My first real encounter with the Ricoh GR III came only after I moved to Asia. At first, the reason was entirely pratical: the heat in South East Asia is relentless, scorching and humid, and I had officially decided to stop hauling around a heavy camera with interchangeable lenses like a pack mule. I still carried that kind of gear on assignemnets in remote areas wuth the NGO I work with- where, admittedly, the lenses are essential- but in the city, I needed soemthing small, more discreet, something that could slip into a pants pocket. And as long as I avoid skinny jeans (thankfully), the Ricoh fits perfectly.
On top of that, my best friend is a Ricoh fanatic and his photos are nothing short of extraordinary! It truly felt like Asia itself were whispering, “Go on, join the GR cult too…” Because yes, I soon discovered that there’s a real followingaround this camera- at least here in Asia.
It makes sense. Daido Moriyama, one of the great masters of Japanese photography, has used Ricoh cameras for years. He started with the analog Ricoh to capture his iconic style of street photography. His work with the GR series has played a pivotal role in shaping his visual language, often described by the Japanese expression are, bure, boke– rough, blurred, and out of focus.
But I don’t believe Moriyama’s influence alone explains the GR’s widespread appeal. The cult around Ricoh is actually quite recent: in Thailand, for instance, it only began attracting serious attention about a decade ago. Perhaps it’s the camera’s minimalism: compact, discreet and nearly silent. All qualities that align effortlessly wuth Asian cultural norms, where no one would dream to thrusting a giant DSLR in your face. Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: a growing number of street photographers have come to rely on the GR as a trusted companion.
The history of the Ricoh GR begins in 1996 with the introduction of the analog Ricoh GR1, followed by a digital transition that led to the launch of the first GR Digital in 2005. This was followed by the GR Digital II in 2007, the GR Digital III in 2009, and the GR Digital IV in 2011. Then came the debut of the current GR series with the Ricoh GR in 2013. Shortly after, in 2015, the GR II was released, followed three years later by the GR III in 2018. After the GR IIIx in 2021, photographers began clamoring for a new generation of the Ricoh GR.
Now, Ricoh Imaging has officially announced the development of the Ricoh GR IV, expected to launch this fall.
“The new model inherits the basic GR-series concept, while also incorporating totally new components, including a newly designed lens, a new image sensor, and a new imaging engine, to further upgrade image quality,” says Ricoh Imaging.
“It also features more advanced communication functions and is compatible with a new application designed for smart devices to improve operability and functionality.”
The company promises that the GR IV will be the “ultimate snapshot camera in the history of the GR series, capable of meeting the demands and expectations of every photographer.”
Ricoh Imaging also announced that another GR series model is in development, based on the GR IV, equipped with a Highlight Diffusion Filter (HDF) — an evolution that follows the success of the recent GR III HDF and GR IIIx HDF, both of which have been met with great enthusiasm.
A prototype of the external design of the Ricoh GR IV will be on display at GR SPACE in Tokyo, Beijing, and Shanghai starting Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Silvia Dona’