Best Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera Settings
A 200MP f/1.4 main camera, 3x and 5x telephotos, and Log and APV video, now on One UI 9.
Published ·Last updated
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has four rear cameras and more settings than most owners ever open. This page gives a starting value for each kind of shot, with the lens and mode to use plus the One UI 9 menu path. Treat every number as a first try, then adjust it for the light in front of you.
Galaxy S26 Ultra camera specs
| Lens | Resolution / aperture | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.6x ultra-wide | 50 MP · f/1.9 | 120° view, 1/2.5-inch sensor. Also the close-up camera when Focus enhancer is on |
| 1x main | 200 MP · f/1.4 | 23mm, 1/1.3-inch sensor, OIS, laser AF. Focuses from about 18cm |
| 3x telephoto | 10 MP · f/2.4 | 67mm, 1/3.94-inch sensor, OIS. Focuses from about 22cm |
| 5x telephoto | 50 MP · f/2.9 | 111mm, prism (ALoP) design, 1/2.52-inch sensor, OIS. About 52cm closest focus measured, 80cm advised by Samsung |
| 2x and 10x | Sensor crops · f/1.4 and f/2.9 | Crops of the 200MP and 50MP sensors that Samsung rates as optical quality. Space Zoom continues digitally to 100x |
| Selfie | 12 MP · f/2.2 | Dual Pixel AF, 4K video at up to 60fps |
Video: 8K at 24 or 30fps, 4K at up to 120fps, Full HD slow motion at 240fps, 10-bit HDR and HDR10+, Samsung Log with a LUT preview, and the APV codec (S26 Ultra only)
Signature features: 24MP in Photo mode via Camera Assistant · Night control in Photo mode (Off, Auto, Max) · Expert RAW with Virtual Reflector · Super steady with Horizontal lock · Log and APV video
Settings to change first
| Setting | Recommended value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Composition guide | Grid lines and level | The level catches a tilted horizon before you shoot, so you don't lose the edges of the frame straightening it later. |
| Press Volume buttons to | Take picture or record video | A side key moves the phone less than a tap on the screen, which shows at 5x and 10x. |
| 24MP resolution (Camera Assistant) | On, with Keep 24MP resolution | You get more detail than 12MP and keep the 3x and 5x, which 200MP drops. |
| Photo enhancer | Prioritize quality, with Scene detection on for quick shares | Switch Scene detection off when food or skin looks heavier than the real thing. |
| Pro mode picture format | RAW and JPEG | You get a DNG to edit and a JPEG you can share straight away. |
| Quick tap shutter (Camera Assistant) | On | The photo fires as your finger lands, which catches a moving child sooner. |
| Video format | HEVC, with HDR and High bitrate videos on | 10-bit HDR holds more highlight detail, and HEVC keeps the files a manageable size. |
Settings by situation
Everyday and travel
Photo mode handles most daylight scenes well, and these settings make it more consistent.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | 1x for most scenes, 0.6x for big views, 3x for details | The marked buttons use real lenses or rated crops. Our S26 Ultra zoom guide has distances for each. |
| Resolution | 24MP in daylight, 12MP indoors and after dark | 12MP combines pixels for the cleanest result when the light drops. |
| Exposure | Pull it down a step in Quick controls when the sky is bright | One UI 9 remembers the value for that mode, so reset it when you walk indoors. |
| Motion photo | Auto or On for people | Best face needs a Motion photo to swap in a better expression later. |
Portraits
The 3x gives the most natural face shape, and Portrait mode works at 1x, 2x, 3x and 5x on this phone.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lens and distance | 3x from about 1.2m for head and shoulders, 2x in small rooms | A longer lens flattens features, and 1.2m keeps you close enough to talk to the person. |
| Mode | Portrait for blur you can change later, Photo at 3x for the lens's own blur | Portrait mode can trip on stray hair and glasses, and Photo mode never cuts around them. |
| Blur strength | Below the maximum | Edges around hair look more believable with less blur, and you can change it again in Gallery. |
| Prioritize focus over speed | On | The shutter waits until focus has settled on the face. |
| Photo softening | Medium if skin looks over-sharpened | It softens Samsung's sharpening in Photo mode pictures. |
| Backlit faces | Expert RAW with Virtual Reflector, Silver or Gold | It brightens a face in shadow the way a real reflector would. |
Low light and night
The 1x camera has the brightest lens and by far the largest sensor, so start there whenever the light drops.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Night control in Photo mode | Auto handheld, Max with the phone braced | Max allows a longer capture and shows how long you need to hold still. |
| Lens | 1x, and crop later if you want a tighter frame | The 3x has a small 1/3.94-inch sensor, and it gets noisy fast after dark. |
| Auto lens switching | On for the cleanest file, off to force the real telephoto | In dim light the phone may hand a 3x or 5x shot to a crop from the main camera. |
| Advanced Photo mode controls | Minimum shutter speed and Maximum ISO on None | Limits left over from an action shoot stop night processing from doing its job. |
