When every ray of light is captured to its limit, a compelling drama emerges.

The imaging system is engineered exclusively for monochrome photography.

Optics That Truly Shine in Monochrome
F2.8 GR Lens

The camera features the 18.3mm (28mm in 35mm equivalent focal length) F2.8 GR lens. While inheriting the established design philosophy and incorporating successive advances in optical technology, the lens employs a 5-group 7-element construction, with a large, aspherical high-precision molded glass lens added as the final lens. To fully realize the performance of this lens, the imaging system has been optimized specifically for the monochrome-dedicated GR. The monochrome-dedicated image sensor is not equipped with a color filter and performs no interpolation processing, enabling the GR lens’s outstanding optical performance to be captured in its entirety. The result is exceptional resolution extending to the edges of the frame, rich gradation, and low distortion. The true potential of the GR lens is fully revealed in monochrome.

GR IV Monochrome : 18.3 mm (approx. 28 mm in 35 mm equivalent focal length), F2.8, 7 elements 5 groups

GR IV Monochrome (wave optic MTF, 15 lines/mm, 45 lines/mm)

Faithful Light Capture
Monochrome-Dedicated CMOS Image Sensor

To pursue the highest level of monochrome expression, a dedicated image sensor was developed. It does not use a color filter to acquire color information; instead, each pixel captures the brightness information of the subject and directly translates it into a monochrome image. This allows the sensor to receive more light information than a conventional color image sensor, resulting in sharper images with enhanced detail and improved sensitivity.

GR IV Monochrome Image Sensor

With its monochrome-dedicated sensor, the brightness information acquired by each pixel is applied directly to images without interpolation processing. This achieves nuanced detail, high resolution, and exceptional reproduction of tones for outstanding monochrome rendering.

Color Image Sensor

Conventional color sensors use color filters, acquiring one color information per pixel and generating a color image through interpolation processing using the color information from multiple pixels. This color image is converted to a monochrome image.

Color Image Sensor

Dedicated Monochrome Image Processing
GR ENGINE 7

To maximize the performance of the monochrome-dedicated image sensor, a new image-processing engine was developed. It performs none of the interpolation processing that is indispensable in color image sensors, allowing it to make full use of the brightness information captured by each pixel. This delivers high-definition and nuanced detail as well as rich tonal depth, achieving the imaging power demanded of a GR designed exclusively for monochrome photography.

Shot with the GR IV Monochrome （1/1000sec, F11, ISO51200, 0EV）

Shot with the GR IV （1/1000sec, F11, ISO51200, 0EV）

Expressive High-ISO Imaging
Maximum ISO 409600

With no color filter, the monochrome-dedicated sensor achieves higher sensitivity, expanding the usable ISO sensitivity range to ISO 160 to 409600. Even at high sensitivities, image detail remains abundant. Even at sensitivities where noise becomes noticeable in color models, this sensor renders a fine, grain-like texture at the pixel level. This allows shooting with a sense similar to the grainy appearance produced when black-and-white film is push-processed. In monochrome photography, high-ISO image quality can be used proactively as an expressive element.

When using ISO AUTO, the sensitivity range is ISO 160 to 25600.

High Resolution Made Possible by Monochrome
5-axis, 6-stop Image Stabilization

The camera is equipped with a 5-axis image stabilization mechanism that corrects angular shake, rotational shake, and even shift shake by driving the image sensor. With a high correction performance equivalent to 6.0* stops in shutter speed, it expands the limits of snap shooting. In the monochrome-dedicated imaging system, which makes use of brightness information captured by all pixels, this image stabilization is also highly effective. By compensating for the impact of camera shake, it produces high-resolution, high-definition monochrome images.