new products 🤞
I wonder what those new products are? It’s likely not all cameras, but on the camera front: X-T30 III, GFX Eterna, and probably X-Pro4/5. It would be interesting to know what else, I’m sure there must be another couple models in the pipeline.
Indeed for the list 👌 Having seen at the Fujikina the GFX Eterna: it is a beast 💪
Well the models in the pipeline, I’m sure there will also Instax ones.
Let’s enjoy the coming rumors like sipping a cocktail on the beach 😎
I have the utmost respect for Ricoh and their GR line of cameras, but I have to say this is probably the least exciting update I’ve ever heard of in ANY camera system. 😐
I’m sure all the little improvements add up to an overall improved user experience, but the user experience was already excellent on the III! With exception to the battery, they changed all the things that didn’t really need an upgrade, while the big thing everyone wished for – weather sealing – is still just a pipe dream.
The worst part is the price hike in the new model… for the life of me, I cannot imagine why someone would get the IV instead of the III given the price difference and the tiny upgrades.
I can only agree on your comment 👍
The price requested for the GRIV vs III is indeed quite hard to swallow in light of the updates given. More than nice to have thought.
Nothing like compared to the X-E5 vs X-E4 which ‘can’ be justified as it’s a major update + going to premium + brand new functionalities.
Even if, like the X-T50, the price raise is also steep which make the X-E5 at the same price as the X100VI.
We pay for premium.
A general trend like going to subscriptions model every where…
So, I sincerely hope that the X-30III / X-T40 will keep the price below 1000€ (in kit if possible)!
But looking at the current price of the X-Half, I wonder 🤔
My guess is that the X-T30 III will be higher. Just from inflation alone, I expect $1,050 for the body. In America, it could easily be $1,400 due to the tariffs.
Swapping the regular SD for a micro SD also feels kinda weird. Not really a huge downside, but like… I think almost all users would prefer regular SD, all things considered.
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I think it’s a fair point that a new GRiv doesn’t really offer much… except for likely availability. GRiii isn’t always in stock, and probably won’t be for long. It happens a lot with, say, cars, that a new model year isn’t a meaningful upgrade. But they eventually run out of the old model year. I don’t fault Ricoh for some amount of churn.
I think that’s the advantage–it’ll be the only one you can get new.
As to the price… between inflation and asinine tariffs, the price is what it is. Not fun, but that’s just how it goes. Fuji increased prices twice, Nikon is about to increase theirs a second time. If Ricoh wasn’t releasing a new model, the price hike would probably be on the old model.
So it goes. Because one madman wants to hike taxes in a way that people can pretend isn’t hiking taxes.
I’m not a big fan of Micro SD, it should have a regular SD Card slot. I’m hoping, with the new app, transferring photos will be simple, and the Micro SD can just sit in the camera. Taking it in and out all of the time would be a real bummer.
It’s funny… I’ve never seen something so completely revamped yet so little changed. It’s odd. I’m hoping that a lot of little things add up.
I disagree. I had the GR III for a year and sold it. While it took excellent, moody photos, its autofocus was unusably bad in less than great lightning. If the GR IV has usable autofocus in indoors dim lightning, I may consider getting one.
From the reports I have seen, the AF has indeed improved, but is still not especially “great”; however, I’m not sure about low-light situations specifically. The AF was never a big hinderance for me personally on the GR III (definitely better than my first handful of digital cameras), so I’m not sure how the AF improvements will effect me (maybe more gee-whiz than anything else). But hopefully for those who didn’t find the AF sufficient on previous models, the GR IV will be good enough; however, I have no idea.