Ricoh GR IV Firmware Update

credits: Ricoh

A New firmware update (version 1.11) for the Ricoh GR IV and GR IV HDF is here, and the big news is that the standard GR IV now gets an electronic shutter. That feature was already available on the GR IV HDF and the GR IV Monochrome, and Ricoh had said it would eventually make its way to the regular model. With this update, all three GR IV variants are now up to date when it comes to high-speed shooting.

The addition matters because of how the GR IV handles exposure at wide apertures. The mechanical shutter tops out at 1/4000s, but that speed is only fully available at f/5.6 and smaller apertures. At wider apertures like f/2.8 to f/4, the maximum mechanical shutter speed drops to 1/2500s, and to 1/3200s between f/4.5 and f/5. In bright daylight, that can make it difficult to shoot wide open without overexposing. The electronic shutter solves that by extending the maximum speed up to 1/16,000s, which gives a lot more flexibility when working at fast apertures in strong light.

There are some compromises, though. As with most electronic shutters, there is a risk of rolling shutter distortion, especially when shooting fast-moving subjects. Vertical lines can lean, and motion can look slightly warped. In addition to the new shutter option, firmware 1.11 also brings general performance and stability improvements to both the GR IV and GR IV HDF, although Ricoh has not gone into detail about what actually changed.

You can download the update on Ricoh’s website here