'We've got 12 months of orders' — Ricoh's niche black and white-only compact is a hit, despite the price hike | Tech Radar

Overview

'We've got 12 months of orders' — Ricoh's niche black and white-only compact is a hit, despite the price hike

The GR IV Monochrome's price increase over the Ricoh GR IV has done little to deter fans

Details

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I attended The Photography Show 2026 this week, the 'UK's leading event for any photographer, filmmaker & content creator', and I had the chance to stop by the Ricoh stand, where I got my first look at the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome.

It's a premium compact camera that couldn't be more niche, shooting photos and video in black and white only, through a fixed 28mm f/2.8 lens and 26MP APS-C sensor.

Nevertheless, having already reviewed the Ricoh GR IV, which enables you to shoot in color and monochrome, but is otherwise the same camera, and concluded that it delivers the best image quality you can get from a truly pocketable camera, I was keen to try the Monochrome version — until I saw the price.

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The Ricoh GR IV costs

However, that price hike for the niche version of an already niche camera hasn't seemed to have put people off. I spoke with Ricoh's Marketing Manager for EMEA, Adrien Uden, at the Ricoh stand, and he told me "we've got 12 months of orders".

That's right — if you're in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, and haven't pre-ordered a Ricoh GR IV Monochrome yet, you potentially face a year-long wait to get your hands on one.

2026 has been a quiet year so far for new cameras, save for the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema and Ricoh GR IV Monochrome. They're two incredibly niche compact cameras, but both are sold out in many regions.

We've seen such situations before; the Fujifilm X100VI broke pre-order records, and remains a popular premium compact two years after its launch.

And here we are once more with the GR IV Monochrome, which comes hot off the heels of the even pricier Leica Q3 Monochrom. It's Ricoh's first black and white-only GR compact, and it seems there's no price too great to deter fans, many of whom no doubt see it as the ultimate street photography camera.

For me, its optimized quality for black-and-white photography is desirable. However, it's a camera that I'l I likely let pass me by at this price, though I'm still tempted to add the regular GR IV to my GR IIIX as an everyday carry.

What about you? Are you in the GR IV Monochrome queue? Is a camera that's optimized for black and white photography worth the extra cost? Let me know in the comments below.

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➡️ Read our full best compact cameras guide

1. Best overall Fujifilm X100VI
2. Best with zoom Sony RX100 Mark VII
3. Best small Ricoh GR IIIx
4. Best full-frame Leica Q3

Tim is the Cameras editor at Tech Radar. He has enjoyed more than 15 years in the photo video industry with most of those in the world of tech journalism. During his time as Deputy Technical Editor with Amateur Photographer, as a freelancer and consequently editor at Tech Radar, Tim has developed a deeply technical knowledge and practical experience with cameras, educating others through news, reviews and features. He’s also worked in video production for Studio 44 with clients including Canon, and volunteers his spare time to consult a non-profit, diverse stories team based in Nairobi. Tim is curious, a keen creative, avid footballer and runner, and moderate flat white drinker who has lived in Kenya and believes we have much to enjoy and learn from each other.

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Key Takeaways

• 'We've got 12 months of orders' — Ricoh's niche black and white-only compact is a hit, despite the price hike

• The GR IV Monochrome's price increase over the Ricoh GR IV has done little to deter fans

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• I attended The Photography Show 2026 this week, the 'UK's leading event for any photographer, filmmaker & content creator', and I had the chance to stop by the Ricoh stand, where I got my first look at the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome

• It's a premium compact camera that couldn't be more niche, shooting photos and video in black and white only, through a fixed 28mm f/2