I just curious about how the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome’s photo looks like, especially when compared to full frame cameras with color sensors. So I took the same photo with three cameras, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome, the Lumix S5M2, and the Sigma fp L.

All photos are taken with 1/25s shutter speed, f/8 aperture, and ISO 16000. EV is about +1/3. Focus on Anya’s foot.

For Ricoh GR IV Monochrome, the photo is taken with standard picture mode, saved in JPEG format.

Ricoh GR IV Monochrome R0008819

For Lumix S5M2 and Sigma fp L, the photos are taken with the same lens, the LUMIX S Series 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO L-Mount Camera Lens, at 28mm focal length. The photos are using the camera’s built-in monochrome mode, saved in JPEG format.

Lumix S5M2 P1147855

Sigma fp L SDIM3875

The result is quite impressive. The Ricoh GR IV Monochrome’s photo have better details in the dark areas. And the transition from light to dark is much more smoother. FP L have more pixels, it can bring back more details in the dark areas, but still not clean and comfortable as the GR IV Monochrome.

You can zoom in the photos to see the details, it’s noticable on the edge and surface details of Anya’s hand, also the text on Scarlett Solo.

So even the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome only have a APS-C sensor, it’s really impressive how much better the monochrome sensor can perform compared to the a full frame camera with color sensor.