My little Ricoh GR IV lasted 9 months before I had to send it back to its maker for repair. A part of me wants to turn this 'review' into an inquest. A slightly bigger part of me wants to turn this into an ode about this great line of point and shoot cameras. I'll do both, providing photos and a POV from my first year with the little one.12 Months of GR Pain
To say the reliability has been questionable would be a generous understatement. If you’re considering buying one, you have already braved a sea of negativity online, and you are most likely a risk-taker. Good on you. Below is a timeline of technical issues I faced:October 2025 (The First Day): The lens jammed regularly on my very first day of use. In my first POV, posted on my YouTube channel, the GoPro strapped to my chest caught it jamming and freezing on me 3 times in the same afternoon. I told myself that a magic firmware might solve the issue. I also saw on Threads that I wasn't alone.October - December 2025 (No Trust): After three months, the freezing became less regular, but it was still a problem. During a week in Italy, the lens jammed three times, but I did not see a pattern based on temperature, specific batteries (purchased 3 official) or shooting mode. It would jam at the most random time, which is the worst time for a street photographer.January - June 2026 (The Banding): A new problem started occurring during the first half of this year; multicoloured banding would appear on the LCD screen and eventually the screen would freeze. I remedied this by taking the battery out, sighing and pushing it back in with the hope that the lens would retract. I noticed this happening more often when I had the Ricoh GF-2 flash mounted.July August 2026 (The Repair): I finally gave in to all the advice in my POV comments section and surrendered the camera to Park Cameras, where I had purchased it 9 months prior, this summer. They knew what was up; a GR tale as old as time. I previously owned a Ricoh GR IIIx with fewer issues, but I didn't have the luxury of owning it while it was under warranty. So, I sent it packing and was told the repair would take 6-8 weeks.
A Year to Remember
This year was like no other for me. I became a father for the first time and I was fortunate enough to plan a project perfectly suited for the Ricoh GR IV: documenting each day of the month before the birth and each day of the month following it. This was the easiest assignment, without pointing out the obvious that i wasn't pregnant; I just had to ensure the GR IV was snug in my own pocket. The final printed book is a special, very real representation of those wild 8 weeks for us, and the GR IV must take some of that credit. Truly, an everyday carry camera.
What I Love About the GR IV
Here is why it still holds the top spot in my bag:True Single-Handed Operation: The single-handed ergonomics are unparalleled. You can comfortably juggle a coffee, a work call or baby. This point cannot be overstated and trumps any concerns about the lack of grip or the potential distress of your pinky finger.Sensor Output: I still haven't found a mirrorless Fujifilm or Nikon sensor (I haven't used Sony or Canon) that competes with the image quality from the GR range. It's subjective, but it's what I prefer; crisp and drowing in all things contrast.28mm Snap Focus: I love to use snap focus mode when I'm commuting in strong sunlight. That is my happy place. The 28mm lens is made for this focus mode and is more forgiving than the GR IIIx. If you're walking at speed, released from the chains of autofocus, this little bit of plastic becomes your invisibility cloak.
GR IV Examples from London
The Flaws of the GR IV
Critical failures aside, this is what I struggle with:Exposure Compensation: I don't think it's a common opinion, but I prefer the exposure compensation rocker from the Ricoh GR IIIx. The vertical version of the GR IV doesn't feel intuitive to me and the camera is so small that it feels less secure when I have to shift my thumb a good 10mm.Battery Door: Flimsy. There is too much give when opening and closing the battery door. I also find it too easy to open. This combination doesn't instill any confidence in a user who spent their summer waiting for Ricoh's repair service.Hunting for Focus: One reason I use snap focus more frequently is that I'm tired of the GR range missing focus on simple subjects. It tracks well in continuous mode when the subject is 2-5m away, but point it at your child or a stationary object close up and it won't conform half of the time.
The Verdict
I love it. Surprisingly, since its repair 2 months ago I haven't had any issues. I also loved it before the repair. I expect issues to appear and I will no doubt forgive them - the toxic GR relationship.