Ricoh GR IV

The GR IV is Ricoh's current 28mm-equivalent pocket camera, launched September 2025. It keeps the formula the series is known for — APS-C sensor, fixed lens, genuinely pocketable — and changes more underneath than the model number suggests.

If you're upgrading from a GR III, two things will catch you out

The upside of the storage change is real: the GR IV carries roughly 53GB of internal memory against the GR III's 2GB, which is enough to shoot for a day having forgotten a card entirely.

What owners report

These are the problems GR IV owners raise most often, counted across owner forums and App Store reviews. How much something gets talked about is not how often it goes wrong — people post when something breaks, not when it works. Treat this as a list of what to check on a new camera, and what to ask about on a used one.

Dark specks appear in photos, most visible on bright even areas at small apertures

77 posts · 1051 comments · reported cost: Owners report EUR 525-600 quotes for main-board work; a clean alone is far cheaper

• Try the camera's own sensor-cleaning routine first.
• A rocket blower with the lens retracted is the lowest-risk self-help step.
• Wet swab cleaning works but risks the sensor coating; owners report it as a last resort.

Battery swells, drains while the camera is off, or dies early

82 posts · 846 comments · 3 app-review mentions

• Stop using a swollen cell immediately — a swollen lithium battery is a fire risk and must not be charged.
• Contact Ricoh support; several owners report replacement under warranty.
• Dispose of swollen cells at a battery recycling point, never in household waste.

Photos will not transfer to a phone, or the app will not pair with the camera

35 posts · 320 comments · 54 app-review mentions

• Confirm both Bluetooth and local-network permissions are granted to the app.
• Re-pair from scratch, removing the old pairing from phone Bluetooth settings first.
• A USB-C card reader or direct MTP connection bypasses the app entirely and is what most heavy users settle on.

Firmware update will not run, or the camera misbehaves after updating

54 posts · 272 comments · 13 app-review mentions

• Format the card in the camera, then copy the firmware file to the top level of the card.
• Charge the battery fully first; do not attempt an update on a low battery.
• Check the current version in the camera menu before and after, to confirm it actually applied.

Camera will not read the memory card, or reports it as full or unwritable

32 posts · 172 comments · 8 app-review mentions

• Confirm you have the right physical card type for your body before anything else.
• Format the card in the camera, not on a computer. This resolves most cases and erases the card.
• Try a second known-good card to separate a card fault from a camera fault.

Camera will not switch on, starts inconsistently, or freezes in use

9 posts · 48 comments

• Charge fully in-camera over USB-C and retry; then try a second battery if you have one.
• Remove the battery for a minute to force a full power cycle.
• Check the lens is fully retracted and unobstructed — never force it.

"Lens Error" on screen, or the lens sticks part-way in or out

7 posts · 38 comments · 1 app-review mentions · reported cost: Owners report ~EUR 600 for drop-related lens repair

• Power off, remove the battery, reinsert and restart before anything else.
• Never force a stuck barrel; it drives grit further in and turns a clean into a repair.
• If the error appears only during app connection, restart the app and re-pair — the lens may be fine.

Camera forgets its settings, or resets to the language-select screen on power-up

5 posts · 23 comments · reported cost: Owners report ~EUR 525 quoted for main-board replacement

• Try a full factory reset, then reconfigure from scratch, before assuming hardware.
• Update to the current firmware — some owners report improvement.
• If it persists, get a service quote. Owners report main-board work around EUR 525, which on an older body can exceed its used value.

Should you wait for the GR IVx?

Only if you want 40mm framing. The GR IVx announced in August 2026 is the same camera with a longer lens — it is the GR IIIx's replacement, not the GR IV's. It adds 4K video, which the GR IV does not have, and is otherwise specified identically. Ricoh gives no release date beyond "Winter 2026 or later" and no price.

If you want 28mm, the GR IVx changes nothing for you and there is no reason to wait.Full comparison →

Full specifications

What fits it

Adapter, battery, card and every verified accessory →

Compare it against something else

• GR III vs GR IV — the direct upgrade question
• GR IIIx vs GR IV — if you're choosing focal length
• GR IV vs GR IVx — whether to wait
• Compare any two bodies →