It’s been more than six years since the debut of the GR III in 2019, followed only by its GR IIIx and HDF variants. The highly awaited sequel follows the path of its predecessor with a super-compact body and lens combination ideal for street photography and everyday snapshots.

If you’re more acquainted with Fujifilm’s popular X100VI than a Ricoh GR, the Ricoh presents an even more compact version with a similar concept — one that’s pocket-friendly. The GR IV features a similar-sized sensor but with a more moderate resolution, a marginally wider lens than the X100, a slower f/2.8 aperture, and lacks a viewfinder, relying instead on the rear screen for framing or an old-fashioned optical finder that can be mounted on top.

This aligns with previous GR cameras as well. However, the original GR III distinguished itself from Fujifilm by its sub-$1,000 launch price in 2019. The new GR IV, however, will be priced at $600 more — and $350 more than the latest GR III variant.

This year, many cameras from brands such as Fujifilm, Nikon, and Canon have seen price increases due to US tariffs. Within the avid photography community, the Ricoh GR series was recognized as a more affordable choice among fixed focal-length street cameras. While not considered an impulse purchase, they were still cheaper than an X100 and significantly less expensive than a Leica Q. However, with the GR IV at $1,500 and the X100VI at $1,800 (with the potential for further increases), this category of cameras is becoming a far costlier investment.