Ultra Wide
126° FoV
ƒ/1.95
48MP · Autofocus · Macro Focus
Google Pixel Camera Settings Guide
Google Pixel 8 Pro Camera Settings
Apple iPhone
Google Pixel
Camera System
Three cameras powered by Tensor G3 — the Pixel 8 Pro introduced a game-changing 48MP telephoto and Pro Controls
Main
25mm
ƒ/1.68
50MP · OIS · 1/1.31" sensor
2× Zoom
50mm equiv.
ƒ/1.68
12.5MP · Crop from main sensor
5× Telephoto
112mm
ƒ/2.8
48MP · OIS · 30× Super Res Zoom
| Spec | Ultra Wide | Main | 5× Telephoto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | 48MP |
| Focal Length | ~16mm (126° FoV) | 25mm | 112mm |
| Aperture | ƒ/1.95 | ƒ/1.68 | ƒ/2.8 |
| Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/1.31" | 1/2.55" |
| OIS | No | Yes (sensor-shift) | Yes (sensor-shift) |
| Autofocus | Yes (PDAF) | Yes (PDAF + Laser AF) | Yes (PDAF) |
| Macro | Yes (Macro Focus) | No | No |
Massive telephoto upgrade: The Pixel 8 Pro jumped from the Pixel 7 Pro's 10.8MP telephoto to a 48MP telephoto — more than 4× the resolution. This makes the 8 Pro the first Pixel with a truly competitive zoom camera.
Best Photo Settings
Recommended settings for the six most common shooting scenarios on Pixel 8 Pro
Portrait
Portrait Mode
Lens1× or 2× zoom
FormatJPEG (default)
BlurAdjust depth after capture
Real ToneOn (accurate skin tones)
TipBest Take for group shots
Landscape
Camera App
Lens0.5× Ultra Wide (126°)
FormatRAW+JPEG for editing
HDR+Enhanced (auto)
GridOn (rule of thirds)
TipPro Controls for manual WB
Night
Night Sight
Lens1× Main (25mm)
Night SightAuto (1–6s)
FlashOff
StabilityBrace or tripod
TipTripod triggers Astrophotography
Action / Sports
Camera App
Lens5× Telephoto (112mm)
Action PanOn (motion blur bg)
Top ShotOn (pick best frame)
FormatJPEG for speed
TipPro Controls: fast shutter
Street
Camera App
Lens1× or 2× (25–50mm)
FormatJPEG
HDR+Auto
Quick TapDouble-tap power to launch
TipPhoto Unblur rescues old shots
Macro
Camera App
Lens0.5× Ultra Wide (auto)
Macro FocusAuto-activates close up
FormatRAW+JPEG for detail
LightAvoid phone shadow
TipPro Controls for manual focus
Best Video Settings
Resolution, frame rate, and stabilization options on the Pixel 8 Pro
Recommended Presets
4K
24fps
Cinematic look
4K
30fps
Best all-round
4K
60fps
Smooth motion
1080p
30fps
Smaller files
1080p
60fps
Smooth + compact
1080p
240fps
Slow motion
| Use Case | Resolution | FPS | Stabilization | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media Best | 4K | 30 | Standard | HDR10+ with Video Boost |
| Vlog / Talking Head | 4K | 30 | Locked | Front camera 10.5MP |
| Travel / Run-and-gun | 4K | 30 | Active | Slight crop for EIS |
| Cinematic | 4K | 24 | Standard | Film-like motion cadence |
| Action / Sports | 4K | 60 | Active | Best motion clarity |
| Slow Motion | 1080p | 240 | Standard | 8× slowdown at 30fps playback |
Video Boost: This is the first Pixel to offer Video Boost — cloud-enhanced video processing that dramatically improves HDR, stabilization, and low-light video. Enable it in Camera → Settings → Video Boost. Requires Wi-Fi for upload and Google One storage.
Key Features
What sets the Pixel 8 Pro apart — Pro Controls, Video Boost, and the best Pixel telephoto yet
Pro Controls
Manual control over ISO, shutter speed, focus distance, and white balance directly in the Google Camera app. The first Pixel to offer native manual controls without needing third-party apps.
New in Pixel 8 ProVideo Boost
Cloud-based video processing that enhances HDR, stabilization, and enables Night Sight Video. Your footage is uploaded to Google's servers for processing, then replaced on your device with the enhanced version.
New in Pixel 8 Pro48MP 5× Telephoto
A massive upgrade from the Pixel 7 Pro's 10.8MP telephoto. The new 48MP sensor captures dramatically more detail, with a wider ƒ/2.8 aperture for better low-light zoom photography and 30× Super Res Zoom.
New in Pixel 8 ProNight Sight (Improved)
Enhanced Night Sight with faster processing on Tensor G3, better noise reduction, and improved color accuracy in extreme low light. Astrophotography mode captures star trails and the Milky Way on a tripod.
ImprovedRecommended Setup
Key settings to configure in the Google Camera app on your Pixel 8 Pro
Photo
Photo resolution
50 MP (full)
RAW+JPEG control
RAW+JPEG
Pro Controls
Enabled
Video
Video resolution
4K (2160p)
Frame rate
30 fps
Video stabilization
Standard
Video Boost
On
Composition
Grid type
3 × 3
Framing hints
On
Advanced
Frequent Faces
On
Palm timer
On
Camera → Settings
Recommended configuration
Pro Controls tip: Swipe to the Pro mode in the camera mode carousel to access manual ISO, shutter speed, focus, and white balance. Pro Controls combined with RAW capture gives you DSLR-like control over your images.
