Ultra Wide
13mm
ƒ/2.2
12MP · Autofocus · Macro
Samsung Galaxy Camera Settings Guide
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Camera Settings
Apple iPhone
Google Pixel
Camera System
Four cameras, five focal lengths — the S23 Ultra's quad-lens system covers 13mm to 230mm with true 10× optical zoom
Wide (Main)
23mm
ƒ/1.7
200MP · OIS · 1/1.3" sensor
3× Telephoto
67mm
ƒ/2.4
10MP · OIS · Phase-detect AF
10× Telephoto
230mm
ƒ/4.9
10MP · OIS · Periscope
| Spec | Ultra Wide | Main (Wide) | 3× Telephoto | 10× Telephoto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 12MP | 200MP | 10MP | 10MP |
| Focal Length | 13mm | 23mm | 67mm | 230mm |
| Aperture | ƒ/2.2 | ƒ/1.7 | ƒ/2.4 | ƒ/4.9 |
| Sensor Size | 1/3.52" | 1/1.3" | 1/3.52" | 1/3.52" |
| Pixel Size | 1.12μm | 0.6μm (2.4μm binned) | 1.12μm | 1.12μm |
| OIS | No | Yes (OIS) | Yes (OIS) | Yes (OIS) |
| Autofocus | Yes (phase-detect) | Yes (Dual Pixel PDAF) | Yes (phase-detect) | Yes (phase-detect) |
| Macro | Yes | No | No | No |
10× periscope advantage: The S23 Ultra's 10× optical zoom (230mm) is the longest native telephoto reach in the Galaxy S Ultra lineup — the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra replaced it with a 5× lens. Space Zoom extends to 100× using AI-enhanced digital crop.
Best Photo Settings
Recommended settings for the six most common shooting scenarios on Galaxy S23 Ultra
Portrait
Portrait Mode
Lens3× Telephoto (67mm)
FormatJPEG / HEIF
BlurAdjust in Gallery after
EffectNatural or Studio
TipUse 1× for environmental portraits
Landscape
Photo Mode / Expert RAW
LensUltra Wide (13mm)
FormatRAW via Expert RAW
HDRAuto HDR on
GridOn (level horizon)
Tip200MP mode for max detail
Night
Night Mode
LensMain (23mm)
Night ModeAuto (up to 15s)
FlashOff
StabilityBrace or tripod
TipExpert RAW astrophoto for stars
Action / Sports
Photo Mode
Lens10× Telephoto (230mm)
BurstHold shutter or Vol Down
Tracking AFOn
FormatHEIF for speed
Tip10× gives unmatched reach
Street
Photo Mode
Lens1× Main (23mm)
FormatHEIF
Scene OptimizerOn
Motion PhotoOff
TipDouble-press power for quick launch
Macro
Photo Mode
LensUltra Wide (auto-macro)
Distance3–5cm for best results
FormatHEIF or Expert RAW
LightAvoid casting phone shadow
TipTap subject to lock focus
Best Video Settings
Resolution, frame rate, and codec combinations available on the S23 Ultra
Recommended Presets
8K
30fps
Maximum detail
4K
30fps
Best all-round
4K
60fps
Smooth / slow-mo
1080p
30fps
Smaller files
1080p
60fps
Smooth & compact
1080p
240fps
Super slow-mo
| 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 |
No 4K 120fps: Unlike the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra, the S23 Ultra does not support 4K at 120fps. The maximum 4K frame rate is 60fps. For slow motion, use 1080p at 240fps or Super Slow-Mo at 960fps (720p, short bursts).
Key Features
What sets the Galaxy S23 Ultra apart from other phones and previous Galaxy models
First 200MP Phone
The S23 Ultra was the first smartphone with a 200MP main camera (ISOCELL HP2 sensor, 1/1.3"). The massive resolution enables 16-to-1 pixel binning for excellent 12MP low-light shots, or full 200MP capture for extraordinary detail and cropping freedom in daylight.
New in S2310× Optical Telephoto
A dedicated 10× periscope telephoto at 230mm delivers true optical zoom that later models dropped. This is the longest optical reach in any Galaxy S Ultra, making it ideal for wildlife, sports, and moon photography. OIS keeps it sharp despite the extreme focal length.
UniqueExpert RAW
Samsung's professional photography app captures 16-bit multi-frame RAW files with full manual controls. Astrophotography mode enables long-exposure star and Milky Way shots with automatic stacking and noise reduction. Available from the Galaxy Store.
ProImproved Night Mode
Night mode on the S23 Ultra benefits from the larger 200MP sensor and improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processing. Multi-frame stacking captures up to 15 seconds of exposure for dramatically brighter, lower-noise night photos compared to the S22 Ultra.
