Compare · 2 products compared
Nikon Z5IIvsRicoh GR IV: Which Camera to Buy?
These two take different routes to the same photo. The Nikon Z5II is a full-frame interchangeable-lens body with a viewfinder, fast burst shooting and 4K video. The Ricoh GR IV is a pocketable APS-C fixed-lens camera you can carry every day. That trade-off decides the purchase.
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- MOST WINS
NikonBest for Enthusiasts and hybrid shooters who want full-frame stills, 4K video and interchangeable lenses.
15of 22 specs better - Ricoh
Best for Everyday and street photographers who value a pocketable camera above all else.
7of 22 specs better
Biggest differences
Weight
Ricoh GR IV leads
2.67×
lower is better
- Nikon Z5II700 g
- Ricoh GR IV262 g
Memory card slots
Nikon Z5II leads
2×
higher is better
- Nikon Z5II2 slots
- Ricoh GR IV1 slots
Native ISO maximum
Ricoh GR IV leads
3.2×
higher is better
- Nikon Z5II64,000 ISO
- Ricoh GR IV204,800 ISO
Depth
Ricoh GR IV leads
2.2×
lower is better
- Nikon Z5II72 mm
- Ricoh GR IV32.7 mm
Features not all of them have
Headphone port
- Nikon Z5II✓
- Ricoh GR IV✕
Where each one wins
Nikon Z5II
- Sensor format
- In-body image stabilization
- Sensor type
- Continuous shooting (mechanical)
- Max mechanical shutter speed
- Max video resolution
- Raw video recording
- Viewfinder resolution
- Screen size
- Screen articulation
- Rear screen resolution
- Battery life
- Memory card slots
- Headphone port
- HDMI port type
Ricoh GR IV
- Launch price
- Effective pixels
- Native ISO maximum
- Weight
- Width
- Height
- Depth
What both have
- USB charging & power delivery✓
Every spec
Red marks the better value in each row.
| Spec | Nikon Z5II | Ricoh GR IV |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Release date | 2025-04 | Not published |
| Launch price | 1,696.95 USD | 1,499 USD1 |
| Lens mount | Nikon Z | Fixed lens |
| High resolution pixel-shift mode | Yes2 | Not published |
| Sensor & Image | ||
| Effective pixels | 24.5 MP | 25.74 MP |
| Sensor format | Full-frame | APS-C |
| Native ISO maximum | 64,000 ISO | 204,800 ISO |
| In-body image stabilization | 7.5 stops | 6 stops3 |
| Sensor readout speed | Not published | Not published |
| Sensor type | Partially-stacked CMOS | CMOS4 |
| Aspect ratios | — | 3:2, 4:3, 1:1, 16:95 |
| Lens & Autofocus | ||
| Continuous shooting (mechanical) | 7.8 fps | 4 fps6 |
| Continuous shooting (electronic) | 30 fps | Not published |
| Max mechanical shutter speed | 8,000 1/s | 4,000 1/s7 |
| Pre-burst capture duration | Not published | Not published |
| AF subject detection | Human, animal, bird, car, train, airplane, motorcycle | Human8 |
| Video | ||
| Max video resolution | 4K | 1080p |
| 4K max frame rate | 60 fps | Not published |
| Video codecs | H.264, HEVC, N-RAW | H.264 |
| 4K max frame rate (full width) | 30 fps | Not published |
| Raw video recording | Internal | None |
| Video bit depth | 10 bit | Not published |
| Log profile support | Yes | Not published |
| Video dynamic range (log) | Not published | Not published |
| Viewfinder & Screen | ||
| Viewfinder resolution | 3.69 M dots | 0 M dots |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.8 x | Not published |
| Screen size | 3.2 in | 3 in |
| Screen articulation | Fully articulated | Fixed |
| Rear screen resolution | 2.1 M dots | 1.037 M dots |
| Handling & Power | ||
| Battery life | 350 shots | 250 shots9 |
| Memory card slots | 2 slots | 1 slots10 |
| Weather sealing | Dust and drip resistant | Not published |
| Weight | 700 g | 262 g |
| Width | 134 mm | 109.4 mm |
| Height | 100.5 mm | 61.1 mm |
| Depth | 72 mm | 32.7 mm |
| USB charging & power delivery | Yes | Yes11 |
| Minimum operating temperature | 0 °C | Not published |
| Headphone port | Yes | No |
| HDMI port type | Micro | None12 |
Notes on 12 values — test conditions and caveats
- 1Ricoh GR IV, Launch price: Launch MSRP per the review; Ricoh's US store currently lists $1,599.95.
- 2Nikon Z5II, High resolution pixel-shift mode: Pixel-shift composite raises resolution to 96MP, but images must be combined in NX Studio on a computer.
- 3Ricoh GR IV, In-body image stabilization: Ricoh's 6.0-stop rating applies at frame centre; periphery is rated 4.0 stops (CIPA 2024).