Storage & File Sizes
How much you can fit on your Pixel 8 Pro (128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB)
4K 30fps Video Recording Time
128 GB
5.5
hrs
~350 MB/min at 4K30
256 GB
11
hrs
Best value for most users
512 GB
23
hrs
Ideal for heavy shooters
1 TB
46
hrs
Maximum capacity
| File Type | Format | Approximate Size |
|---|---|---|
| Photo (JPEG) | 12.5MP (default binned) | 2 – 5 MB |
| Photo (50MP full res) | JPEG | 8 – 15 MB |
| Photo (RAW + JPEG) | DNG + JPEG | ~25 MB per pair |
| Video (4K 30fps) | H.264/HEVC | ~350 MB/min |
| Video (4K 60fps) | H.264/HEVC | ~500 MB/min |
| Video (1080p 30fps) | H.264/HEVC | ~130 MB/min |
| Slow Motion (1080p 240fps) | H.264 | ~400 MB/min |
Pro Tips & Gotchas
Pixel 8 Pro-specific tips to get the most out of your camera
Pro Controls Workflow
- Swipe to Pro mode in the camera carousel for manual settings
- Set ISO 50–100 in bright light to minimize noise
- Use manual focus for precise macro shots with the ultrawide
- Lock white balance to tungsten (3200K) for warm golden-hour shots
Night Sight Mastery
- Night Sight activates automatically in low light — look for the moon icon
- For Astrophotography, mount on a tripod and wait for the star icon
- Astrophotography exposures run 1–4 minutes — phone must remain still
- Night Sight works on all three rear cameras and the front camera
Magic Eraser & Editing
- Magic Eraser auto-suggests distracting objects — tap to remove
- Photo Unblur can rescue old blurry photos from any camera
- Best Take swaps faces across multiple group shots for best expressions
- Use camouflage mode to change colors of distracting objects instead of removing
Video Boost Tips
- Video Boost only processes when connected to Wi-Fi
- Processing happens in Google's cloud — can take several hours
- Night Sight Video via Boost is the biggest quality improvement
- Processed clips replace the original and count against Google One storage
Telephoto Strategy
- 0.5×, 1×, 2×, 5×, and 10× are the sharpest zoom levels
- The 48MP telephoto is a huge upgrade — use 5× confidently now
- Super Res Zoom up to 30× — quality is usable to about 15×
- Moon photography: use 5× telephoto + Night Sight for best results
Temperature Sensor
- Located near the camera bar — measures surface temperature of objects
- Use the Thermometer app for food, liquids, and cooking surfaces
- FDA-cleared for body temperature measurement (forehead) via software update
- Not a replacement for medical thermometers in clinical settings
Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 7 Pro
What changed for cameras between generations
Feature
Pixel 7 Pro
Pixel 8 Pro
Chip
Tensor G2
Tensor G3
Telephoto
10.8MP 5× ƒ/3.5
48MP 5× ƒ/2.8 4.4×
Pro Controls
—
Yes New
Video Boost
—
Yes New
Main Camera
50MP ƒ/1.85
50MP ƒ/1.68
Ultra Wide
12MP ƒ/2.2
48MP ƒ/1.95
Night Sight
Yes
Improved Better
Max Video
4K 60fps
4K 60fps
Temperature Sensor
—
Yes New
Display
6.7"
6.7"
Worth the upgrade? Absolutely for zoom photography. The leap from 10.8MP to 48MP telephoto is transformative. Pro Controls add serious manual photography capability, and Video Boost makes Pixel video competitive with iPhone for the first time. The Pixel 8 Pro represents the biggest camera upgrade in Pixel history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Google Pixel 8 Pro camera
What are Pro Controls on the Pixel 8 Pro?
Pro Controls give you manual control over ISO, shutter speed, focus distance, and white balance directly in the Google Camera app. This is the first Pixel to offer these manual controls natively — previous models required third-party apps like Open Camera or Camera FV-5. Access Pro Controls by swiping to the Pro mode in the camera mode carousel. They work alongside RAW capture for maximum editing flexibility.
What is Video Boost on the Pixel 8 Pro?
Video Boost is a cloud-based video processing feature introduced on the Pixel 8 Pro. After you record a video, the footage is uploaded to Google's servers over Wi-Fi, where it receives enhanced HDR+ processing, improved stabilization, and Night Sight Video enhancement. The processed video then replaces the original on your device. Processing can take several hours depending on the length of the clip. Video Boost clips count against your Google One storage quota.
Does the Pixel 8 Pro have a temperature sensor?
Yes. The Pixel 8 Pro includes an infrared temperature sensor located near the rear camera bar. It measures the surface temperature of objects — useful for checking food temperature, bath water, cooking surfaces, and more. The Thermometer app provides readings in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. In early 2024, Google received FDA clearance for the sensor to measure body temperature (forehead), though it is not intended to replace clinical medical thermometers.
How does the Pixel 8 Pro telephoto compare to the Pixel 7 Pro?
The Pixel 8 Pro has a dramatically improved telephoto: 48MP with ƒ/2.8 aperture at 112mm, compared to the Pixel 7 Pro's 10.8MP at ƒ/3.5 and 120mm. That's over 4× more resolution and a wider aperture for better low-light performance. The 8 Pro's telephoto produces noticeably sharper, more detailed zoom shots, and Super Res Zoom quality above 10× is significantly improved thanks to the higher base resolution.
Can the Pixel 8 Pro shoot RAW photos?
Yes. Enable RAW+JPEG in Camera Settings to save both a RAW (DNG) file and a processed JPEG for every shot. RAW files contain the full sensor data before Google's computational processing, giving you maximum flexibility for editing in apps like Adobe Lightroom, Snapseed, or Google Photos. When combined with Pro Controls for manual exposure, the Pixel 8 Pro offers a workflow comparable to dedicated cameras.