Improved in S23Recommended Setup
Key settings to configure in the Camera app settings on your Galaxy S23 Ultra
Photo
Photo Resolution
12MP (default)
Scene Optimizer
On
Shot Suggestions
On
HEIF Pictures
On
Video
Video Resolution
UHD 4K / 30fps
Video Stabilization
On
HDR10+ Video
On
General
Grid Lines
On
Location Tags
On
Shooting Methods
Vol key: Shutter
Camera → Settings (gear icon)
Recommended configuration
Pro mode tip: Swipe to Pro mode in the camera app for manual control over ISO (50–3200), shutter speed (1/24000s – 30s), focus, white balance, and EV. For maximum quality, shoot in RAW format from Pro mode or install Expert RAW from the Galaxy Store for 16-bit multi-frame RAW capture with astrophotography mode.
Storage & File Sizes
How much you can fit on your Galaxy S23 Ultra (256GB / 512GB / 1TB)
4K 30fps Video Recording Time
256 GB
10
hrs
~350 MB/min at 4K30 HEVC
512 GB
21
hrs
Best value for most users
1 TB
43
hrs
Best for 8K & 200MP photos
| File Type | Format | Approximate Size |
|---|---|---|
| Photo (HEIF) | 12MP pixel-binned | 2 – 4 MB |
| Photo (Full Res) | 200MP JPEG | ~30 MB |
| Photo (Expert RAW) | 50MP 16-bit DNG | ~100 MB |
| Video (HEVC 4K30) | HDR10+ | ~350 MB/min |
| Video (HEVC 4K60) | HDR10+ | ~500 MB/min |
| Video (8K30) | HEVC | ~600 MB/min |
| Super Slow-Mo | 720p 960fps | ~35 MB/clip |
Pro Tips & Gotchas
Galaxy S23 Ultra-specific tips the manual won't tell you
200MP Mode
- Switch to 200MP by tapping the resolution icon (3:4 ratio badge) in photo mode
- 200MP is sharpest outdoors in good light — avoid using it indoors or at night
- Files are ~30 MB each; only use full-res when you need extreme crop or large print
- The first 200MP phone — a generational leap from the S22 Ultra's 108MP sensor
10× Telephoto Strategy
- The 10× optical zoom is unique to the S23 Ultra — later models switched to 5×
- At 10× the ƒ/4.9 aperture needs good light — results suffer in dim conditions
- Space Zoom extends to 100× but usable quality maxes out around 30–40×
- Moon mode automatically detects and enhances lunar shots at high zoom levels
Expert RAW & Astrophotography
- Install Expert RAW from Galaxy Store — it's a separate app from the camera
- Astrophoto mode requires a tripod and at least 4 minutes of stacked exposures
- Expert RAW files are 16-bit DNG — edit in Lightroom or Snapseed for best results
- Multi-frame RAW merges several exposures for dramatically reduced noise
Thermal Management
- 8K recording will thermal-throttle after ~5–8 minutes in warm conditions
- 4K 60fps generates moderate heat — sustainable for about 20–30 minutes
- 4K 30fps HEVC can record for 45+ minutes without thermal issues
- Remove case when shooting long video sessions for better heat dissipation
Night Mode Tips
- Night mode activates automatically in low light — exposure time up to 15 seconds
- The 200MP sensor's pixel binning produces excellent 12MP night shots
- Night mode works on all four lenses, but main camera produces the best results
- Hold the phone very still during the full exposure countdown for sharp results
S Pen & Quick Launch
- Double-press the power button to launch the camera instantly from any screen
- S Pen acts as a remote shutter — press the button to trigger from a distance
- Air Command gestures: wave the S Pen to switch between front and rear cameras
- Volume button can be set to shutter, zoom, or video record in camera settings
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs S22 Ultra
What changed for cameras between generations
Feature
S22 Ultra
S23 Ultra
Chip
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Main Camera
108MP ƒ/1.8
200MP ƒ/1.7 New
Main Sensor Size
1/1.33"
1/1.3" Larger
Ultra Wide
12MP ƒ/2.2
12MP ƒ/2.2
3× Telephoto
10MP ƒ/2.4
10MP ƒ/2.4
10× Telephoto
10MP ƒ/4.9
10MP ƒ/4.9
Pixel Binning
9-to-1 (12MP from 108MP)
16-to-1 (12MP from 200MP) Better
OIS
Standard
Improved Better
Night Mode
Good
Improved Better
8K Video
8K 24fps
8K 30fps
4K Max FPS
4K 60fps
4K 60fps
Worth the upgrade? The jump from 108MP to 200MP is the headline feature. The larger sensor with 16-to-1 pixel binning produces noticeably better low-light photos than the S22 Ultra's 9-to-1 binning from 108MP. Night mode and OIS improvements are also significant. The telephoto lenses are carried over unchanged, but improved processing makes them perform better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra camera
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.
What is the difference between the Galaxy S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra cameras?
The biggest upgrade is the main sensor: the S23 Ultra jumped from 108MP to 200MP with a larger 1/1.3-inch ISOCELL HP2 sensor. This enables 16-to-1 pixel binning (vs 9-to-1 on the S22 Ultra) for significantly better 12MP low-light photos, plus the option to capture at full 200MP resolution. The S23 Ultra also gained improved OIS, better night mode processing with longer multi-frame stacking, and a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip for quicker image processing. The telephoto lenses remained the same hardware but benefit from improved software processing.