Samsung Galaxy Camera Settings Guide
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 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.
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1×
3
10
Portrait Photo Video
Where you'll end up
- 12 MP every day
- Exposure at −0.3
- 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.
- PicturesNatural color, HEIF, and RAW in Pro mode
- Settings to keepMake the camera remember your setup
- CompositionGrid lines, tracking focus, and the volume shutter
- In the viewfinder12 MP, −0.3, and the 1× lens
- Video4K 60 for social, 24 fps for film
- The lookExposure and grading, side by side
- The lensesFive zoom stops, from 0.6× to 10×
Step 01
Natural color first. RAW when it counts.
Camera Settings
Samsung's default processing brightens and sharpens heavily. These rows keep photos natural and leave room to edit.
- Scene optimizer
- Off
- Keeps color and contrast natural. Turn it back on if you like the punchier, AI-tuned look.
- Quality optimization
- Prioritize quality
- Takes a moment longer per shot for more detail and cleaner low light.
- High efficiency pictures
- On
- HEIF files at about half the size of JPEG, with the same detail.
- Pro mode picture format
- RAW and JPEG
- Under Advanced picture options. Pro mode then saves a DNG beside every JPEG, for shots you plan to edit.
Intelligent features
- Scene optimizer
- Off
- Quality optimization
- Prioritize quality
- Shot suggestions
- On
Advanced picture options
- High efficiency pictures
- On
- Pro mode picture format
- RAW and JPEG
- Expert RAW 16-bit DNG
- ~100 MB
- Full resolution 200 MP JPEG
- ~30 MB
- HEIF 12 MP, recommended
- ~3 MB
Step 02
Make the camera remember.
Camera Settings Settings to keep
By default, Camera drops back to Photo mode and resets most choices when you close it. These switches keep what matters.
- Camera mode
- On
- Reopens in the mode you used last, like Pro or Video.
- High picture resolutions
- Off
- Camera returns to the everyday resolution each time, so a 200 MP shot never sticks by accident.
- Filters
- Off
- Start from a clean look each time.
- Camera mode
- On
- Selfie angle
- Off
- High picture resolutions
- Off
- Filters
- Off
- Super Steady
- Off
- Portrait zoom
- On
Step 03
Frame it before you tap.
Camera Settings
Composition aids and a few switches that decide how the camera behaves.
- Grid lines
- On
- A 3 × 3 grid for thirds and straight horizons.
- Tracking auto-focus
- On
- Keeps focus on a moving subject once you tap it.
- Shot suggestions
- On
- Shows a guide that helps you level and frame the shot.
- Save selfies as previewed
- Off
- Selfies save unmirrored, the way others see you.
Selfies
- Save selfies as previewed
- Off
General
- Tracking auto-focus
- On
- Grid lines
- On
- Location tags
- Off
- Shooting methods
- Volume keys: Take pictures
Step 04
Take control in the viewfinder.
Camera app
A few habits in the Camera app matter more than any setting.
- Resolution
- 12 MP
- The pixel-binned default is cleaner in most light. Save 200 MP for bright scenes you'll crop.
- Exposure
- −0.3
- Samsung meters bright. Nudge it down to keep skies and highlights. Pro mode shows EV next to ISO and Speed.
- Lens
- 1×
- The 200 MP main camera has the biggest sensor. Save 3× and 10× for good light.
- Expert RAW
- For big edits
- Samsung's free Expert RAW app saves a 16-bit DNG with multi-frame processing. Get it from the Galaxy Store.
- Side button
- Double press
- Opens Camera from any screen. Set it in Settings, Advanced features, Side button.
Pro
Portrait Pro Video
Step 05
4K 60 for social. 24 fps for film.
Camera Settings
Frame rate sets the feel. The switches below keep exposure and color steady from one shot to the next.
- Video resolution
- UHD 60
- Tap the resolution chip in Video mode. 60 fps looks smooth on social; for a film look, use 24 fps in Pro video.
- Auto FPS
- Off
- Keeps the frame rate you chose, even in low light.
- Video stabilization
- On
- Steadier handheld clips. Super Steady crops in further for action.
- High efficiency videos
- On
- HEVC files at a fraction of the size. Under Advanced video options.
- HDR10+ videos
- On
- Brighter highlights on HDR screens. Under Advanced video options.
