Best Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Camera Settings
The 200MP Ultra that introduced the 50MP 5x periscope, now on One UI 9.
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The Galaxy S24 Ultra introduced the 50MP 5x periscope that later Ultras kept, and it gained Samsung Log with One UI 7. It reached One UI 9 in October 2026. This page gives starting values by situation, and our S24 Ultra settings walkthrough explains every menu change between One UI versions.
Galaxy S24 Ultra camera specs
| Lens | Resolution / aperture | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.6x ultra-wide | 12 MP · f/2.2 | 13mm, 120° view, 1/2.55-inch sensor, autofocus |
| 1x main | 200 MP · f/1.7 | 24mm, 1/1.3-inch ISOCELL HP2 sensor, OIS, laser AF |
| 3x telephoto | 10 MP · f/2.4 | 67mm, 1/3.52-inch sensor, OIS |
| 5x periscope | 50 MP · f/3.4 | 111mm, 1/2.52-inch sensor, OIS |
| 10x | Sensor crop · f/3.4 | A crop of the 5x sensor, added as a shortcut in Camera Assistant |
| Selfie | 12 MP · f/2.2 | Dual Pixel AF |
Video: 8K at 24 or 30fps, 4K at up to 120fps, Full HD slow motion at 240fps, HDR10+ and Samsung Log
Signature features: Expert RAW · Samsung Log in Pro Video · S Pen Air actions as a remote shutter · Photo Assist editing since One UI 8.5
Settings to change first
| Setting | Recommended value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Composition guide | Grid lines and level | The level keeps horizons and building fronts straight. |
| Press Volume buttons to | Take picture or record video | A side key shakes the phone less than a screen tap. |
| Scene detection | On for quick shares, off when colours look overdone | It only changes Photo mode pictures from the rear cameras. |
| Pro mode picture format | RAW and JPEG | Before One UI 9 the switch lived in Advanced picture options. |
| Adaptive pixel (Camera Assistant) | On | Samsung says it cuts noise at 50MP and 200MP by merging lower-resolution frames. |
| Quick tap shutter (Camera Assistant) | On | The photo fires the moment you touch the button. |
Settings by situation
Everyday and travel
Photo mode at 12MP covers most daylight scenes, and every lens stays available.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | 1x for most scenes, 3x and 5x for details | The 12MP ultra-wide is softer than the newer Ultras' 50MP one, so keep it for big views in good light. |
| Resolution | 12MP, or 50MP for bright landscapes | Samsung's S23 support page puts 5 to 6 seconds between high-resolution shots on the same HP2 sensor. |
| Motion photo | On for people | Best face needs a Motion photo to swap in a better expression. |
| Auto HDR (Camera Assistant) | On | It keeps detail in bright skies and backlit faces. |
Portraits
The 3x is the portrait lens, and the 5x suits tight headshots when there's room to step back.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | 3x from about 1.2m | You get a head-and-shoulders frame without stretched features. |
| Mode | Portrait, with blur below the maximum | Less blur hides edge mistakes around hair and glasses. |
| Picture softening (Camera Assistant) | High if skin looks crunchy | Samsung's S24 Ultra guide lists Off and High for this phone. |
| Prioritize focus over speed | On | Focus settles on the face before the shot fires. |
Low light and night
Use the 1x lens after dark and let night processing run.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Night shot | Leave it on in Photo mode | Tap the moon icon only when you want night processing off for a shot. |
| Night mode | For darker scenes, with the phone braced | Hold still until the capture finishes. Our Night mode guide explains when it helps. |
| Pro mode on a tripod | Low ISO, 2 to 10 seconds, 3200K to 4000K under streetlights | The shutter runs to 30 seconds for light trails and moving water. |
| Stars | Expert RAW Astrophoto at 12MP | Turn on Special photo options first, or the mode stays locked. |
Action, kids and pets
A shutter floor in Camera Assistant stops Photo mode choosing speeds that blur movement.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum shutter speed | 1/500s outdoors, 1/120s indoors | It's under Advanced Photo mode controls on One UI 8.5 and later. |
| Burst | Swipe the shutter to the edge | On One UI 9 you set the gesture in Camera Assistant. |
| Resolution | 12MP | Higher resolutions slow the camera down between frames. |
| Sport | 5x, or Pro mode at 1/1000s | Turn off Auto lens switching so the camera stays on the periscope. |
Video
