JVC
GY-HC500U
Connected Cam 1-inch camcorder with 20x zoom, 4K60p ProRes 422 10-bit, HLG/J-Log1, 3G-SDI, weather sealing, and SRT streaming.
$3,395
Launch priceReleased Sep 2019
Ricoh
GR IVx
40mm-equivalent GR IV sibling with a newly designed 26.1mm f/2.8 lens, 25.74MP APS-C sensor, 5-axis SR, 4K video, 53GB internal storage, and pocket street-camera handling. Winter 2026 planned.
$1,499
Launch priceReleased Dec 2026
GR IVx is 7.3 years newer.
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Wins
GY-HC500U
Wins
GR IVx
1 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BGR IVx has higher AF points / zones (49 vs 0)
- BGR IVx has higher ISO max (native) (204,800 vs 25,600)
- AGY-HC500U has higher Burst (electronic) (20 fps vs 4 fps)
- BGR IVx has higher Resolution (25.74 MP vs 9.35 MP)
- AGY-HC500U has higher Battery life (CIPA) (640 shots vs 250 shots)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareGY-HC500U
134 × 91 × 72 mm
580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
GR IVx
109 × 61 × 33 mm
265 g (0.58 lb / 9.35 oz)
GY-HC500U is 25mm wider, 30mm taller, and 39mm thicker than GR IVx.
GY-HC500U is 315 g heavier than GR IVx.
Depth (front-to-back): 72mm GY-HC500U · 33mm GR IVx
Sensor size, to scale
GY-HC500U
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
GR IVx
23.3 × 15.5 mm · APS-C
361 mm² area
1.6× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
GY-HC500U
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264, ProRes
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 91, 72
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
Burst (electronic)
20 fps vs 4 fps — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 250 shots — higher is better
AA filter
Only GY-HC500U supports it
Animal / bird AF
Only GY-HC500U supports it
Reasons to choose
GR IVx
AF points / zones
49 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Face, Eye
Codecs
Adds MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MOV
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 109.4, 61.1, 33.4
Card types
Adds microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC UHS-I
ISO max (native)
204,800 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Resolution
25.74 MP vs 9.35 MP — higher is better
Weight
265 g vs 580 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
GY-HC500U
Pros
- ✓1-inch sensor + 20x f/2.8–4.5 zoom
- ✓4K60p Apple ProRes 422 internal
- ✓HLG / J-Log1 HDR
- ✓3G-SDI + weather-resistant body
- ✓SRT / RTMP streaming
Cons
- –Heavy at 3.6 kg configured
- –SSD ProRes needs optional adapter
- –Premium over GY-HM250
- –9.35MP effective sensor
GR IVx
Pros
- ✓New 26.1mm f/2.8 GR lens (40mm equiv.)
- ✓GR IV 25.74MP APS-C + 5-axis SR
- ✓4K 30p/24p and 53GB built-in storage
- ✓Snap focus, 50/71mm crops, 2-stop ND
- ✓Pocketable 265g body
Cons
- –Price not yet announced (listed at GR IV $1,499)
- –Winter 2026 or later — still in development as of Aug 2026
- –No built-in EVF
- –Fixed 40mm-equiv. lens
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the GY-HC500U and GR IVx at major authorized retailers.
JVC GY-HC500U
Ricoh GR IVx
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, GY-HC500U or GR IVx?
GY-HC500U scores 9.0/10 versus 1.0/10 for GR IVx — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the GY-HC500U and GR IVx?
GY-HC500U is 9.35 MP and GR IVx is 25.74 MP, so the GR IVx captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the GY-HC500U and GR IVx have in-body image stabilization?
GY-HC500U has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while GR IVx has in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the GY-HC500U or the GR IVx?
GY-HC500U reaches 20 fps electronic. GR IVx reaches 4 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the GY-HC500U and GR IVx?
GY-HC500U weighs 580 g and GR IVx weighs 265 g, so the GR IVx is 315 g lighter.
Do the GY-HC500U and GR IVx record 4K video?
GY-HC500U: 4K up to 60p. GR IVx: 4K up to 30p.
Are the GY-HC500U and GR IVx weather sealed?
GY-HC500U: Yes. GR IVx: No.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the GY-HC500U and 250 shots for the GR IVx, giving the GY-HC500U the edge.
How much does each cost?
GY-HC500U launched at $3,395 and GR IVx at $1,499. The GR IVx is $1,896 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way GY-HC500U vs GR IVx vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed September 2026.
Product images courtesy of JVC and Ricoh press materials.