Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Ricoh
GR IV HDF
GR IV variant with built-in Highlight Diffusion Filter for softer rendering and the same 25.74MP APS-C pocket platform.
$1,599
Released Jan 2026
GR IV HDF is 4.2 years newer.
Wins
Z9
Wins
GR IV HDF
Check current prices
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TL;DR — Key differences
- BGR IV HDF 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 HDF has higher ISO max (native) (204,800 vs 25,600)
- BGR IV HDF 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 HDF
109 × 61 × 33 mm
262 g (0.58 lb / 9.24 oz)
Z9 is 40mm wider, 88mm taller, and 58mm thicker than GR IV HDF.
Z9 is 1078 g heavier than GR IV HDF.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 33mm GR IV HDF
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
GR IV HDF
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 HDF
109 × 33 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
GR IV HDF
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 HDF: 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 HDF
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 HDF
Pros
- ✓Built-in HDF effect
- ✓25.74MP APS-C sensor
- ✓5-axis SR
- ✓53GB internal memory
Cons
- –No ND filter
- –Fixed lens
- –Full HD video only
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Z9 or GR IV HDF?
Z9 scores 9.0/10 versus 0.5/10 for GR IV HDF — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and GR IV HDF?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and GR IV HDF is 25.74 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and GR IV HDF have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while gR IV HDF has in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the GR IV HDF?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. GR IV HDF reaches 4 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and GR IV HDF?
Z9 weighs 1340 g and GR IV HDF weighs 262 g, so the GR IV HDF is 1078 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and GR IV HDF record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. GR IV HDF: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z9 and GR IV HDF weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. GR IV HDF: No.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 250 shots for the GR IV HDF, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,899 and GR IV HDF at $1,599. The GR IV HDF is $4,300 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Ricoh press materials.