Ultra Wide
13mm
ƒ/2.2
12MP · Autofocus · Macro
Samsung Galaxy Camera Settings Guide
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Camera Settings
Apple iPhone
Google Pixel
Recommended Setup
The key settings to configure first in the Camera app 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
12MP
Photo resolution
The pixel-binned default beats full 200MP in most light. Switch to 200MP only outdoors when you need to crop hard or print big.
4K · 30
Video resolution
The sweet spot for quality, stability, and file size. Save 8K for the rare times you truly need the extra detail.
HEIF + HDR10+
Capture format
Smaller files with richer color, and Scene Optimizer left on for smart scene-aware processing.
Pro mode tip: Swipe to Pro mode in the camera app for manual control over ISO (50–3200), shutter speed (1/24000s to 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.
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).
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, since the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra replaced it with a 5× lens. Space Zoom extends to 100× using AI-enhanced digital crop.
Key Features
What sets the Galaxy S23 Ultra apart from other phones and previous Galaxy models
First 200MP Phone
The first phone with a 200MP main camera (ISOCELL HP2, 1/1.3"). It bins 16-to-1 for clean 12MP low light or shoots full 200MP for detail and cropping freedom in daylight.
New in S2310× Optical Telephoto
A dedicated 10× periscope at 230mm with OIS gives the longest true optical reach of any Galaxy S Ultra, ideal for wildlife, sports, and the moon.
UniqueExpert RAW
Samsung's pro app captures 16-bit multi-frame RAW with full manual control, plus an astrophotography mode that stacks long exposures for the stars.
ProImproved Night Mode
The larger 200MP sensor and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processing stack up to 15 seconds of exposure for brighter, lower-noise night shots than the S22 Ultra.
Improved in S23Storage & 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
- Tap the resolution badge in Photo mode to switch
- Use it outdoors in good light. 12MP wins in the dark
- ~30 MB files, so save it for cropping or large prints
10× Telephoto Strategy
- The 10× optical reach is unique to the S23 Ultra
- The ƒ/4.9 aperture needs good light at full zoom
- Space Zoom hits 100×, but quality maxes out near 30×
- Moon mode auto-enhances lunar shots at high zoom
Expert RAW & Astrophotography
- Install it separately from the Galaxy Store
- Astrophoto needs a tripod and 4 min of exposures
- Files are 16-bit DNG. Edit in Lightroom or Snapseed
Thermal Management
- 8K throttles after ~5–8 min when warm
- 4K 60fps stays smooth for about 20–30 min
- 4K 30fps runs 45+ min. Pull the case off for long takes
Night Mode Tips
- It activates automatically in low light, up to 15s
- Pixel binning gives the cleanest 12MP night shots
- It works on all lenses, but the main camera is best
- Hold still through the full exposure countdown
S Pen & Quick Launch
- Double-press power to launch the camera anywhere
- S Pen button = remote shutter
- Wave the S Pen to flip front/rear camera
- Remap the volume key to shutter, zoom, or record
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.