The kit

Your Gear

L'attrezzatura

A quick reference for the camera and filters in your pocket. Figures are as of writing and easy to update. The full story lives in the gear lessons.

Ricoh GR IV

Announced: 20 August 2025
Shipped: September 2025
Price (as of writing): $1,499.95
Sensor: 25.74 MP APS-C
Lens: 18.3mm f/2.8 (28mm equivalent)
Engine: GR ENGINE 7
Max ISO: 204,800
Autofocus: Hybrid phase-detect autofocus (new for the GR IV)
Stabilization: 5-axis in-body stabilization, roughly 6 stops
Built-in ND: 2-stop
Internal storage: 53 GB
Startup: about 0.6 seconds

Snap-focus distances: 1m, 1.5m, 2m, 2.5m, 3.5m, 5m, and infinity. The legendary setting is f/8 at 2m. Daido Moriyama shoots this camera line; treat it as a notebook you always carry.

Read Lesson 1, The GR IV, Your Tool

Freewell Filters

Kit: Lens Hood with 3-Filter Kit for Ricoh GR IV
Model: FW-GRIV-RLH-B
Price (as of writing): $129.99
Optional ND set: Freewell magnetic ND8/16/32 set ($79.99)

· UV / Haze: protection, leave on, remove in tricky backlight.
· CPL: the creative one. Wet cobbles, windows, sky tone for black and white. Costs 1 to 2 stops.
· Glow Mist: cinematic halation on highlights. Use sparingly.
· Lens hood: shades the front element from flare.
· Stack at most CPL plus one ND. Never all four at once.

Read Lesson 2, The Freewell Filter Kit

Wrist Strap and Carry

Thread the wrist strap through the lower loop so the camera hangs clear of the dials. Walk with it in your shooting hand, on and ready, so you go from arm-down to a made frame in under a second. Practice one-handed and hip shots for candid work.

Read Lesson 3, The Wrist Strap and Carry