Best Samsung Galaxy S25 Camera Settings
A 50MP main camera and a 3x telephoto in a compact body, with Log video and One UI 9.
Published ·Last updated
The Galaxy S25 has the same published camera hardware as the S24, so good results come down to picking the right lens for the light. GSMArena found the main camera does most of the work, with the 3x best kept for daylight. The tables below give starting values for each situation, with the One UI 9 menu paths.
Galaxy S25 camera specs
| Lens | Resolution / aperture | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.6x ultra-wide | 12 MP · f/2.2 | 13mm, 120° view, 1/2.55-inch sensor, fixed focus |
| 1x main | 50 MP · f/1.8 | 24mm, 1/1.56-inch sensor, Dual Pixel AF, OIS |
| 2x | Sensor crop · f/1.8 | A crop of the 50MP main sensor |
| 3x telephoto | 10 MP · f/2.4 | 67mm, 1/3.94-inch sensor, OIS |
| Selfie | 12 MP · f/2.2 | Dual Pixel AF |
Video: 8K at 24 or 30fps, 4K at up to 60fps, Full HD slow motion at 240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+ and Samsung Log
Signature features: Expert RAW with Virtual Aperture · Samsung Log with LUT preview · Super steady with Horizontal lock (One UI 9) · Dual Recording shortcut in Video mode (One UI 9)
Settings to change first
| Setting | Recommended value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Composition guide | Grid lines and level | The level keeps horizons straight before you shoot. |
| 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 sits inside Photo enhancer on One UI 9. |
| Pro mode picture format | RAW and JPEG | You get a DNG to edit next to the usual JPEG. |
| Quick tap shutter (Camera Assistant) | On | The photo fires the moment you touch the button. |
Settings by situation
Everyday and travel
The 1x main camera has the biggest sensor and the brightest lens, so it's the default for most scenes.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | 1x for most scenes, 3x for details in daylight | GSMArena found the 3x decent by day and noisy at night. |
| Resolution | 12MP, or 50MP for bright scenes you'll crop | GSMArena found 50MP better on fine textures like building tiles. |
| Ultra-wide | Subjects at least an arm's length away | It has no autofocus, so close subjects go soft. |
| Motion photo | On for people | Best face needs one to swap in a better expression. |
Portraits
GSMArena found good subject separation at 1x, 2x and 3x, with the softest faces at 3x.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp faces | Portrait mode at 2x | It's a crop of the main sensor, which keeps facial detail. |
| Flatter perspective | Portrait mode at 3x in daylight | Expect slightly softer skin and hair detail. |
| Blur strength | Below the maximum | Edges around hair look more believable. |
| Prioritize focus over speed (Camera Assistant) | On | The shutter waits until focus has settled on the face. |
Low light and night
GSMArena found automatic Night mode slow to switch on, and forcing it gave better results.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Night shot | On in Photo mode, or use Night mode under More | The S26's Off, Auto and Max control doesn't come to the S25. |
| Lens | 1x, and crop later | The 2x and 3x Night modes sometimes refused to shoot in testing. |
| Pro mode on a tripod | Low ISO, 2 to 10 seconds, 3200K to 4000K under streetlights | The shutter runs to 30 seconds. |
| Stars | Expert RAW Astrophoto at 12MP | Turn on Special photo options first. |
Action, kids and pets
Set a shutter floor in Camera Assistant so Photo mode doesn't pick a speed that blurs movement.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum shutter speed | 1/500s outdoors, 1/120s indoors | It's under Advanced Photo mode controls and works at 12MP. |
| Burst | Swipe the shutter to the edge | On One UI 9 the gesture is set in Camera Assistant. |
| Resolution | 12MP | Higher resolutions slow the camera down between shots. |
| Moving subjects in Pro mode | 1/1000s with ISO on Auto | A fixed fast shutter freezes a runner or a ball in daylight. |
Video
Samsung switched 10-bit HDR on by default for the S25, and One UI 9 added Horizontal lock.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday clips | 4K at 60fps with HDR | Smooth motion and good detail on every camera. |
| Walking shots | Super steady > Horizontal lock | It keeps the horizon level at up to QHD 60fps. |
| Footage you'll grade | Pro Video with Log | One UI 8.5 added a live LUT preview. Our Log video guide covers grading. |
| Front and back at once | Dual Recording shortcut in Video mode | One UI 9 brought the shortcut and split layouts to the S25. |
RAW and editing
The S25 is on Samsung's Expert RAW list, and it's the only way to get 24MP files.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pro mode RAW | Photo format > Pro mode picture format | Set RAW and JPEG to keep a file for sharing. |
| Expert RAW | 24MP by day, 12MP for Astrophoto | The app saves a 16-bit linear DNG with each JPEG. Our Expert RAW guide covers the workflow. |
| Virtual Aperture | Expert RAW > Labs | It simulates a wider or narrower aperture to control background blur. |
One UI 9 menu paths
The S25 launched on One UI 7 and got One UI 8.5 in May 2026. SamMobile reported stable One UI 9 (Android 17) arriving on 28 September 2026 in South Korea, and Samsung promises seven OS upgrades in total. The paths below use One UI 9 names checked on a Galaxy S25 Ultra running One UI 9, November 2026. That phone runs the same One UI 9 camera software.
| 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, HDR and codec | Camera settings > Videos > Video format |
| Burst, shutter limits and presets | Camera settings > General > Camera Assistant |
| Horizontal lock | Video mode > Super steady icon |
What the S25 can't do
- There's no 5x lens or 200MP sensor, which stay on the Ultra.
- 4K tops out at 60fps, so there's no 4K at 120fps.
- The ultra-wide has no autofocus, so it can't do close-ups. Our macro guide covers other ways to get close.
- Photo mode has no 24MP option, since One UI 9 kept it for the S26. Expert RAW still shoots 24MP.
- The 3x gets noisy at night, so the 1x and a crop often look better.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best camera settings for the Galaxy S25?+
Use the 1x main camera at 12MP for most photos, with the grid and level on. Pick Portrait mode at 2x for sharp faces, force Night mode after dark and record 4K at 60fps with HDR for everyday video.
Does the Galaxy S25 support Expert RAW?+
It's on Samsung's Expert RAW list, and the S25 series added Virtual Aperture to the app. Use it when you want 24MP files, since 24MP in Photo mode stays on the S26.
Why are my Galaxy S25 night photos noisy?+
The 3x and the ultra-wide have small sensors, and GSMArena found the 3x noisy and washed out at night. Use the 1x camera, force Night mode and brace the phone. Our Night mode guide explains when it helps.
Does the Galaxy S25 get Horizontal lock?+
It arrived with One UI 9. In Video mode, tap the Super steady icon and pick Horizontal lock.
What's the camera difference between the S25 and the S25 Ultra?+
The Ultra adds a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide and a 5x telephoto alongside its 3x. Both record Samsung Log. Our S25 Ultra settings page covers the bigger phone.
Everything for your Samsung Galaxy S25
S25 camera guides
- → Galaxy S25 Camera Guide: Best Settings by Situation, settings by situation and what reviewers found
Comparisons
Features that work on your S25
- → Samsung Camera Assistant: Every Setting and When to Use It
- → Samsung Expert RAW: Pro Photography Guide (2026)
- → One UI 9 Camera and Gallery Changes for Galaxy Photographers, what the update changed
- → Samsung Night Mode: Sharper Low-Light Photos, when a longer capture helps
- → Samsung Portrait Mode: Sharp Subjects, Creamy Bokeh, blur, distance and lens choice
- → Samsung Telephoto Lenses: 3x, 5x and 10x on Every Galaxy
- → Super Steady, Horizontal Lock and OIS: Samsung Video Stabilisation Explained
- → How to Make Samsung Photos Look Natural (Less Over-Processed)
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