| Pro mode on a tripod | Lowest ISO, 2 to 10 seconds, white balance 3200K to 4000K under streetlights | Low ISO keeps shadows clean, and the shutter runs to 30 seconds when you need it. |
| Stars | Expert RAW Astrophoto at 12MP with Special photo options on | Astrophoto handles the exposure and asks only for a capture time, focus and white balance. |
Action, kids and pets
Blurred action shots usually come from a slow shutter that Photo mode picked by itself, and Camera Assistant lets you set a floor.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quick tap shutter | On | The shot fires the moment your finger touches the button. |
| Minimum shutter speed | 1/500s outdoors, 1/120s in a dim room, with Maximum ISO on None | The camera works inside the limit and raises ISO to make up the light. |
| Burst | Swipe the shutter toward the screen edge, with Swipe Shutter button to edge to set to Take burst shot | Holding the shutter records video on One UI 9, so the swipe is how you get a burst. |
| Resolution | 12MP | Higher resolutions slow the camera down between shots. |
| Sport at 5x | Auto lens switching off, and stay at least 80cm away | The real 5x keeps its detail, and it can't focus any closer than that. |
| Pro mode for sport | 1/1000s with ISO on Auto | A fixed fast shutter freezes a runner or a ball, and Auto ISO keeps the brightness right. |
Video
Video mode covers family clips and travel. Pro Video adds Log and manual exposure, plus frame rates the S25 Ultra doesn't get.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday clips | 4K at 30fps, HEVC, HDR on | Sharp files of a sensible size that play on most screens. |
| Fast movement | 4K at 60fps | Smoother motion, and you can slow it to half speed when you edit. |
| Walking shots | Super steady with Horizontal lock | The horizon stays level even if you rotate the phone. Tom's Guide found it limited to QHD and 2x zoom. |
| Slow motion | 4K at 120fps or Full HD at 240fps | Plays back 4x or 8x slower on a 30fps timeline. |
| Footage you'll grade | Pro Video with Log and the LUT preview | The file stays flat while the screen shows a normal-looking picture. |
| 50Hz mains lighting | 25 or 50fps in Pro Video, shutter 1/50s or 1/100s | Matching the mains frequency stops lights flickering in the frame. |
| Professional delivery | APV under Video format, recorded to an exFAT SSD | Samsung quotes 796Mbps for APV 422 HQ at 4K 30fps, against 35Mbps for HEVC HDR. |
RAW and editing
Both Pro mode and Expert RAW save DNG files, and Expert RAW keeps more room for editing.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pro mode RAW | Photo format > Pro mode picture format > RAW and JPEG | A DNG for editing plus a JPEG for sharing, straight from the built-in camera. |
| Expert RAW | 16-bit linear DNG with a JPEG, on all four rear cameras | The most room to fix exposure and white balance afterwards. |
| Expert RAW resolution | 24MP by day, 12MP for Astrophoto and Multiple exposure | The Special photo options only run at 12MP. |
| Labs after One UI 9 | Download Virtual Reflector and Virtual Aperture again if they're missing | SammyGuru found the update turned them into optional downloads. |
12MP, 24MP, 50MP or 200MP
Photo mode starts at 12MP, which bins pixels for the cleanest result in poor light and works at every zoom step. The 24MP option appears once Camera Assistant is installed, and it keeps the 3x and 5x available while adding detail for crops.
Save 50MP and 200MP for bright, still scenes you plan to crop hard or print large. At 200MP only the main camera works and each file is big enough to slow the next shot. Generative edits in Gallery come back at up to 12MP, so a 200MP photo shrinks after a Photo Assist edit. Our resolution guide compares the four settings.
Night in Photo mode, Pro mode or Expert RAW
Since One UI 8.5, Night lives inside Photo mode on the S26. A crescent moon appears in dim light, and tapping it offers Off, Auto and Max. Auto suits handheld shots, and Max allows a longer capture when the phone is braced. If you miss the separate Night mode, switch it back on under Additional modes in Camera Assistant.
Pro mode suits a tripod and a set shutter speed for light trails or moving water, and Expert RAW's Astrophoto suits stars. Neither helps with a moving subject at night, so for people at a party stay in Photo mode with a minimum shutter speed of 1/120s and accept a little grain. Our Night mode guide covers the rest.
Setting up Pro mode
Pro mode sits under More in the mode bar. Set white balance first, then a shutter speed that suits the movement in the scene, and raise ISO last, because ISO costs the most image quality. For close-ups and night scenes, switch focus to manual and turn on Focus peaking in Pro modes in Camera Assistant, which outlines the parts of the frame that are sharp.
Once a combination works, save it. Camera Assistant's One UI 8.5 update added Presets in Pro mode, which store ISO, shutter speed, exposure value, focus and white balance along with the lens, and SamMobile reported that you can build one from a photo in Gallery. Our Pro mode guide has values for more scenes.
