Ricoh marks 30 years of its compact GR line with a retro-styled GR IV special edition

Ricoh has announced a limited run of the GR IV 30th Anniversary Edition, a commemorative version of its pocketable GR IV that borrows visual cues from the company’s compact GR1 film camera first introduced in 1996. The special model applies a vintage-inspired look and ships with a bespoke accessory kit, while the camera’s electronics and imaging hardware remain the same as the current GR IV.

The firm says the anniversary model is intended to salute three decades of the GR line rather than to change how the camera performs. The edition keeps the internal specification set introduced with the GR IV released in September 2025. That means the Anniversary Edition retains the same 18.3 mm F2.8 GR lens that gives a 28 mm equivalent angle of view on the body’s sensor, the same approximately 25.74 megapixel APS-C sensor, and the GR ENGINE 7 processing platform. Five-axis image stabilization and a fast start-up—approximately 0.6 seconds—are carried over unchanged.

The styling updates are where Ricoh expects collectors and longstanding users to focus. The new body applies retro materials and finishing touches that reference the look of the GR1, and the camera ships with a special accessory kit tailored for the anniversary release. A dedicated 30th Anniversary graphic appears when the camera is switched off, and a set of badges on the camera represent the 14 GR models released to date, accompanied by GR and 30th Anniversary logo badges.

Ricoh positions the original GR1 as notable for the way it combined a slim, pocket-ready form with controls and features that appealed to photographers seeking more than a basic point-and-shoot. The original’s optical heritage continues to matter to the brand: Ricoh previously produced a limited batch of GR Lens 28mm F2.8 optics in 1997—3,000 copies made in Leica screw mount—so the design that accompanied the GR1 has been reused in other forms over the years.

On the technical side, the Anniversary Edition inherits the GR IV’s imaging chain without modification. The lens on the GR IV family is specified as 18.3 mm F2.8 GR, delivering a 28 mm field of view equivalent on the APS-C sensor. The camera’s approximate 25.74 megapixel APS-C sensor, GR ENGINE 7 processor and the five-axis stabilization system are identical to the regular GR IV, and the camera retains a roughly 0.6-second start-up time.

Ricoh will limit production of this edition to 6,000 units worldwide. To mark the milestone, the company staged a four-day immersive experience in New York from October 22–25 and says it is hosting additional GR events in Los Angeles, London and a second engagement in New York aimed at the camera’s community.

Ricoh’s announcement includes a message recognising the role of its users. The company said it is " deeply grateful for the support they have received from both professionals and experienced amateurs alike." That comment accompanies the product details and the event programme.

The limited-edition GR IV will begin shipping in October 2026, and Ricoh has positioned the model with a recommended selling price of $1799. The company presents the Anniversary Edition as both a collector’s object and a fully capable field camera: since the internals match the GR IV, owners should expect the same image performance and handling the model has offered since its September 2025 debut.

For photographers who have followed the GR line from the GR1 onward, the new release revisits the family’s aesthetic roots while keeping the platform’s modern imaging features intact. Ricoh frames the package as a celebration of the series’ evolution—a limited, design-focused reinterpretation rather than a technical overhaul of its contemporary compact enthusiast camera.