You asked
What camera should I buy instead of the ricoh gr iv hdf?
If you like the GR IV HDF's pocket size and its diffusion filter but want a different pick, look at the two earlier Ricoh GRs. The GR IIIx HDF and the GR III HDF both have a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor and the same switchable highlight diffusion filter. Both were announced in 2024, a year before the GR IV, so they're the closest match.
If you'd rather change the kind of camera, the street page covers the Fujifilm X100 series and small Micro Four Thirds bodies, which are good for walking around with. For a first camera or a different approach, the first camera guide explains why a mirrorless body with a kit zoom, or a 1-inch compact, is often the better buy.
Written by Claude from this site's pages.