Ricoh Expands Capabilities of GR IV Series with Electronic Shutter Update

News

Feb 13

Ricoh Imaging has officially released firmware version 1.11 for the Ricoh GR IV and Ricoh GR IV HDF, bringing a significant performance boost to the standard model. The update introduces a dedicated electronic shutter function, a feature previously reserved for the specialized HDF and Monochrome editions of the camera.

Breaking the Mechanical Limit

The standard Ricoh GR IV features a built-in Neutral Density (ND) filter, but its mechanical leaf shutter is physically capped at 1/4000s. Even then, the mechanical shutter is limited to 1/2500s when shooting wide open at f/2.8.

With the new firmware, users can now utilize an electronic shutter that reaches speeds up to 1/16,000s. This allows photographers to shoot at wide apertures in extremely bright conditions without overexposing the frame effectively giving the standard GR IV the same high-speed flexibility as its siblings.

Tailored for High-Contrast Environments

The electronic shutter is particularly beneficial for photographers who prefer shooting in high-contrast or bright daylight environments. By bypassing the physical shutter's speed ceiling, the camera can now freeze motion and manage highlights with much greater precision.

However, Ricoh notes that the electronic shutter comes with the standard trade-off of rolling shutter distortion. Photographers capturing fast-moving subjects—such as vehicles or sports—may notice slanting or circular distortion in their images when using these ultra-high speeds.

Firmware Highlights

Electronic Shutter: Now available on the standard GR IV, matching the 1/16,000s speed of the HDF and Monochrome versions.
Improved Stability: Version 1.11 also includes general performance enhancements and stability fixes for both the GR IV and the GR IV HDF.
Availability: The update is available for download immediately via the Ricoh Imaging support website.

This update effectively bridges the gap between the various models in the GR IV lineup, ensuring that regardless of whether a user chooses the ND filter of the standard model or the specialized filters of the HDF and Monochrome versions, they all share the same high-speed capture potential.