Ricoh GR IV Monochrome

Ricoh's GR IV Monochrome is a compact built around one idea: black-and-white photography. At 262g it is easy to keep close at hand, ready whenever the light turns interesting.

The fixed 18.3mm lens gives a 28mm full-frame-equivalent view, paired with an F2.8 aperture and a 25.74MP APS-C sensor. That combination suits photographers who settle on one focal length and build pictures in tones rather than colour.

Daily handling stays simple. A 3-inch touchscreen handles settings, but the screen does not tilt and there is no weather sealing, so it is best kept out of the wet.

The heart of this camera is its fixed prime. At 18.3mm it delivers a 28mm full-frame-equivalent view, a wide angle that takes in streets, interiors and small groups. With no zoom available, you frame by moving yourself rather than standing still.

The F2.8 maximum aperture is moderate rather than fast. It is workable for indoor and evening light, though not a fast lens for very dim scenes, so expect to work with the light you find.

Ricoh built the lens from seven elements in five groups, including aspherical elements. That construction keeps the optic small enough to suit a compact body.

The sensor offers 25.74MP on an APS-C format. Because the lens does not zoom, you tighten a composition either by moving or by cropping, and that resolution headroom makes a substantial crop a practical option.

Video tops out at Full HD, recorded in H.264. That is enough for online clips and documentary-style sequences, but there is no 4K option if you need finer detail or room to crop footage in editing.

The H.264 recording format is a practical choice. It is a widely supported codec, so files play back on most devices without conversion and fit easily into common editing software.

Footage shares the fixed 28mm-equivalent lens with stills, so video carries the same street-level perspective as your photographs. Sticking to Full HD also keeps file sizes modest compared with higher-resolution recording, which eases the strain on memory cards and storage over a long day of shooting.

Settings run through a 3-inch touchscreen. Tapping to change settings is direct and quick, and that suits how this camera is meant to be used: lifted to the eye in a moment from a compact 262g body.

The screen is fixed in place. You compose at eye level, with no tilting for waist-level or overhead angles, which matters if you often shoot low to the ground or over crowds.

There is no weather sealing. Rain, spray and dusty wind call for shelter, a case or a change of plan, so this camera is best kept for dry days and sheltered spots.