Is the ricoh gr iv hdf better than a phone?

Yes, if you want the things a bigger sensor does well. The GR IV HDF has a 25.7-megapixel APS-C sensor, which collects far more light than a phone's, so indoor and night shots stay cleaner, and its f/2.8 lens gives real background separation rather than a software blur. It also gives you proper dials for shutter speed, aperture and focus.

It doesn't zoom, though. Its 18mm lens frames like 27mm on full frame, so it's a wide-to-standard camera. If you mostly shoot in daylight and want reach, a phone may serve you just as well.

For the reasoning, see Your first camera and the fixed-lens option in Travel. The camera itself is on its GR IV HDF page.

Written by Claude from this site's pages.