Ricoh Imaging has officially pulled back the curtain on the RICOH GR IV Monochrome, a specialized version of their latest high-end compact designed specifically for black-and-white purists. Following the successful launch of the standard GR IV this past September, this new variant swaps out the traditional color sensor for a dedicated monochrome unit to deliver superior tonal depth and clarity.

The Purest Monochrome Experience

By removing the Bayer color filter array, the GR IV Monochrome allows the sensor to capture light data directly without the need for color interpolation. This results in incredibly sharp images and a level of tonal gradation that standard color-to-mono conversions simply can't match.

The camera retains the familiar 25.7MP APS-C sensor but optimizes it for high-contrast, low-noise performance, even at its impressive maximum ISO of 409,600.

Key Hardware and Features

• Dedicated Sensor: No AA filter and no color array for maximum detail.

• Built-in Red Filter: A unique hardware addition to the lens unit that can be toggled to darken blue skies and add dramatic contrast to clouds.

• New Image Controls: Includes "Solid" for a high-contrast, punchy look and "Grainy" for a classic film-like aesthetic.

• High-Speed Shutter: Features a new electronic shutter capable of reaching 1/16,000s, allowing for wide-aperture shooting in broad daylight.

• Subtle Aesthetics: To match its purpose, the magnesium alloy body features a matte black finish, a semi-gloss black logo, and a white power-button LED.

Seamless Integration

Beyond the sensor, the Monochrome edition shares the same robust DNA as the standard GR IV. It includes the 5-axis shake reduction system (rated for 6 stops), the signature 28mm-equivalent f/2.8 lens, and 53GB of internal storage.

Owners of the standard GR IV won't be entirely left out of the party; Ricoh has confirmed that a future firmware update will bring the new high-speed electronic shutter functionality to the color models as well.

Pricing and Availability

The RICOH GR IV Monochrome is slated for a mid-February 2026 release. In the US, it will carry a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $2,199.95. While it carries a premium over the base model, it offers a significantly more accessible entry point into dedicated monochrome photography than the competition.

Preorder from B&H Photo for $2,196.99

Press Release

RICOH Launches the RICOH GR IV Monochrome

Premium compact digital camera dedicated to monochrome photography enables unmatched expression through new dedicated image sensor

PARSIPPANY, NJ, January 14, 2026 — Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the launch of the RICOH GR IV Monochrome, a camera specialized for monochrome photography. The camera, based on the RICOH GR IV premium compact digital camera, is newly equipped with a dedicated image sensor to achieve the ultimate in monochrome expression.

The RICOH GR IV Monochrome evolves the essential values of the GR series while newly incorporating a monochrome-dedicated image sensor. The new camera fully draws out the capabilities of the high-performance GR lens by eliminating the color filter used to acquire color information, as well as the interpolation process required to generate color images, thereby delivering refined rendering and rich tonal gradation. The camera’s built-in red filter enables more distinctive monochrome photography, and its newly developed Image Control options – dedicated to monochrome imaging – provide deep and diverse monochrome expressions.

The GR series marks its 30th anniversary this year, tracing back to the film camera RICOH GR1, launched in 1996. Over this long history, the GR series has consistently remained committed to the essential values of a camera – high image quality, quick response and portability – earning support from professionals and advanced amateurs, while continuing to evolve with the times. Following the recent announcement of the RICOH GR IV HDF, which will be available later this month, the addition of the RICOH GR IV Monochrome to the lineup reflects Ricoh’s hope that even more customers will enjoy the depth of photography through a broader range of expressions.

The RICOH GR IV Monochrome is scheduled to be showcased at GR SPACE in Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing and Brisbane beginning on Thursday, January 15, 2026; in each of these locations, visitors can try out the new model firsthand.

| Pricing and Availability |

The RICOH GR IV Monochrome will be available mid-February at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $2,199.95.

| Main features of the new RICOH GR IV Monochrome |

1. Monochrome-dedicated design

With the pursuit of the ultimate monochrome expression, the camera is newly equipped with an anti-aliasing (AA) filterless monochrome-dedicated CMOS image sensor of APS-C-equivalent size, capable of producing high-definition images with approximately 25.74 effective megapixels. Unlike monochrome images produced using a general color image sensor—where each pixel receives light through one of red (R), green (G), or blue (B) color filters, the information is interpolated to generate a color image, and the result is then converted to monochrome—each pixel of the monochrome-dedicated sensor captures the subject’s brightness information. Because it directly takes in the light information entering through the lens without interpolation processing, it enables sharp monochrome rendering with rich tonal gradation and also makes it possible to create works that emphasize grain effects by taking advantage of high-sensitivity performance.

2. Built-in red filter in the lens unit

A red filter that can be turned ON/OFF with a single operation is built into the lens unit. By allowing only red wavelengths of light to pass through, it enables dramatic rendering—for example, by darkening the tones of a blue sky to enhance contrast with white clouds, or by rendering red subjects brighter to make them stand out more clearly.

3. Support for diverse monochrome expressions

The camera features monochrome-dedicated Image Control options to enable a wide range of monochrome expressions. “Solid” uses a hard tonal curve to express a crisp, clean look and renders edges with refined clarity. “Grainy,” characterized by a strong grain effect, delivers a finish reminiscent of silver-halide prints and printed materials by avoiding complete highlight blowout and preventing shadows from being crushed to solid black, while producing grain that is clearly visible even on smart devices.

4. Carefully crafted exterior design

To evoke the primitive, essential world of black-and-white photography by unifying the overall color and texture, the magnesium-alloy body, as well as the shutter release button and ring cap, are finished in matte black. The subdued sheen, deep texture, and softly tactile feel together make the GR’s special nature immediately apparent. In addition, the front GR logo is finished in semi-gloss black, with a luster distinct from that of the body finish. Moreover, the power button illumination has also been changed to white. The monochrome aesthetic is expressed throughout the design.

Other features

Electronic shutter enabling high-speed shooting up to 1/16000 second In addition to the conventional mechanical shutter, the camera is equipped with an electronic shutter that enables shooting at higher shutter speeds. The shutter speed can be increased up to 1/16000 second, which is effective for creative work that takes advantage of the monochrome sensor’s high-sensitivity characteristics in bright conditions, and for situations where it is desirable to shoot with the aperture open even in very bright environments.

Note: This function is scheduled to be added to the GR IV as well via function-expansion firmware (to be released after the launch of the RICOH GR IV Monochrome).

* Except for the presence or absence of the ND filter, other camera specifications are the same as those of the RICOH GR IV.

The new GR IV Monochrome will launch with regional language support in English, Spanish, and French. This offering ensures a strong, localized experience for our core markets.

Specifications