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Ricoh

GR Digital IV

Cult compact GR Digital with 10MP CCD sensor, fast 28mm equivalent f/1.9 lens, and sensor-shift stabilization.

$599

Released Sep 2011

vs

Ricoh

GR IV Monochrome

Monochrome-only GR IV with 25.74MP APS-C sensor, red filter mode, 5-axis SR, and classic 28mm pocket street-camera design.

$1,699

Released Jan 2026

GR IV Monochrome is 14.3 years newer.

Wins

3categories

GR Digital IV

Wins

4categories

GR IV Monochrome

PortraitVlogging

2 categories tied

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TL;DR — Key differences

GR Digital IV wins 1 categories·GR IV Monochrome wins 4 categories
  • BGR IV Monochrome has higher ISO max (native) (409,600 vs 3,200)
  • BGR IV Monochrome has higher Burst (mechanical) (4 fps vs 1.54 fps)
  • BGR IV Monochrome has higher Burst (electronic) (4 fps vs 1.54 fps)
  • BGR IV Monochrome has higher Resolution (25.74 MP vs 10 MP)
  • AGR Digital IV has lower ISO min (native) (80 vs 160)

Key specs at a glance

GR Digital IVGR IV Monochrome
Resolution10 MP25.74 MP
Sensor1/1.7 inchAPS-C
ISO max3,200409,600
Burst1.54 fps4 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBISYesYes
Weight219 g262 g
Battery390 shots250 shots

Size and weight, to scale

GR Digital IV

109 × 60 × 33 mm

219 g (0.48 lb / 7.73 oz)

GR IV Monochrome

109 × 61 × 33 mm

262 g (0.58 lb / 9.24 oz)

GR Digital IV is 1mm narrower and 1mm shorter than GR IV Monochrome.

GR Digital IV is 43 g lighter than GR IV Monochrome.

Depth (front-to-back): 33mm GR Digital IV · 33mm GR IV Monochrome

Sensor size, to scale

GR IV Monochrome

23.3 × 15.5 mm · APS-C

361 mm² area

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseGR Digital IVGR IV Monochrome
Portrait
2.0Limited
6.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
0.5Limited
0.5Limited
Video & Hybrid
3.5Limited
3.5Limited
Landscape
1.0Limited
2.5Limited✓ wins
Travel
5.0Fair
5.5Fair✓ wins
Wildlife
0.0Limited
1.0Limited✓ wins
Vlogging
5.0Fair
6.5Good✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

GR Digital IV

  • Codecs

    Adds Motion JPEG AVI

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 108.6, 59.8, 32.5

  • Card types

    Adds SD, SDHC, Eye-Fi

  • ISO min (native)

    80 vs 160 — lower is better

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    390 shots vs 250 shots — higher is better

  • Weight

    219 g vs 262 g — lower is better

Reasons to choose

GR IV Monochrome

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Face, Eye

  • 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)

    409,600 vs 3,200 — higher is better

  • Burst (mechanical)

    4 fps vs 1.54 fps — higher is better

  • Burst (electronic)

    4 fps vs 1.54 fps — higher is better

  • Resolution

    25.74 MP vs 10 MP — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • 4K max frame rateBoth 60 fps
  • In-body stabilizationBoth support in-body stabilization
  • Card slotsBoth 1

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

GR Digital IV

Pros

  • Fast f/1.9 GR lens
  • CCD rendering
  • Compact classic
  • Sensor-shift stabilization

Cons

  • Small sensor
  • VGA video only
  • Very old model

GR IV Monochrome

Pros

  • Monochrome APS-C sensor
  • ISO 160-409600
  • 5-axis SR
  • Red filter mode

Cons

  • Black-and-white only
  • Fixed lens
  • Full HD video only

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the GR Digital IV and GR IV Monochrome at major authorized retailers.

Full specifications

= category winner

GR Digital IV
GR IV Monochrome
Resolution
10 MP
25.74 MP2.6× more
Sensor type
1/1.7" CCD
APS-C Monochrome CMOS
Sensor size
1/1.7 inch
23.3 x 15.5 mm
AA filter
No
GR Digital IV
GR IV Monochrome
AF system
Hybrid AF
Hybrid AF (image-plane phase detection + contrast detection)
AF points / zones
49
Eye AF
No
Yes
Animal / bird AF
No
No
Subject recognition
Face, Eye
GR Digital IV
GR IV Monochrome
Burst (mechanical)
1.54 fps
4 fps2.6× more
Burst (electronic)
1.54 fps
4 fps2.6× more
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
No
No
GR Digital IV
GR IV Monochrome
Max resolution
VGA
Full HD
4K max frame rate
60 fps
60 fps
Max video bit rate
150 Mbps
Internal RAW video
No
No
Log profile
Standard profiles
Standard profiles
Codecs
Motion JPEG AVI
MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MOV
GR Digital IV
GR IV Monochrome
Weight
219 g−43 g less
262 g
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
108.6 × 59.8 × 32.5 mm
109.4 × 61.1 × 32.7 mm
Weather sealing
No
No

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for portraits, GR Digital IV or GR IV Monochrome?

GR IV Monochrome scores 6.5/10 versus 2.0/10 for GR Digital IV — 25.74MP — solid resolution.

What's the resolution difference between the GR Digital IV and GR IV Monochrome?

GR Digital IV is 10 MP and GR IV Monochrome is 25.74 MP, so the GR IV Monochrome captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the GR Digital IV and GR IV Monochrome have in-body image stabilization?

GR Digital IV has in-body image stabilization, while gR IV Monochrome has in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the GR Digital IV or the GR IV Monochrome?

GR Digital IV reaches 1.54 fps electronic. GR IV Monochrome reaches 4 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the GR Digital IV and GR IV Monochrome?

GR Digital IV weighs 219 g and GR IV Monochrome weighs 262 g, so the GR Digital IV is 43 g lighter.

Do the GR Digital IV and GR IV Monochrome record 4K video?

GR Digital IV: 4K up to 60p. GR IV Monochrome: 4K up to 60p.

Are the GR Digital IV and GR IV Monochrome weather sealed?

GR Digital IV: No. GR IV Monochrome: No.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 390 shots (CIPA) for the GR Digital IV and 250 shots for the GR IV Monochrome, giving the GR Digital IV the edge.

How much does each cost?

GR Digital IV launched at $599 and GR IV Monochrome at $1,699. The GR Digital IV is $1,100 less.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.