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News New Ricoh GRIV / Ricoh GR4

My Ricoh GR IV arrived this evening. I have to charge the battery first. It was empty. Really empty. Red. :eek:

Kind of risky to deliver an empty battery with the camera. Normally batteries are at least 50% full to avoid any damage of the battery.

My firmware version is 1.02. I checked the website, there seems to be no newer FW available.
 
1.1.02
2. Sorry, don’t know. I started charging right away
3. No, I didn't pay much attention. I didn't notice anything, but I've only used it twice.
 
ok, here are my first impressions. I had no time yet to use the GR4 outside. It is difficult to shoot photos during daylight if it is so early dark outside end of October.

There is a thread at reddit in which some users complain about:

  • Frozen camera
  • Lens won't retract,
  • Difficulties to connect with the GR world app
  • Image stabilization problems
  • Rear screen freezing
  • Lens getting stuck when turning off, only goes half way.
  • Image processing error a few times.
  • Strange colours on rear screen
  • Uneven aperture blades
  • Cover for USB port easier to open than with GR3
  • Stiff top dial (program mode) dial
  • Mist filter effect on some bright highlights
  • ...

I checked all these points (except "mist filter effect") with my GR4. I can not confirm any of the above mentioned "problems", except the stiffer mode dial. I am always very cautious with postings at reddit. Very often you find there unexperienced users who complain before reading the manual or just do not have enough basic "photographic understanding". Most of them are new to the Ricoh GR line.

There might be some problems with some cameras (like the "freezing"), but that does not mean that it happens with all GR4 cameras.

The cover of the USB port is not as hard to open like with the GR3. I did not find at the beginning the USB port of the GR3, because it was so hard to open it. But you can not say that it is too loose with the GR4. Always take the comments on the internet with a grain of salt.

My only concern is the mist filter effect reported by Samuel in his videos. But I need daylight and a lot of sun to test this.

The GR4 feels "snappier" to use. I am sure if you measure it and compare it to the GR3, it is not a huge difference (on/off, AF etc.), but in real life you feel it. Whether the difference is big enough for you, you have to decide yourself. Officially the lens on the GR4 seems to be sharper in the edges. How much sharper I do not know. I do not shoot test charts. But Samuel confirmed this in his videos and we can trust him.

What I like a lot is the internal storage! Micro SD cards is no problem for me. I am used to this with my DJI action cams and older smartphones. I put a Sandisk 256GB Extreme Pro V30 U3 A2 in it. All works well.
 
Thanks a lot, looking further to read more of this, when you spent more time with the new camera.

I am sure I will get one and just have to decise when I will pull the trigger. For now I will continue to wait for a while.
 
The only one I recognize so far is “Lens getting stuck when turning off, only goes half way”.

And I,ve lost my ring cap (GN-3)
 
The build quality is in my view the same as the GR3, although made in China and not anymore in Vietnam.

I am sure after Trumps tariffs on products made in China, Ricoh is not happy about this decision.

There is another difference I realized. If you turn on the GR4 and do not touch anything, you can hear a noise. Louder than with the GR3.

I do not know how to describe it. It is not loud at all. You have to have the camera almost at your ears to hear it. The room has to be absolutely silent. It is a constant noise. Like a wheel which turns slowly.

My guess is, that this is the IBIS. My bigger cameras have a similar noise. Since the GR4 has 5 axis and the GR3 only 3 axis stabilization, this could be louder. I am not worried about it.
 
Last edited:
Genster said:
The only one I recognize so far is “Lens getting stuck when turning off, only goes half way”.

And I,ve lost my ring cap (GN-3)
Click to expand...
Isn't there a tiny screw on the ring anymore?
It is meant for the tightening of the ring, so it's not easily lost or is stiffer to remove when changing adapters or even screw it fully in and lock it, not everyone knows of this "feature".
 
dirk said:
The build quality is in my view the same as the GR3, although made in China and not anymore in Vietnam.

I am sure after Trumps tariffs on products made in China, Ricoh is not happy about this decision.

There is another difference I realized. If you turn on the GR4 and do not touch anything, you can hear a noise. Louder than with the GR3.

I do not know how to describe it. It is not loud at all. You have to have the camera almost at your ears to hear it. The room has to be absolutely silent. It is a constant noise. Like a wheel which turns slowly.

My guess is, that this is the IBIS. My bigger cameras have a similar noise. Since the GR4 has 5 axis and the GR3 only 3 axis stabilization, this could be louder. I am not worried about it.
Click to expand...
The III also has a sound, like a gyro etc. I recall that the IIIx i had was a bit louder, but there might be a latitude in the manufacturing tolerances that makes a differance?
 
JAGR said:
Isn't there a tiny screw on the ring anymore?
Click to expand...

Wow, I did not know this and I use a Ricoh GR since more than 12 years!

You are correct. There is a tiny screw. I will try to tighten it when I am back at home.

PXL_20251022_052223371~2.jpg
  • Google - Pixel 8 Pro
  • Pixel 8 Pro back camera 2.23mm f/1.95
  • 2.2 mm
  • ƒ/1.95
  • 1/24 sec
  • Center-Weighted Average
  • Auto exposure
  • ISO 117
 
dirk said:
Wow, I did not know this and I use a Ricoh GR since more than 12 years!

You are correct. There is a tiny screw. I will try to tighten it when I am back at home.

View attachment 19654
Click to expand...
It is quite stiff to screw (by purpose), so just a gentle move, try it out along so to fit your taste. Also don't brake the ring by forcing it as they seem to be plastic.
 
JAGR said:
Isn't there a tiny screw on the ring anymore?
It is meant for the tightening of the ring, so it's not easily lost or is stiffer to remove when changing adapters or even screw it fully in and lock it, not everyone knows of this "feature".
Click to expand...
I never knew this. I'll check it out. Thanks!
 
3 extra batteries? How much do you want to shoot per day?

How is the charger? I would be interested in the double charger. I am not a fan of charging batteries within a camera.

I have a multipurpose charger from Ansmann for all kind of batteries. That one works well. But when I travel it is very convenient to use only one power plugin to charge 2 batteries at the same time over night or while sitting in a cafe.
 
I ordered and paid for two extra batteries when I bought the camera, but they weren't available for an unknown period (yet). Later, I found a store (in Germany) that had them in stock, and I ordered one from there. The other two were delivered yesterday.

I haven't unpacked the charger yet.
 
If someone is interested, i got an email about an blogpost, about "gr recipes" between III/IIIx vs IV.

ricohrecipes.com

My Ricoh GR IV Arrived + First Recipe Test

My Ricoh GR IV, which I preordered right after the announcement, finally arrived. So far, so good. I had a little trouble with the new Ricoh World app, but it’s all working fine now. I haven&…
ricohrecipes.com ricohrecipes.com
 
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