A break in the rainy season, or an overcast sky about to rain at any moment.
On days like that, I want to leave the big camera at home, slip a single small camera into my pocket, and head out into the city.
This time I took out the "RICOH GR IV."
It's one we recently purchased here at Five Star Camera.
As a pre-sale check, I took this GR IV out into the streets of Shinjuku.
This small square box is a magical tool that turns familiar everyday life into a startling story. This time, while walking through Shinjuku showing signs of early summer, I'd like to talk about the appeal of the GR IV and the feature that is arguably the camera's true forte.
Instant Startup: Never Miss the Moment That Moves You
Stepping a little away from the bustle of Shinjuku, I headed to the skyscraper district of Nishi-Shinjuku. Looking up, the modern buildings and lush green trees drew a beautiful contrast.
Slip the GR IV out of your pocket, turn it on, and press the shutter. It's so nimble that you can start shooting the moment the thought strikes you. There are no frustrating steps like taking the camera out of a bag or removing a lens cap. This nimbleness is exactly why the GR is called the "ultimate snapshot shooter."
Skyscrapers and early-summer greenery. The GR's appeal is the nimbleness to press the shutter the instant something moves you.
A Black-and-White World That Draws Light and Shadow
One of the most enjoyable moments when using the GR is shooting in black and white. By deliberately stripping away color information, the "shapes" and "light and shadow" of the city stand out sharply.
I slipped into the shadows cast by a huge concrete structure. Straight lines, streaming light, and the silhouettes of people passing through. The GR IV's black and white is not just black and white; it feels as though it captures even the coolness and stillness of the air at that spot.
Out of the concrete shadow and into a plaza of light. An urban frame created by straight lines.
A lone silhouette standing in a vast space. The gradation of light and shadow is beautiful.
A ramp leading down to an underground parking garage that I happened upon. The world glimpsed through a gap in the shutter was like a scene from a movie. It's the moment an ordinary everyday sight turns dramatic.
The other side of a closed shutter. Even an impersonal space comes out rich in texture in black and white.
The "Sn Mode" That Never Misses a Moment
At the water's edge in a park, a little boy and his mother stood side by side, happily watching a turtle.
What shines in an ordinary moment like this is "snap focus," practically synonymous with the GR series.
By fixing the focus position in advance, you can press the shutter quickly without waiting for autofocus to lock on.
On the GR IV, this snap focus has its own place on the mode dial as "Sn (Snap Distance Priority AE)." You can now adjust the snap distance and depth of field intuitively, making snapshot shooting more comfortable than before.
The child might move, the distance between parent and child might change. The appeal of Sn mode is that it responds quickly even to such momentary changes.
A parent and child watching a turtle. An ordinary everyday moment captured with its natural atmosphere intact.
The hydrangeas I found on the stairs of a pedestrian overpass were also memorable. The people passing by beyond the vivid flowers convey the early-summer atmosphere of the city.
Everyday life on a pedestrian overpass seen through hydrangeas. A shot that conveys the early-summer feel of the city.
Vivid Early-Summer Colors Blooming at Your Feet
The GR IV's appeal isn't limited to distant views and split-second snapshots. Its macro shooting, getting right up close to the subject, is also excellent.
Hydrangeas coloring the city in June. The blue rendered by the GR IV has depth, and up close it clearly depicts even the delicate texture of the petals.
An eye-opening blue. The three-dimensional rendering is impressive.
Walking further, I found delicate white flowers in bloom. Even the soft petals and the fine form of the stamens at the center are clearly depicted, showing an expressive power you wouldn't expect from such a small body.
A white flower approached in macro mode. The rendering power that depicts even the details crisply.
Closing Thoughts: A Camera for Loving Everyday Life
You can always carry it in your pocket. And, like the newly independent "Sn mode," the features designed so you never miss the moment you think "I want to shoot this" have been refined to be easier to use than ever.
Even without traveling far to find spectacular views, the everyday world we live in is this interesting and beautiful. The GR IV is the perfect companion for reminding you of something so obvious.
Why not walk your usual streets with this little camera in your pocket, too?
About the RICOH GR IV
A high-end compact digital camera in the RICOH GR series, released in 2025.
It features an APS-C size CMOS sensor with about 25.74 megapixels and the GR LENS 18.3mm F2.8, equivalent to about 28mm in 35mm format. Despite its small, pocketable body, it fully meets the demands of street walks and snapshot photography.
It is rich in features for capturing the moment, including 5-axis image stabilization, hybrid AF, full-press snap, and Sn mode. It also has about 53GB of built-in memory.
Width x height x depth: approx. 109.4mm x 61.1mm x 32.7mm
Weight: approx. 262g (including battery and microSD memory card)
If you are looking for used cameras and lenses, please leave it to us here at Five Star Camera!
We don't just sell; we also buy used equipment.
At both our Shinjuku and Toyama stores, you can inspect the actual items before you buy, and we check every item we purchase carefully, one by one. Please feel free to get in touch!