Rioch GR Digital IV Review

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Quick Take
Pros
  • Solid metal Build
  • Overall outstanding image quality
  • Awesome f/1.9 - f/9, fixed lens
  • Blazing Auto Focus
  • A slew of bracketing modes
  • Full manual for outstanding control from a compact camera
  • Capable Auto mode
  • Top-notch 3.0-inch LCD screen
  • Plenty of available optional accessories
  • Outstanding high ISO performance for a camera of this size (up to ISO 1600)
  • In-Camera Dynamic Range Features
  • Excellent overall camera performance
  • Excellent Battery Life, Over 300 shots per charge
Cons
  • Fixed Lens lacks framing versatility
  • Weaker flash
  • $600 price tag is not appealing to many
Bottom Line
Designed for a specific audience, the Ricoh GR Digital IV is a powerful compact digicam with excellent image quality and performance. Read more in our Full Conclusion.
Designed to replace and exceed 2009's GR Digital III, Rioch has announced the all new GR Digital IV camera. It features a 10 megapixel, 1/1.7-inch CCD image sensor, a fixed lens (a 35mm equivalent to 28mm), a 3.0-inch VGA LCD display (with 1.2 million pixels, it's 1.7 times brighter than the GRD III), and the upgraded GR ENGINE IV image processor, which makes the camera faster and the pictures more accurate. It's the first camera in the GR Digital series to feature a image-sensor shift image stabilization. Auto Focus timing has been reduced to 0.2 seconds, half of the GR Digital III.

Dynamic range compensation helps "minimize the effects of blown highlight in bright areas and crushed blacks in dark ones." There's also a brand new Interval Composite mode for taking long, night time exposures. Positive Film and Bleach Bypass join image settings such as High Contrast, B&W and Cross Process. There's also an Electronic Level to ensure all your photos match the horizon (if that's your intent).

Rioch GR Digital IV Features:
  • 28mm/F1.9 GR lens
  • 10 megapixel 1/1.7-inch CCD
  • 3.0 inch LCD (1.23 million dot VGA)
  • GR ENGINE IV image processor
  • Hybrid 190-point AF System with an external AF sensor
  • Image-sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • Electronic level
  • Dynamic Range Compensation
  • Two new image settings
  • Multiple exposure shooting
The Rioch GR Digital IV is available in black for around $790. A limited production run of 10,000 "White Edition" GRD IVs will run you over $1,000.

What's in the box?:
  • Ricoh GR IV Camera Body
  • USB cable
  • A/V Cable
  • Li-ion Battery pack
  • AC Battery Charger
  • Wrist Strap
  • Manuals

Additional Product Views:
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