The Japanese photographer Kimio Tanaka, who had Ricoh/Pentax insider information in the past and a good track record of reporting relevant information, recently mentioned that Rioch is not planning to release a monochrome Ricoh GR camera similar to the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome:
As soon as the PENTAX K-3 III MONOCHROME was released, there was a strong demand for a MONOCHROME model for the RICOH GR series. But RICOH will not make the GR MONOCHROME. I don’t even plan. 98% no, you can’t do it for some reason. Expecting, waiting, and demanding will all be in vain.
PENTAXのK-3 III MONOCHROMEが発売されると、すぐに「RICOH GRシリーズにもMONOCHROMEモデルを」との強い要望が寄せられたそうだ。
でもRICOHはGRのMONOCHROME化はやらないです。企画さえもしてない。ある理由でやりたくてもできない、98%否。期待しても待っても要望しても、ほぼ無駄でしょう。— 田中希美男 (@thisistanaka) July 12, 2023