Videos
- Auto FPS
- Off
- Video stabilization
- On
Advanced video options
- High efficiency videos
- On
- High bitrate videos
- Off
- HDR10+ videos
- 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.
- Filters
- None
- Start neutral and grade in Gallery or Lightroom, where you can undo it.
- Editing
- Preset first
- Start from a preset, then adjust only exposure, highlights, shadows, and temperature.
Step 07
Five zoom stops, from 0.6× to 10×.
Four cameras and a 2× crop, including a true 10× periscope. The 200 MP main camera has the biggest sensor, which is why 1× is home.
- .6× 13 mm Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.2
- 1× 23 mm Main, ƒ/1.7
- 2× 12 MP Crop of Main
- 3× 67 mm Telephoto, ƒ/2.4
- 10× 230 mm Telephoto, ƒ/4.9
- 12MP Ultra Wide
- 13 mm, and macro
- ƒ/2.2
- 200MP Wide
- 23 mm, with a 2× crop
- ƒ/1.7
- OIS
- 10MP 3× Telephoto
- 67 mm
- ƒ/2.4
- OIS
- 10MP 10× Telephoto
- 230 mm
- ƒ/4.9
- OIS
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs S22 Ultra
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 | Codec | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media Best | 4K | 30 | HEVC (H.265) | HDR10+ enabled |
| Maximum Detail | 8K | 30 | HEVC | Main lens only, large files |
| Smooth Motion | 4K | 60 | H.265 | Max 4K frame rate on S23 Ultra |
| Slow Motion | 1080p | 240 | H.265 | 8× slowdown at 30fps |
| Super Slow-Mo | 720p | 960 | H.265 | Short burst capture (~0.4s) |
| Hyperlapse | 4K | — | H.265 | 5× to 300× speed, stabilized |
What a minute of video costs
- HEVC 8K at 30 fps
- ~600 MB
- HEVC 4K at 60 fps, for social
- ~500 MB
- HEVC 4K at 30 fps
- ~350 MB
How much fits
| Format | 256 GB | 512 GB | 1 TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEVC 4K at 60 fps | ~8 hr | ~16 hr | ~32 hr |
| HEVC 8K at 30 fps | ~6.7 hr | ~13 hr | ~27 hr |
Frequently Asked Questions
Best settings, key features, and what changed from the S22 Ultra.
What are the best camera settings for the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
In Camera settings: Scene optimizer off, Quality optimization set to Prioritize quality, High efficiency pictures on, and Pro mode picture format set to RAW and JPEG. Turn on Grid lines, keep Camera mode under Settings to keep, and leave Auto FPS off with Video stabilization on. Shoot at the default resolution with exposure around −0.3, and record UHD at 60 fps for social or 24 fps in Pro video for a film look.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra really 200MP?
Yes. The Galaxy S23 Ultra was the first smartphone with a 200MP main camera, using Samsung's ISOCELL HP2 sensor (1/1.3 inch). By default it shoots at 12MP using 16-to-1 pixel binning, combining 16 small pixels into one large effective pixel for better low-light performance and smaller file sizes. You can switch to full 200MP in the camera settings when you need maximum detail for cropping or large prints.
Does the Galaxy S23 Ultra have a 10× optical zoom?
Yes. The S23 Ultra features a dedicated 10× optical periscope telephoto lens (10MP, 230mm, ƒ/4.9) — the longest optical zoom on any Samsung Galaxy S Ultra phone. This lens was replaced by a 5× telephoto in the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra, making the S23 Ultra the last model with native 10× optical reach. It also has a separate 3× telephoto (10MP, 67mm, ƒ/2.4) for mid-range zoom.
Can the Galaxy S23 Ultra record 4K at 120fps?
No. The Galaxy S23 Ultra's maximum 4K frame rate is 60fps. 4K at 120fps was introduced with the Galaxy S24 Ultra the following year. The S23 Ultra does support 8K at 30fps for maximum resolution, 1080p at 240fps for slow motion, and Super Slow-Mo at 960fps at 720p resolution in short burst captures.
Does the Galaxy S23 Ultra support Expert RAW?
Yes. The Galaxy S23 Ultra fully supports Expert RAW, Samsung's professional camera app available for free from the Galaxy Store. It captures 16-bit multi-frame RAW (DNG) files with full manual controls for ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and focus. It also includes a dedicated astrophotography mode for long-exposure night sky photography with automatic image stacking and noise reduction.