The first Ricoh GR with a monochrome sensor
In December 2025, I was commissioned to produce a launch video for the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome camera. Friend and Swedish Photographer Rikard Landberg was chosen to photograph official sample photographs for RICOH IMAGING Japan. The production took place in Gothenburg, Sweden. The goal was to create a short film that showcases Rikard's GR IV Monochrome work, as well as talk more about his experience using the first GR camera with a dedicated monochrome sensor and share his thoughts on monochrome photography. The final film was released on the Ricoh GR Photography YouTube Channel on November 14th, 2026.
Yes, we are not afraid to have our GR's out in the snow :-) These photos were taken with a Nikon ZF.
Photo of me that Rikard took on his GR IV Monochrome
GR IV Monochrome Sample Images
All images were edited in Photoshop Camera Raw to get the best result out of the RAW file. I tried to keep the edit natural looking but still bring out more shadow and highlight information. Click on the images for a larger view. The images were reduced to 3000 pixel wide and compressed for this website. But maybe they can still serve to give a better understanding of how the monochrome sensor renders images. In my experience the monochrome sensor has deeper blacks, more shadow information, better detail and a lot less noise when using higher ISO values. That being said, the great Sebastiao Salgado does not work with a Monochrome sensor so let's not pretend that you need a monochrome sensor to create beautiful monochrome photography. Monochrome sensors are unique tools and offer photographers more sharpness and lower noise, but they won't replace a good eye for composition and storytelling ;-) But is it fun to use a GR Monochrome? Oh yes...
High ISO examples
One major benefit of a monochrome sensor is the high iso performance. Without color noise you are left with very fine and even noise. It can be used as texture or easily reduced using noise reduction software (like Topaz AI for example). Monochrome sensors can be cleaned up really well. But I also like the texture of the noise. But have a look for yourself.
Impressive, isn't it? This opens up more possibilities when doing zone focusing in less ideal light.
Image Control (Filters)
The GR IV Monochrome comes with some new filters or "Film Simulations" that were designed specifically for the new monochrome sensor.
This is a screenshot of a video Ricoh Imaging Japan uploaded onto the GR Official YouTube channel. It is an interview with the GR IV Monochrome development team. I highly recommend watching the interview (English subtitles available). In that interview, the development team explains how they wanted to incorporate different monochrome photography styles that have been evolved throughout photographic history. This gives the user the opportunity to experience different monochrome photography styles and create their own looks out of it. There was also a hint towards a new filter that might be joining the camera via firmware update in the future.
And let's not forget the built in red filter! No need to attach color filters in front of the lens. Just press a button and the filter appears behind the lens.
First Impression Video
I am doing a full year of monochrome photography in 2026! Every month I do a report on my YouTube channel. Here is episode 1 of 12.
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