Ricoh GR IV vs GR IIIx: 28mm or 40mm, and Should You Wait for the GR IVx?

The two Ricoh GR cameras you can buy new look nearly the same and weigh the same, about 262g. The biggest difference is the lens: the GR IV sees a 28mm-equivalent view and the GR IIIx a tighter 40mm one. The GR IV is also a full generation newer. And the clock is ticking: Ricoh says Japanese production of the GR IIIx ends with this month's shipments, while a 40mm GR IVx is coming. This guide sorts it out with Ricoh's official specs and what we see in the Japanese market (October 2026).

28mm vs 40mm: how each one sees

At the same distance, a 40mm lens shows about 0.7 times the width of a 28mm lens. 28mm is the traditional GR view: you can stand close and still get the whole scene, which suits streets, travel, food on a table and small rooms. It also exaggerates perspective, so faces near the edge can look stretched. 40mm is close to how the eye naturally frames things (Ricoh calls it close to the effective field of human vision): people look natural, backgrounds look calmer, and you need to step back for wide scenes. Neither camera zooms, so pick the view you would choose most days.

Spec differences beyond the lens

*Kakaku.com, October 23, 2026. The GR IV's stronger stabilization helps at night and indoors, and its large built-in memory means a forgotten card is not a lost day. Note that the two use different batteries and card sizes: the GR IV takes the DB-120 and microSD, the GR IIIx the DB-110 and full-size SD. Ricoh says the DB-110 cannot be used in the GR IV, so spare batteries do not carry over.

How they sell in Japan

In Japan, both are scarce in different ways. Ricoh's own Tokyo store sells the GR IV only by lottery, open to Japan residents with in-person ID checks and one camera per person, and camera shops sell it well above Ricoh's launch price of about ¥195,000. The GR IIIx is in its final month of Japanese production, and once current stock is gone, the only new 40mm GR will be the GR IVx. Japanese owner reviews are honest about the trade-offs, too: a few long-time GR users who upgraded to the GR IV say they miss the full-size SD card, even though they praise the sharper corners and stronger stabilization.

Buy the GR IV if...

...you want the wide GR view, the newest sensor and better stabilization. When we checked in October 2026, Amazon.com did not sell the standard GR IV, but it did sell the GR IV HDF, the same camera with a Highlight Diffusion Filter instead of the ND filter (what HDF changes), which in Japan you can only get through Ricoh's lottery. The standard GR IV is available from Ricoh's US store.

Prices and stock on Amazon change often. Look for listings shipped and sold by Amazon.com; some GR listings are imports from other sellers.

Buy the GR IIIx if...

...you prefer 40mm and want it now, for $350 less than the GR IV. The sensor and lens are still excellent; what you give up is the newer stabilization, storage and battery. Amazon.com sells the GR IIIx, the GR IIIx HDF and the gray Urban Edition, and this may be the last stretch in which you can buy any of them new.

GR IIIx now, or wait for the GR IVx?

On August 27, 2026, Ricoh announced that the GR IVx is in development: the GR IV body and 25.7MP sensor with a newly designed 40mm lens (8 elements in 6 groups), 5-axis stabilization, 4K video at 30p and 24p, about 53GB of storage and the DB-120 battery, at about 265g. The release is planned for winter 2026 or later, and Ricoh says specs may change and more features will be announced. There is no price yet.

In the same notice, Ricoh said production of the GR IIIx, GR IIIx HDF and Urban Edition is expected to end with products shipped in October 2026. That schedule is for Japan; Ricoh says end dates may differ in other regions. Judging by how the GR IV launched in Japan, with lotteries at Ricoh's own store, we would not count on buying a GR IVx easily in its first months.

• Buy the GR IIIx now if you want 40mm at the lowest price, need a camera before a trip, or do not shoot video.
• Wait for the GR IVx if you want 4K video, 5-axis stabilization and the same battery as the GR IV, and can wait without a firm date or price.
• Choose the GR IV if you can live with 28mm and want the new generation today.

Comparing the GR with zoom cameras or the Fujifilm X100VI? See Ricoh GR vs X100VI, RX100 VII and G7 X III. For the whole lineup, the 30th anniversary edition and our tips for visiting Ricoh's Tokyo store, start at which Ricoh GR to buy.