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
Sigma
sd1 Merrill
APS-C Foveon X3 body delivering extraordinary per-pixel detail and unique color rendering.
$2,299
Launch priceReleased Mar 2012
GR IVx is 14.8 years newer.
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Wins
GR IVx
Wins
sd1 Merrill
4 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AGR IVx has higher ISO max (native) (204,800 vs 25,600)
- Bsd1 Merrill has higher Burst (electronic) (15 fps vs 4 fps)
- AGR IVx has lower Weight (265 g vs 680 g)
- Bsd1 Merrill has higher Battery life (CIPA) (640 shots vs 250 shots)
- Bsd1 Merrill has higher 4K max frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
GR IVx
109 × 61 × 33 mm
265 g (0.58 lb / 9.35 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
sd1 Merrill
146 × 114 × 80 mm
680 g (1.50 lb / 23.99 oz)
GR IVx is 36mm narrower, 52mm shorter, and 47mm thinner than sd1 Merrill.
GR IVx is 415 g lighter than sd1 Merrill.
Depth (front-to-back): 33mm GR IVx · 80mm sd1 Merrill
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
GR IVx
109 × 61 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
sd1 Merrill
146 × 114 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
GR IVx
109 × 33 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
sd1 Merrill
146 × 80 mm
Sensor size, to scale
GR IVx
23.3 × 15.5 mm · APS-C
361 mm² area
sd1 Merrill
23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
369 mm² area
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
GR IVx
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
Weight
265 g vs 680 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
sd1 Merrill
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 145.5, 113.5, 80
Card types
Adds CompactFlash
Burst (electronic)
15 fps vs 4 fps — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 250 shots — higher is better
Animal / bird AF
Only sd1 Merrill supports it
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only sd1 Merrill supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓AF points / zones — Both 49
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Max video bit rate — Both 150 Mbps
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓Card slots — Both 1
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
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
sd1 Merrill
Pros
- ✓Unique Foveon rendering
- ✓Exceptional detail
- ✓No AA filter needed
- ✓Distinct look
Cons
- –Very slow
- –Poor high ISO
- –SA mount limited
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the GR IVx and sd1 Merrill at major authorized retailers.
Ricoh GR IVx
Sigma sd1 Merrill
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, GR IVx or sd1 Merrill?
sd1 Merrill scores 9.0/10 versus 1.0/10 for GR IVx — Bird AF subject recognition.
What's the resolution difference between the GR IVx and sd1 Merrill?
GR IVx is 25.74 MP and sd1 Merrill is 46 MP, so the sd1 Merrill captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the GR IVx and sd1 Merrill have in-body image stabilization?
GR IVx has in-body image stabilization, while sd1 Merrill has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the GR IVx or the sd1 Merrill?
GR IVx reaches 4 fps electronic. sd1 Merrill reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the GR IVx and sd1 Merrill?
GR IVx weighs 265 g and sd1 Merrill weighs 680 g, so the GR IVx is 415 g lighter.
Do the GR IVx and sd1 Merrill record 4K video?
GR IVx: 4K up to 30p. sd1 Merrill: 4K up to 60p.
Are the GR IVx and sd1 Merrill weather sealed?
GR IVx: No. sd1 Merrill: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 250 shots (CIPA) for the GR IVx and 640 shots for the sd1 Merrill, giving the sd1 Merrill the edge.
How much does each cost?
GR IVx launched at $1,499 and sd1 Merrill at $2,299. The GR IVx is $800 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way GR IVx vs sd1 Merrill vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed September 2026.
Product images courtesy of Ricoh and Sigma press materials.