Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Ricoh
GR IV
Latest GR with 25.74MP APS-C sensor, 28mm equivalent lens, 5-axis SR, 53GB internal memory, and pocket street-camera handling.
$1,499
Released Jan 2026
GR IV is 4.2 years newer.
Wins
Z9
Wins
GR IV
TL;DR — Key differences
- BGR IV has higher Burst (mechanical) (4 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 4 fps)
- AZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 49)
- BGR IV has higher ISO max (native) (204,800 vs 25,600)
- BGR IV has lower Weight (262 g vs 1340 g)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
GR IV
109 × 61 × 33 mm
262 g (0.58 lb / 9.24 oz)
Z9 is 40mm wider, 88mm taller, and 58mm thicker than GR IV.
Z9 is 1078 g heavier than GR IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 33mm GR IV
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
GR IV
109 × 61 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
GR IV
109 × 33 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
GR IV
23.3 × 15.5 mm · APS-C
361 mm² area
2.4× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
GR IV: mount data unavailable
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
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
Z9
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 4 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 49 — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
740 shots vs 250 shots — higher is better
Animal / bird AF
Only Z9 supports it
Reasons to choose
GR IV
Subject recognition
Adds Face, Eye
Burst (mechanical)
4 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MOV
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 109.4, 61.1, 32.7
Card types
Adds microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC UHS-I
ISO max (native)
204,800 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
262 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓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.
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
GR IV
Pros
- ✓25.74MP APS-C sensor
- ✓5-axis sensor-shift SR
- ✓53GB internal memory
- ✓Pocketable 28mm GR lens
Cons
- –Fixed lens
- –No built-in EVF
- –Full HD video only
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Z9 and GR IV at major authorized retailers.
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Z9 or GR IV?
Z9 scores 9.0/10 versus 0.5/10 for GR IV — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and GR IV?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and GR IV is 25.74 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and GR IV have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while gR IV has in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the GR IV?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. GR IV reaches 4 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and GR IV?
Z9 weighs 1340 g and GR IV weighs 262 g, so the GR IV is 1078 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and GR IV record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. GR IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z9 and GR IV weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. GR IV: No.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 250 shots for the GR IV, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,899 and GR IV at $1,499. The GR IV is $4,400 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Ricoh press materials.