realme GT 8 Pro: Partnership with Ricoh GR is official, street photography comes to smartphone
Realme has officially announced a long-term strategic partnership with Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd, marking a significant milestone for the Chinese brand.
The announcement was made at an event in Beijing, where the manufacturer confirmed that the realme GT 8 Pro would be the first smartphone featuring a camera system co-developed with Ricoh, incorporating several elements from the legendary Ricoh GR series.
Realme + Ricoh: A Strategic Alliance for a New Generation of Photographers
According to Realme, this partnership is the result of four years of research and development, with a clear goal: to reinvent mobile photography for young creators, beyond conventional standards.
The philosophy of this collaboration, dubbed “Snap by No Rules,” emphasizes creative freedom and spontaneity—two core values of the street photography culture associated with Ricoh.
The R&D teams of both brands have collaborated closely to integrate Ricoh GR’s optical and ergonomic expertise into a smartphone format, adjusting imaging algorithms and lens design.
An Optics Co-Developed to Ricoh GR Standards
The realme GT 8 Pro features a new ultra-high transparency lens group, co-developed to meet Ricoh GR’s official optical standards.
This optics is designed to offer:
- advanced glare reduction,
- increased resolution across the entire sensor,
- and minimal distortion,
- ensuring clear, sharp images that are true to reality.
This approach aligns with Ricoh’s philosophy: prioritizing optical purity and tonal consistency over artificial post-processing effects.
The Ricoh GR Mode: An Iconic Photo Experience in Your Pocket
For purists, Realme has integrated an exclusive Ricoh GR mode, featuring an interface and behavior inspired by GR cameras.
Key features include:
- Snap Mode: allows users to set a predefined focusing distance for instant capture without autofocus, ideal for street photography.
- Viewfinder Mode: masks all icons on the screen for a pure framing experience.
- Fast Operation: ultra-fast startup and the iconic shutter click of the Ricoh GR IV for complete immersion.
This special mode is aimed at photographers who want to experience the GR feel without carrying dedicated equipment.
Focal Lengths and Renders True to the GR Philosophy
The realme GT 8 Pro will include two iconic fixed focal lengths from the Ricoh GR series:
- 28 mm (full-frame equivalent) for urban and street scenes,
- 40 mm for more intimate compositions.
Regarding processing, Realme will incorporate all five historical color rendering options from Ricoh: Standard, Positive Film, Negative Film, Monotone, and High-Contrast B&W. A “Customized Tone” mode will also allow users to adjust image settings to create their own profile—a nod to the “recipes” photo culture of the GR community.
A Creative and Participative Community
Beyond the hardware, Realme and Ricoh aim to build a community of photographers around the realme GT 8 Pro.
The smartphone will offer:
- Ricoh GR watermarks,
- albums dedicated to the GR style,
- and community sharing of “tone recipes” between users.
This approach emphasizes the transmission of photographic heritage while modernizing the practice with smartphone tools.
A Global Launch After China
The realme GT 8 Pro will first be revealed in China at the end of October, followed by a global rollout in the following weeks. The device aims to combine Ricoh’s photographic expertise with Realme’s technological power to appeal to both street photography enthusiasts and mainstream users.
“This partnership marks a turning point in mobile photography,” stated Chase Xu, Vice President and CMO of Realme. “The realme GT 8 Pro embodies freedom, creativity, and authenticity while honoring the GR legacy.”
Kazunobu Saiki, General Manager of Ricoh Imaging, added: “This collaboration goes beyond technology. It aims to revitalize the culture of street photography for a new generation of creators.”