- 4Ricoh GR IV, Sensor type: The sensor is a back-illuminated (BSI) CMOS type; mapped to 'cmos' as no BSI option is listed.
- 5Ricoh GR IV, Aspect ratios: 3:2 is native to the 23.3 x 15.5 mm sensor; 4:3, 1:1 and 16:9 are in-camera crop modes.
- 6Ricoh GR IV, Continuous shooting (mechanical): The review cites 4 fps continuous without specifying shutter type.
- 7Ricoh GR IV, Max mechanical shutter speed: 1/4000 s requires F5.6 or a smaller aperture; at F2.8 the limit is 1/2500 s.
- 8Ricoh GR IV, AF subject detection: Only face/eye detection is offered; no animal or vehicle subject recognition is listed.
- 9Ricoh GR IV, Battery life: CIPA-rated at 23°C with a fully charged DB-120 battery.
- 10Ricoh GR IV, Memory card slots: Single microSD slot, plus 53 GB internal memory that cannot record to both at once.
- 11Ricoh GR IV, USB charging & power delivery: Battery charges and camera draws power in-body over USB-C; fast charging needs a USB-PD adapter.
- 12Ricoh GR IV, HDMI port type: Video output is DisplayPort over USB-C; there is no HDMI connector.
Sensor and low light
The Nikon's full-frame sensor captures more total light than the Ricoh's APS-C chip, so expect cleaner files indoors and at dusk, plus shallower depth of field for portraits. That is the single biggest image-quality advantage on this page.
Ricoh counters with a higher pixel count and a much higher native ISO ceiling, and the sensor is back-illuminated, which helps in dim scenes. Neither figure beats a larger sensor for noise, though. Choose the Nikon if low light and background blur matter; the Ricoh only wins if you need the smallest possible body.
Size and carrying it
This is the Ricoh's whole reason to exist. At 262 g and barely 33 mm deep, it disappears into a jacket pocket, so it is the camera you actually have with you. The Nikon weighs 700 g before you add a lens.
That portability costs you the interchangeable mount, the viewfinder and two card slots. If your shooting happens on trips, walks and nights out, the Ricoh's dimensions matter more than any spec sheet number. If you shoot planned sessions and want to grow a lens collection, the Nikon is the more capable body.
Video
The gap here is wide. The Nikon records 4K up to 60 fps, offers 10-bit depth, a log profile, HEVC and internal raw, plus a headphone jack for monitoring. That is a genuine video tool.
The Ricoh tops out at 1080p with H.264 and no headphone or HDMI port. Buy the Nikon if video is more than occasional clips; the Ricoh is fine for casual capture but will frustrate anyone editing seriously.
Autofocus and speed
The Nikon recognises people, animals, birds, cars, trains, planes and motorcycles, and shoots far faster in bursts with a quicker mechanical shutter. Sports, wildlife and moving kids all favour it.
The Ricoh's subject detection covers faces and eyes only, and its burst rate is roughly half. For street and travel portraits that is usually enough, but it is not a camera for action.
Stabilisation and battery
Nikon's in-body stabilisation is rated higher, which helps handheld shots at slow shutter speeds, and battery life is around a third longer per charge. On a long day out that difference is real.
The Ricoh's stabilisation rating is strong at frame centre but weaker toward the edges, so corner sharpness at slow speeds is less assured. USB-C charging works on both, so a power bank can top either one up in the field.
The Verdict
Buy the Nikon Z5II if you want full-frame image quality, serious 4K video, fast autofocus and room to change lenses. Buy the Ricoh GR IV if the camera only earns its keep when it fits in your pocket and you shoot stills on the move. Neither is a compromise on the other's terms; they solve different problems.
Where to buy
Nikon Z5II
Best for Enthusiasts and hybrid shooters who want full-frame stills, 4K video and interchangeable lenses.
Ricoh GR IV
Best for Everyday and street photographers who value a pocketable camera above all else.
FAQ
Does the Nikon Z5II have a viewfinder and the Ricoh GR IV not?
Yes. The Nikon has a 3.69M-dot electronic viewfinder; the Ricoh has none, so you compose on its rear screen only.
Can I change lenses on the Ricoh GR IV?
No. It has a fixed lens, while the Nikon uses the Nikon Z mount and accepts interchangeable lenses.
Which is cheaper to buy?
The Ricoh lists lower at launch, though Ricoh's US store currently shows a higher price than that MSRP. Check both before deciding.
Is the Ricoh GR IV weather sealed?
Ricoh does not publish a weather-sealing rating for it. The Nikon is rated dust and drip resistant.
Can the Nikon Z5II shoot in low light better than the Ricoh?
Its full-frame sensor gathers more light, which typically means cleaner high-ISO files, even though the Ricoh lists a higher native ISO ceiling.
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