TL;DR (Eric’s take)
- All‑in on GR IV for street. He frames it as a mindset choice more than a spec sheet: “a tool that teaches you how to see.”
- Beats the iPhone for serious photography. He hammers “physics > algorithms,” praising the APS‑C sensor and raw files: “APS‑C sensor, 25+ megapixels of RAW truth.”
- 28mm discipline over options. Fixed prime = growth: “No zoom. No excuses. The GR gives you vision.”
- Snap Focus for decisive moments. He spotlights Snap Focus as the speed trick that makes street timing feel instant.
- Pocketable power, daily carry. He calls it a magnesium “pocketable” tool meant to live with you every day.
- Still wishes for built‑in flash. He’s happy a tiny GF‑2 flash is launching with GR IV, but he’s long said his wishlist is “bring back the flash.”
- Design skepticism, but overall hype. He pokes at the body being “same same”… and still tells you to go shoot.
Representative lines (short quotes)
- “A tool that teaches you how to see.” (Sep 12, 2025)
- “APS‑C sensor, 25+ megapixels of RAW TRUTH.”
- “No zoom. No excuses.”
- “Just bring back the flash.” (earlier GR IIIx thoughts, his perennial ask)
- “…why is it so same same?” (on GR IV design)
Context that explains his stance
- Eric’s been championing the GR ethos for years (from GRD IV days) — compact body, 28mm prime, shoot‑every‑day philosophy — so his GR IV excitement is consistent with his long‑running GR advocacy.
Bottom line: In Eric Kim’s world, the GR IV is a pocket‑sized, discipline‑building street camera that beats phones for real, intentional photography. He cheers the sensor, 28mm constraint, and Snap Focus; he still grumbles about the missing built‑in flash and the familiar body shape — then tells you to carry it daily and make work that punches.
Want a punchy buying POV from me next (pros/cons vs. GR III & X100V) in the same get‑out‑and‑shoot spirit?