Google Pixel Camera Settings Guide
Google Pixel 7 Pro Camera Settings
Seven quick steps to photos and video that look like they came from a real camera. Each one shows the exact screen to match.
.5
1×
2
5
Portrait Photo Video
Where you'll end up
- RAW + JPEG on
- Framing hints on
- 1× as your default lens
Seven steps. One setup.
The settings that shape every photo and video, in the order to change them. Each step explains what it does and why it matters.
- Photo qualityRAW + JPEG and Ultra HDR
- Open it fasterDouble press, Palm timer, and Frequent Faces
- CompositionFraming hints and a 3 × 3 grid
- In the viewfinderRAW, a brightness nudge, and the 1× lens
- Video4K 60 for social, 24 fps for film
- The lookExposure and grading, side by side
- The lensesFour zoom stops, from 0.5× to 5×
Step 01
Let HDR+ work. Add RAW when it counts.
Camera Settings More settings Advanced
Pixel photos come out of the camera well processed. These rows add the headroom to edit.
- RAW/JPEG control
- On
- In More settings, Advanced. It adds a RAW + JPEG choice to the camera.
- RAW/JPEG
- RAW + JPEG
- Saves a DNG beside every JPEG, for the shots you plan to edit.
- Ultra HDR
- On
- Keeps extra highlight detail for HDR screens, with a normal JPEG everywhere else.
Photo
- RAW/JPEG
- RAW + JPEG
Advanced
- RAW/JPEG control
- On
- Ultra HDR
- On
- RAW + JPEG DNG and JPEG pair
- ~20 MB
- 12 MP JPEG, recommended
- ~3.5 MB
Step 02
Open it in a second.
Camera Settings More settings
Pixel remembers your camera settings on its own. What's left is getting to the shot faster.
- Quickly open camera
- On
- Press the power button twice from any screen. It lives in the Settings app, under System, Gestures.
- Palm timer
- On
- Raise your palm to start a short timer. Useful on a tripod.
- Frequent Faces
- On
- Pixel learns the faces you photograph most and picks sharper frames of them.
- Save location
- Your call
- Adds GPS to each photo. Leave it off if you share a lot.
- Save location
- Off
- Camera sounds
- On
- Palm timer
- On
- Guided Frame
- Off
- Frequent Faces
- On
Step 03
Frame it before you tap.
Camera Settings More settings
Two composition aids and a couple of switches that decide how the camera behaves.
- Framing hints
- On
- Two lines meet when the phone is level, with an up or down cue for overhead shots.
- Grid type
- 3 × 3
- Thirds for placing your subject. Golden ratio is there if you prefer it.
- Save selfie as previewed
- Off
- Selfies save unmirrored, the way others see you.
- Macro Focus
- Auto
- Switches to the Ultra Wide for close-ups on its own.
Composition
- Framing hints
- On
- Grid type
- 3 × 3
Selfie
- Save selfie as previewed
- Off
Step 04
Take control in the viewfinder.
Camera app
The sliders at the bottom right of the viewfinder cover most of what you need.
- Brightness
- −0.3
- Pull it down when bright skies clip. HDR+ handles the rest.
- Lens
- 1×
- The 50 MP main camera has the biggest sensor. Save 5× and beyond for good light.
- Night Sight
- Auto
- Kicks in on its own in the dark. Brace the phone and hold still.
- Top Shot
- Auto
- Keeps a few frames around each shot and suggests a better one.
Adjustments
Portrait Photo Video
Step 05
4K 60 for social. 24 fps for film.
Camera Video settings
Frame rate sets the feel. The rest keeps color and motion steady from one shot to the next.
- Resolution and frame rate
- 4K at 60 fps
- Smooth and sharp on social. Switch to 24 fps when it should feel like a film.
- 10-bit HDR
- On
- More color depth and brighter highlights on HDR screens.
- Stabilization
- Standard
- Steady handheld clips without the extra crop of Active or Locked.
- Resolution
- 4K
- Frame rate
- 60 FPS
- Stabilization
- Standard
- 10-bit HDR
- On
-
24 fps at 1/50 s
A little motion blur in every frame. Movement reads as film.
-
60 fps at 1/120 s
Crisper frames and smooth motion. Right for social.
-
24 fps at 1/2000 s
Typical of auto exposure in bright sun. Each frame is frozen, so motion stutters.
