Upgrade Guide
Ricoh GR III→Ricoh Ricoh GR IV Monochrome
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the GR III. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome
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StabilisationImproved — 6-stop IBIS (Shake Reduction)
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Battery life250 shots (CIPA) vs 200 shots (CIPA)
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Generation8 years newer (2026 vs 2018)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (26MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | GR III | Ricoh GR IV Monochrome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.3 | ||
| Street | +0.4 | ||
| Travel | -2.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.2 | ||
| Documentary | +0.9 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Casual | -2.4 | ||
| Food | -1.6 | ||
| Macro | +0.7 | ||
| Architecture | +0.6 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.3 | ||
| Fun & simple | -0.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | GR III | Ricoh GR IV Monochrome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £1,699 | |
| Released | 2018 | 2026 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (monochrome, no colour filter) | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 26MP | ↑ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid contrast/phase-detect AF with subject detection | Hybrid phase/contrast-detect AF | |
| Stabilisation | 4-stop IBIS (Shake Reduction) | 6-stop IBIS (Shake Reduction) | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 4fps | |
| Battery Life | 200 shots (CIPA) | 250 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 227g (body only) | 262g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | None (optional external finder accessory) | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen | |
| Mount | Fixed 28mm-equiv f/2.8 lens | Fixed 18.3mm f/2.8 lens (28mm equivalent) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single microSD (UHS-I) + 53GB internal |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See GR III and Ricoh GR IV Monochrome next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome against your specific genres — not just specs.
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