The S24 Ultra keeps Super steady, though Horizontal lock didn't come with One UI 9.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday clips | 4K at 30fps, HEVC | These files stay small and play almost anywhere. |
| Motion you'll slow down | 4K at 60fps or 120fps | Footage at 120fps plays 4x slower on a 30fps timeline. |
| Walking shots | Super steady on | Turn it off when the phone is on a tripod. |
| Footage you'll grade | Pro Video with Log | SamMobile lists 24, 30, 60 and 120fps in Pro Video at FHD and UHD. Our Log video guide covers grading. |
RAW and editing
Expert RAW saves a 16-bit linear DNG and a JPEG together.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pro mode RAW | Photo format > Pro mode picture format | Set it to RAW and JPEG to keep a file for sharing. |
| Expert RAW | 24MP by day, 12MP for Astrophoto | It's the only 24MP option on this phone. |
| Remote shutter | S Pen > Air actions > Camera > Single press > Take picture | It's useful on a tripod for long exposures. |
| Editing | Lightroom mobile or Snapseed | Both apps open the DNG files from either mode. |
One UI 9 menu paths
The S24 Ultra launched on One UI 6.1, got One UI 8.5 from May 2026 and started receiving One UI 9 (Android 17) on 6 October 2026 in South Korea, SamMobile reported. GSMArena lists up to seven major OS updates. The paths below use One UI 9 names checked on a Galaxy S25 Ultra running One UI 9, November 2026, and SamMobile's comparison found the S24's camera close to the S25's apart from the features listed further down.
| What you want | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Grid and level | Camera settings > General > Composition guide |
| Volume keys as a shutter | Camera settings > General > Shooting methods |
| Scene detection | Camera settings > Intelligent features > Photo enhancer |
| RAW in Pro mode | Camera settings > Photos > Photo format |
| Log and video codec | Camera settings > Videos > Video format |
| Burst, shutter limits, Adaptive pixel | Camera settings > General > Camera Assistant |
| S Pen shutter | Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > Air actions |
What the S24 Ultra can't do
- Photo mode has no 24MP option, so Expert RAW is the only route to 24MP files.
- There's no Horizontal lock or Dual Recording shortcut, which the S25 got with One UI 9.
- The 12MP ultra-wide is a step down from the 50MP ultra-wide on the S25 Ultra and S26 Ultra.
- Optical zoom stops at 5x, and the 10x button is a crop.
- 200MP works on the main camera only.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best camera settings for the S24 Ultra?+
Keep Photo mode at 12MP, turn on the grid and level and set the volume keys to take pictures. Use 3x for portraits and 1x at night, set a minimum shutter speed in Camera Assistant for kids and pets, and save RAW and JPEG from Pro mode for photos you'll edit.
Does the S24 Ultra get One UI 9?+
Stable One UI 9 began reaching the S24 series on 6 October 2026, starting in South Korea. It brings My FanCam to Gallery but not the S25's Horizontal lock.
Can the S24 Ultra shoot Log video?+
It records Samsung Log in Pro Video. Samsung's developer page lists the S24 series among the phones that support it.
Can the S24 Ultra S Pen take photos?+
The S Pen works as a shutter through Air actions. Set Camera's single press to Take picture in the S Pen settings, then press the pen's button with the camera open.
Everything for your Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
S24 Ultra camera guides
- → Samsung S24 Ultra Camera Settings: What to Change First, every menu change from One UI 7 to 9
- → Samsung S24 Ultra Camera: What to Know Before Buying Used, the hardware and how it performs
Comparisons
- → Samsung S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Camera: What Actually Changed, whether the newer phone is worth it
- → Samsung S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Camera: 10x or 5x Zoom?
- → Samsung S24 Ultra vs S26 Ultra Camera: Worth the Upgrade?
Features that work on your S24 Ultra
- → Samsung Expert RAW: Pro Photography Guide (2026)
- → S Pen Camera Remote: Can the S25 Ultra S Pen Take Pictures?
- → Samsung Camera Assistant: Every Setting and When to Use It
- → 12MP vs 24MP vs 50MP vs 200MP on Samsung: Which to Use, file sizes and when each pays off
- → Samsung Night Mode: Sharper Low-Light Photos
- → How to Make Samsung Photos Look Natural (Less Over-Processed)
- → Samsung Log Video: How to Shoot, Expose and Grade It, exposure and grading
- → One UI 9 Camera and Gallery Changes for Galaxy Photographers
- → Samsung 100x Space Zoom: What It Can and Can't Do
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