Step 06
See the difference.
Two of the changes above, side by side. Both frames come from the same photo and are simulated, so the setting is the only variable.
Exposure −0.3 holds the highlights and deepens the blacks.
A light grade: a little more contrast, a little less saturation.
- RAW
- For big edits
- The DNG holds up when you lift shadows or change the color, where the JPEG starts to break.
- Editing
- Preset first
- Start from a preset, then adjust only exposure, highlights, shadows, and temperature.
Step 07
Four zoom stops, from 0.5× to 5×.
A 50 MP main camera, a 12 MP Ultra Wide, a 48 MP 5× telephoto, and sensor crops between them. The main camera has the biggest sensor, which is why 1× is home.
- .5× 12 MP Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.2
- 1× 50 MP Main, ƒ/1.85
- 2× 12 MP Crop of Main
- 5× 48 MP Telephoto, ƒ/3.5
- 50MP Wide
- 1×, with a 2× crop
- ƒ/1.85
- Optical image stabilization
- 12MP Ultra Wide
- 0.5×, and Macro Focus
- ƒ/2.2
- 48MP 5× Telephoto
- 5× optical
- ƒ/3.5
- Optical image stabilization
Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro
What changed for cameras between generations
Presets and Storage
Which format to use for each kind of clip, and how much of it fits.
Video presets
| Use Case | Resolution | FPS | Stabilization | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media Best | 4K | 30 | Standard | Best quality-to-size ratio |
| Vlog / Talking Head | 4K | 30 | Locked | Front camera 10.8MP |
| Travel / Run-and-gun | 4K | 30 | Active | Slight crop for EIS |
| Action / Sports | 4K | 60 | Active | Best motion clarity |
| Low Light | 4K | 30 | Standard | Larger pixels at 30fps |
| Slow Motion | 1080p | 240 | Standard | 8× slowdown at 30fps playback |
What a minute of video costs
- HEVC 4K at 60 fps, for social
- ~500 MB
- HEVC 4K at 30 fps
- ~350 MB
- HEVC 1080p at 30 fps
- ~130 MB
How much fits
| Format | 128 GB | 256 GB | 512 GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4K at 60 fps | ~3.8 hr | ~8 hr | ~16 hr |
| 4K at 30 fps | ~5.5 hr | ~11 hr | ~23 hr |
Frequently Asked Questions
Best settings, key features, and what changed from the Pixel 6 Pro.
What are the best camera settings for the Pixel 7 Pro?
In Pixel Camera, turn on RAW/JPEG control under Settings, More settings, Advanced, then choose RAW + JPEG. Turn on Framing hints and a 3 × 3 grid. For video, record 4K at 60 fps for social or 24 fps for a film look, with 10-bit HDR on.
How far can the Pixel 7 Pro zoom?
The 48MP 5× telephoto sits at about 120mm and ƒ/3.5, and Super Res Zoom reaches 30×. Detail holds well to about 10×; beyond 15× it is heavily processed.
Can the Pixel 7 Pro shoot Astrophotography?
Yes. When you mount the Pixel 7 Pro on a tripod in very dark conditions and open Night Sight, Astrophotography mode activates automatically — indicated by a small star icon appearing in the viewfinder. The phone then captures a series of long exposures over 1–4 minutes and merges them to reveal stars, the Milky Way, and even star trails. The phone must be perfectly still on a stable mount for the entire exposure. Any movement will ruin the capture.
Does the Pixel 7 Pro have Macro Focus?
Yes — the Pixel 7 Pro is the first Pixel phone with Macro Focus. It uses the 12MP ultra-wide camera's autofocus system to focus on subjects at approximately 3cm distance. When you move the phone close to a subject, the camera automatically switches from the main camera to the ultra-wide for macro photography. This was not available on the Pixel 6 Pro. Note that the 12MP sensor means less detail than the 48MP ultrawide macro on the Pixel 8 Pro and newer.
What is Photo Unblur on the Pixel 7 Pro?
Photo Unblur is a Google Photos feature powered by the Tensor G2 chip that can sharpen old blurry photos — from any camera, not just the Pixel. It uses machine learning to reconstruct detail and reduce motion blur. Open any photo in Google Photos, tap Edit, then Tools, and select Photo Unblur. Results vary depending on the severity of the blur, but it can rescue moderately blurry images quite effectively.