First GR with image-sensor shift stabilization

Ricoh has announced a new compact high end camera with a fixed focal length lens, the GR Digital IV. The GR Digital IV improves on the the GR Digital III with the quicker Hybrid AF focusing system, a new image engine and an improved optical filter. The improved autofocus system is up to twice as fast as the previous model. The camera also has a new high brightness 3-inch VGA LCD monitor.

At the heart of the camera are the approximately 10 million-pixel, 1/1.7 CCD and Ricoh's 28mm/F1.9 equivalent GR lens. It comes with the first image-sensor shift stabilization function in Ricoh's GR series. The GR Digital IV also adds support for wireless transfer by Eye-Fi SDHC storage cards. The camera uses standard SD and SDHC memory cards, to add ot its 40MB internal memory. Images can be captured in either JPEG (Exif ver. 2.3) or RAW (DNG) format. Movies can be recorded in either 640x480 or 320x240 resolution and are stored as AVI files.

For a fee, the camera can be customized synthetic resin replacement grips. Options include wood grain, carbon, and imitation leather.

Outer dimensions are 4.29in x 2.36in x 1.28in deep. The camera weighs approximately 7.8 ounces. It has both a USB 2.0 port and a HDMI micro output terminal. Battery life of Ricoh's rechargeable 3.6v DB-65, sold separately, is approximately 390 pictures. Ordinary alkaline batteries provide 30 pictures.

The Ricoh GR Digital IV will be available in mid-October. The black version will retail for £499 ($790). A limited edition white version, of which only 10,000 will be manufactured, will retail for £650 ($1,027). Ricoh's cameras have not usually shipped to the US, but should be available in Europe and Japan. [via Photography Blog]

By Electronista Staff