Ricoh’s Nostalgia-Fueled GR IV HDF Arrives Soon and Adds a New Electronic Shutter - PetaPixel
December 16, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Ricoh GR IV HDF is arriving soon, leaning into nostalgic rendering while keeping the GR IV’s modern performance. It will be showcased at Ricoh’s GR Space retail locations starting December 17 and begins shipping next month.
What’s new vs. GR IV:
- Built-in Highlight Diffusion Filter (HDF) creates a mellow, film-like glow; the effect is stronger in highlights and subtly softens edges.
- One-press control: the Fn button toggles HDF on/off; when off, the internal filter moves out of the optical path for maximum sharpness.
- New high-speed electronic shutter up to 1/16,000s (vs. the GR IV’s 1/4000s mechanical), enabling wide-aperture shooting in bright light without an ND filter. The standard GR IV will get this e-shutter via a post-launch firmware update.
- Design touch: a grayish silver shutter release button symbolizes the camera’s ability to shift visual expression; Fn defaults to HDF.
What carries over:
- 25.7MP APS-C image sensor.
- 28mm-equivalent f/2.8 lens with improved optics.
- The GR IV’s refined user experience and overall feature set.
How the HDF works:
- First seen in the GR III HDF and GR IIIx HDF (March 2024).
- An ultra-thin filter with inkjet-printed microstructures sits near the lens aperture; picoliter ink droplets shape how light reaches the sensor.
- Its lightweight design allows a tiny motor to slide the filter in or out without a lens/body redesign.
- It replaces the standard GR IV’s built-in ND filter.
Price and availability:
- Launching in late January for $1,599.95 (a $100 premium over the standard GR IV).
- The Ricoh GR IV Monochrome remains slated for spring 2026; price TBD.