GR IV Monochrome shares the same Lens with the original GR IV
Ricoh has officially announced the GR IV Monochrome, a camera many street photographers have been anticipating for years. While the camera brings incredible technical specs to the table, it also carries a price tag that is causing quite a stir in the photography community.
Pure Black and White Power
The heart of this new release is a dedicated 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS sensor. Unlike standard cameras, this sensor lacks a color filter array. This means it only records luminance data, resulting in much sharper images, better tonal gradations, and a massive ISO range of 160 to 409,600.
Ricoh GR IV Monochrome Key Specs
- Announcement Date: 2026-01-14
- 26MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
- No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
- ISO 160 - 409600
- 28 mm (18mm FF equiv.) f2.80 Prime Lens
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization( Up to 6.0-stops)
- 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
- 4.0fps continuous shooting
- Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
- Built-in Wireless
- 262g. 109 x 61 x 33 mm
- Read the Review
- Check Price at: Amazon, B&H Photo
One of the most interesting additions is the built-in red contrast filter. In the standard GR IV, this space is occupied by a neutral density filter. By switching to a red filter, Ricoh allows photographers to darken blue skies and add dramatic contrast to their shots directly in the camera. Combined with 5-axis Shake Reduction and 53GB of internal memory, it is a powerhouse for those who live and breathe black and white photography.
GR IV Monochrome is nearly indistinguishable from the top view
The Elephant in the Room: The Price Hike
Despite the impressive internal upgrades, the cost of entry is significantly higher than many expected. The Ricoh GR IV Monochrome is launching at $2,199.95. This represents a $700 premium over the standard color GR IV.
For many long-time fans of the GR series, this price increase is difficult to justify. While removing the color filter array does require specialized manufacturing and sensor calibration, a 46 percent markup feels steep for a camera that shares almost the same body and lens as the base model. It is a hard pill to swallow, especially since the GR series has traditionally been known for balancing high performance with relatively accessible pricing.
Exploring the Monochrome Market
Ricoh is not the first company to ask for a premium on a color-blind sensor. In the current market, the most notable competitor is the Leica Q3 Monochrom. However, that camera sits in a completely different tier with a price tag near $7,800.
Closer to home, Ricoh’s own Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome arrived with a much more modest premium of around $200 at its launch. Seeing the jump from a $200 premium on a DSLR to a $700 premium on a compact camera suggests that Ricoh is positioning the GR series more as a luxury niche product than ever before.
Pentax K-3 III Mono vs Leica Q3 Monochrom vs Ricoh GR IV Monochrome Front View Size Comparison
For those who want the absolute best sharpness and a dedicated monochrome workflow in their pocket, the GR IV Monochrome is currently the only game in town. Whether that experience is worth the extra $700 is a question that every photographer will have to answer for themselves.
Also read: Best Monochrome Cameras in 2025
Price and Availability
The Ricoh GR IV Monochrome is priced at $2,199.95. Pre-orders are currently open at major retailers like B&H Photo, and the camera is expected to begin shipping in mid-February 2026.
Here is a comparison table of these three monochrome cameras mentioned in the post for further evaluation:
| FEATURE and SPECS COMPARISON | |  |  |  |
| Model | Ricoh GR IV Monochrome | Leica Q3 Monochrom | Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome |
| Sensor Resolution | 26.0 MP | 60.0 MP | 26.0 MP |
| Announced Date | 2026-01-14 | 2025-11-20 | 2023-04-12 |
| Camera Type | Large Sensor Compact | Large Sensor Compact | Advanced DSLR |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | BSI-CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
| Sensor Size | APS-C | Full frame | APS-C |
| Sensor Sensitivity | ISO 160 - 409600 | ISO 200 - 200000 | ISO 100 - 1600000 |
| Lens Mount | Fixed lens | Fixed lens | Pentax KAF2 |
| Image Stabil. | Sensor-shift ( up to 6.0 stops) | Optical | Sensor-shift ( up to 5.5 stops) |
| Eye Tracking Focus | | | |
| Weight | 262g | 746g | 820g |
| Dimensions | 109 x 61 x 33mm | 130 x 80 x 93mm | 135 x 104 x 74mm |
| Weather Sealing | | | |
| Animal Eye Tracking | | | |
| Minimum Shutter | 30 sec | 120 sec | 30 sec |
| Maximum Shutter | 1/4000sec | 1/2000sec | 1/8000sec |
| Maximum Shutter Electronic | 1/16000 sec | 1/40000 sec | 1/16000 sec |
| Continuous Drive | 4.0fps | 15.0fps | 12.0fps |
| Max Video Reso | 1920 x 1080 | 8192 x 4320 | 3840 x 2160 |
| Video fps at Max | 60p, 30p, 24p | 30p, 25p, 24p | 30p, 24p |
| Video Formats | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| UHS Support | UHS-I | UHS-II | UHS-II |
| Battery Life | 262 | 350 | 800 |
| Battery Model | DB-120 | BP-SCL6 | D-LI90 |
| Anti Flicker | | | |
| Microphone Port | | | |
| Headphone Port | | | |
| Wifi | | | |
| Weather Sealing | | | |
| Timelapse | | | |
| Screen Type | Fixed | Tilting | Fixed |
| Top LCD | | | |
| LCD Size | 3.00" | 3.00" | 3.20" |
| Screen dots | 1037000 | 1843200 | 1620000 |
| Touch Screen | | | |
| Viewfinder | | | |
| Viewfinder Type | Optical (optional) | Electronic | Optical (pentaprism) |
| High Resolution Mode | | | |
| Anti Alias Filter Simulator | | | |
| Astrotracer | | | |
| Bluetooth | | | |
| Price | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo |
Also check the video review here:
