Hello, everyone. I’m Okubo, the product planner for the RICOH GR IV Monochrome. Today, I’d like to talk about this special camera once again.
It was officially announced on January 15, 2026. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to receive feedback about the camera from visitors to GR SPACE TOKYO and participants in GR meet events.
I received many positive and encouraging comments, such as, “It's amazing you made it to release,” “The feel is excellent,” and “The red filter is great, too.” Thank you! Knowing that those who pick up this camera are pleased brings me the greatest joy.
I personally love black and white photography and shoot it daily. When planning the GR IV Monochrome, my first thought was: “Why do we take black and white photos?”
After much contemplation, I came to this conclusion:
“Black and white photography is a medium capable of rich, diverse, and profound expression.”
To articulate this appeal, we developed the concept, “The GR that is capable of diverse expression through deepening its monochrome capabilities.”
We have succeeded in packing a wide range of monochrome expression into this compact GR. For more details on the concept and features, please refer to this link.
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Taiwan on business and took some photos of the city.
Taipei is a modern city, but when you turn off the main streets and enter the alleys, you’ll see old buildings that reveal a different side of the city. Also, when you take a morning walk, you'll find street stalls surrounded by crowds, and roads filled with motorcycles carrying two or three people speeding by. It’s such a lively city. I enjoyed taking snapshots of this city and its many different expressions.
I finished editing these photos using the GR IV Monochrome-exclusive Image Control “Solid.” The loss of color allows form and texture to stand out.
The motorcycle, an everyday mode of transportation, sits like an anonymous sculpture.
Two figures dart through the night city. This shot was taken from inside a taxi using the exclusive “Grainy” Image Control setting on the GR IV Monochrome. The blur and grain overlap, lending the subjects an air of anonymity. Alongside the evocative headlights, a small narrative unfolds within the photograph.
You might think a camera deprived of color has limited expressiveness. However, removing color opens the door to a whole new world.
As mentioned during the announcement, three photographers created works for the GR IV Monochrome. Each photographer has a distinct style and captures a unique perspective, so take a look.
Link: https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/gr-4-mono/gallery/
Monochrome photography has a long history. Even in today’s world of color photography and digital technology, some people still choose to shoot exclusively in black and white. This is because monochrome photography encompasses a broad and profound world.
The GR IV Monochrome is a camera that has been designed to let you sail into this vast ocean of monochrome. We hope it becomes the catalyst for your journey.
Information: Multilingual Support Service for RICOH GR IV Monochrome
Please note that the languages available on the GR IV Monochrome menu vary depending on the country or region of purchase.
For more information, please contact your local dealer.
（Okubo）
