Summary
- Ricoh has announced plans for the RICOH GR IV 30th Anniversary Edition
- The special model celebrates 30 years since the original RICOH GR1 launched in 1996
- Production will be limited to 6,000 units worldwide
- The release is planned for autumn 2026
- The camera specifications will remain the same as the standard RICOH GR IV
- The edition will include special design elements and commemorative accessories
Ricoh Imaging has announced that it is preparing the RICOH GR IV 30th Anniversary Edition, a limited special model celebrating 30 years of the GR series.
The new special edition is based on the RICOH GR IV and is being created to commemorate the original RICOH GR1, the compact film camera introduced in October 1996 that became the starting point for one of the most recognizable camera lines for street and snapshot photography.
The move is significant because the GR series has maintained the same core philosophy for three decades: high image quality, quick response and portability, elements that made it popular among professionals, advanced amateurs and street photographers.
Limited production of 6,000 units
RICOH GR IV 30th Anniversary Edition is currently a tentative name, with Ricoh planning its release for autumn 2026.
Production will be limited to 6,000 units worldwide, while the price has not yet been announced. The company says the full official announcement is expected around autumn, when more details about availability and sales will be revealed.
What changes in the anniversary edition
The special edition will be based on the standard RICOH GR IV, with the camera’s technical specifications remaining the same as the regular model.
The differences focus on design and collectible elements. The shutter release button and rear buttons will feature a paint finish inspired by the original GR1, while the camera will ship with a special GN-3 (30th) ring cap with a diamond-cut finish.
In addition, when the camera is powered off, it will display a dedicated power-off screen featuring a GR 30th anniversary design.
The special accessories included
Ricoh will bundle the anniversary GR IV with special items that enhance its collector appeal.
The package will include a metal GK-2 (30th) hot shoe cover with a commemorative design, a GS-4 (30th) finger strap, and a set of special pin badges inspired by successive GR series models.
The metal GK-2 (30th) hot shoe cover and GS-4 (30th) finger strap are also planned to be sold separately. At the same time, the company is preparing the GK-1 (30th) metal hot shoe cover for the RICOH GR III and GR IIIx series.
From the GR1 to the GR IV
The GR series began in 1996 with the RICOH GR1, a compact film camera with a 28mm F2.8 GR lens that established the series’ philosophy around a small body, a wide-angle fixed focal length and immediate shooting response.
In 2005, the series entered the digital era with the RICOH GR DIGITAL, which featured a 1/1.8-inch CCD sensor with approximately 8.13 effective megapixels.
Ricoh continued to evolve the series, reaching the RICOH GR IV in 2025 and later the RICOH GR IV Monochrome, which is based on the same generation and features an APS-C-size monochrome CMOS sensor with approximately 25.74 effective megapixels.
Forever a Snapshooter
For the 30th anniversary, Ricoh is using the message “Forever a Snapshooter,” expressing the GR series’ enduring identity as a tool for immediate photography.
The company has already introduced an anniversary logo and is planning special items and fan events in different markets as part of the celebrations marking three decades since the first GR1.
What we think
The RICOH GR IV 30th Anniversary Edition clearly appears to target GR fans and collectors, rather than users expecting a technical upgrade. The real interest lies in the limited production run, the references to the original GR1 and the continuation of a philosophy that remains almost unique in the premium compact camera market.
Frequently asked questions
When will the RICOH GR IV 30th Anniversary Edition be released?
Ricoh is planning its release for autumn 2026.
How many units will be produced?
Production will be limited to 6,000 units worldwide.
Will it have different technical specifications from the RICOH GR IV?
No. Ricoh says the rest of the camera specifications will be the same as the standard model.
What accessories will it include?
It will include a special GK-2 (30th) metal hot shoe cover, a GS-4 (30th) finger strap and a set of pin badges inspired by GR series models.
Has the price been announced?
No. The price has not yet been announced.
