I rarely go anywhere without a camera. But every now and then, I don’t want to be “photographer dad.” I just want to get out of the house with Sofia, enjoy a walk, and make it clear — to both of us — that the time together matters more than taking photos.
That’s exactly where the Ricoh GR IV fits in.
I’ve taken it out a couple of times recently — once on a walk with Sofia, and again yesterday on a local stroll where I didn’t want to carry a full system camera on a strap or in a bag. Its tiny size means I can slip it into my pocket and no one would even know I have it on me.
It makes it feel as if I’m just going out to spend time with Sofia, or in nature, or simply for a walk in the countryside. I don’t feel any pressure to take photos with it. If it stays in my pocket the whole time, that’s fine — but if I see something worth capturing, I know it still offers the quality to make that photo good enough.
When Sofia gets distracted charging around or discovering something interesting, I can pull it out, and it’s instantly on and ready to shoot, fire off a few shots, and get some memories of these moments and places in our lives — then just as quickly, it’s back in my pocket and out of the way.
No other camera that I own offers that.
If you’re looking at alternatives in this category, I’ve covered the best options in my guide to the best compact cameras.
After using it like this, it becomes pretty clear who should actually buy this camera — and who shouldn’t.
What It’s Actually Like to Use Day-to-Day
The biggest difference with the GR IV isn’t really about specs — it’s how it fits into your life.
Yesterday, walking a local country lane in Perthshire just to get some fresh air, I must have pulled it in and out of my pocket a hundred times or more. And that never gets frustrating in the way pulling a camera out of a bag does.
Before I’ve even brought it up to shooting level, it’s already turned on and ready to go.
I only use the small wrist strap supplied by Ricoh — just to make sure I don’t drop it if I’m clumsy in cold weather — but apart from that (and a screen protector), I keep it as simple as possible. That’s how I like to shoot with this camera.
The fixed 28mm field of view also plays into that simplicity. There’s no choice. That’s the camera I’ve brought, and realistically it’s the only one I would have brought on a walk like this anyway.
Image Quality (In the Real World)
If I didn’t have the Ricoh GR IV — or previously the GR III — with me on these kinds of walks, I probably wouldn’t take any photos at all. Maybe the odd one on my phone, but those are usually just record shots that I’ll never look at again.
The GR IV sits a level above that.
It’s smaller than my phone, yet when I use it I’m far more mentally switched on. I know that unlike with a phone, the shot won’t be wasted because of the output quality.
I’ve been shooting RAW + JPEG, and the Positive Film profile gives very nice-looking results straight out of camera, particularly when there’s a bit of blue sky or sunshine. In the Philippines I was mostly shooting in warm afternoon light, but here in the Scottish Highlands I find myself shooting in whatever conditions I get as I explore the area and make notes on where to come back to in better light.
Battery life is much improved over the GR III. I still don’t have a second battery, but it comfortably gets me through several-hour walks where I’m taking shots every few minutes.
The Trade-Offs (And Why They’re Part of It)
On the odd occasion, I might miss a shot because of the fixed 28mm focal length or slightly slower autofocus compared to larger cameras with interchangeable lenses.
But I don’t really see that as a problem.
I rarely regret anything like that — there’s not much point. If I miss something, I just take it in properly instead of trying to force a photo. That’s part of using a camera like this.
There are a couple of more practical considerations though.
The lack of weather sealing is one. Walking here in Scotland, that did cross my mind yesterday. I was wearing a softshell rather than a waterproof, and I did think — what happens if that cloud bank rolls in and soaks me through? Will the GR IV be alright?
That’s where something like the Fujifilm X100VI, with a filter attached, feels like a safer option.
The other issue — and one that’s always been there with the GR series — is the lack of a viewfinder. Even in a bit of Scottish sunshine, the rear screen simply isn’t bright enough to see clearly. I found myself lining up shots but not being able to properly check the edges of the frame, making sure nothing was creeping in where it shouldn’t.
So I ended up going back to the old DSLR habit of chimping shots afterwards to see what I’d actually captured.
None of this ruins the experience, but it does define what the camera is.
Who Should Actually Buy the Ricoh GR IV
This isn’t a camera for everyone.
But for the right person, it makes a lot of sense.
You don’t want to feel like you’re carrying a camera
If you want to go out for a walk, spend time with your family, or just get some fresh air without turning it into a photography session, this is where the GR IV fits.
You want something you can just slip into your pocket
No bag, no strap, no planning.
Just take it with you and forget about it until you need it.
You’d otherwise just use your phone — or nothing at all
If the alternative is not taking photos, or relying on your phone for quick snapshots, the GR IV gives you something noticeably better without adding effort.
You prefer simplicity over flexibility
No lens choices. No zoom. No overthinking.
Just a fixed 28mm view and a camera that’s ready when you are.
You want the option to take photos, not the obligation
You don’t feel like you have to use it.
But when you do, it’s there and it’s capable.
Who Should Avoid It
You want one camera to do everything
This isn’t that camera.
You need fast autofocus for demanding situations
It’s fine for what it is, but it’s not built for speed.
You want zoom or multiple focal lengths
The fixed 28mm lens is part of the appeal — but also the main limitation.
You rely on a viewfinder
If you struggle with rear screen composition, like I do, especially in brighter conditions, this might frustrate you.
Final Thoughts
For me, the Ricoh GR IV fills a very specific role.
It’s the camera I take when I don’t want to carry anything — when I just want to go for a walk, spend time with Sofia, or get out into the countryside without it becoming about photography. It’s also the camera I would feel most comfortable with, shooting street photography, or around town where I don’t like to draw attention to myself.
And because of that, it’s a camera that offers something that none of my other cameras do.
Not because it’s the best camera I own — but because it’s unique.
Well, except for the Ricoh GR III, which when used in the same way offers a very similar experience. The main difference is that the GR IV simply does everything that little bit quicker.