Log and APV video
Pro Video records Samsung Log, a flat profile meant for grading, with a live LUT preview so the screen looks normal while the file stays flat. Turn Log on under Video format in Camera settings. A flat picture is hard to judge by eye, so turn on Zebra pattern in the exposure monitor to see highlights that are about to clip.
APV is the S26 Ultra's high-bitrate codec, and Samsung's developer page says earlier Galaxy phones can't get it through an update. Turn it on under Professional video capture in Video format, then use its detailed settings to switch from HDR to Log. Record long APV takes to an exFAT SSD over a fast USB cable. Pro Video also adds 25, 48, 50 and 100fps, which the S25 Ultra doesn't get. Our Log video guide covers exposure and grading.
One UI 9 menu paths
The S26 Ultra launched on One UI 8.5 in March 2026, and Samsung began rolling out One UI 9 (Android 17) to the S26 series on 16 September 2026, starting in South Korea. The paths below use One UI 9 names as shown on a Galaxy S25 Ultra running One UI 9 in November 2026, plus the S26-only items from Samsung's S26 support pages. A label can sit slightly differently on your build. Camera Assistant and Expert RAW also update separately through the Galaxy Store.
| What you want | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Open Camera settings | Quick controls (the four dots by the zoom buttons) > gear icon |
| Grid and level | Camera settings > General > Composition guide |
| Volume keys as a shutter | Camera settings > General > Shooting methods > Press Volume buttons to |
| Scene detection and processing speed | Camera settings > Intelligent features > Photo enhancer |
| RAW and HEIF | Camera settings > Photos > Photo format |
| Log, HDR, APV and codec | Camera settings > Videos > Video format |
| Camera Assistant | Camera settings > General > Camera Assistant (install it from the Galaxy Store first) |
| 24MP in Photo mode (S26 only) | Camera Assistant > 24MP resolution |
| Burst on a swipe | Camera Assistant > Swipe Shutter button to edge to > Take burst shot |
| Shutter and ISO limits | Camera Assistant > Advanced Photo mode controls |
| Pro mode presets | Camera Assistant > Presets in Pro mode |
| Horizontal lock | Video mode > Super steady icon > Horizontal lock |
What the S26 Ultra can't do
- The 5x can't focus closer than about 52cm in GSMArena's measurement, and Samsung advises 80cm.
- 200MP works on the main camera only, so the 3x and 5x disappear at that setting.
- There's no optical zoom past 5x. The 10x button crops the 5x sensor, and Space Zoom past that point is digital.
- Samsung says Air actions aren't available with the bundled S Pen, so it can't act as a remote shutter.
- Super steady and Horizontal lock don't work in Pro Video, Portrait Video or with the front camera.
- The f/1.4 aperture is fixed. Virtual Aperture in Expert RAW simulates depth of field in software.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best camera settings for the Samsung S26 Ultra?+
Turn on the grid and level, set the volume buttons to take pictures and install Camera Assistant for 24MP and Quick tap shutter. Shoot 24MP in daylight and 12MP indoors, use 3x for portraits and keep the 5x at least 80cm from close subjects. Use Pro mode with RAW and JPEG for photos you'll edit.
Should I use 24MP or 200MP on the S26 Ultra?+
Use 24MP for most daylight photos. It keeps the 3x and 5x and adds detail over 12MP, while 200MP works on the main camera only and makes very large files. Keep 200MP for bright, still scenes you'll crop or print large.
What are the best S26 Ultra video settings?+
Record 4K at 30fps with HEVC and HDR on for everyday clips, and 4K at 60fps for fast movement. Use Super steady with Horizontal lock for walking shots. For footage you'll grade, use Pro Video with Log, and add APV with an external SSD when you need the highest bitrate.
Why are my S26 Ultra 5x photos blurry up close?+
You're probably closer than the 5x can focus. GSMArena measured about 52cm and Samsung advises 80cm, so step back or switch to the 3x, which focuses from about 22cm.
Can the S26 Ultra save Pro mode presets?+
It can, once you turn on Presets in Pro mode in Camera Assistant. A preset keeps the Pro mode values you've dialled in, together with the lens you used.
Everything for your Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
S26 Ultra camera guides
- → Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera: Specs, Zoom and Low Light
- → How to Use the Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera: Tips and Tricks, first-day setup, every mode and a table of common problems
- → Galaxy S26 Ultra Zoom: When to Use 1x, 3x, 5x and 10x, standing distances and settings for each zoom step
- → Galaxy S26 Ultra vs a Real Camera: Where the Phone Wins and Loses
Comparisons
- → Samsung S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra Camera: Should You Upgrade?, whether the upgrade pays off for photos
- → Galaxy S26 vs S26 Ultra vs S26+: Cameras and Which to Buy
- → Samsung vs iPhone Camera: S26 Ultra vs iPhone 18/17 Pro Max
- → Samsung vs Pixel Camera: Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Pixel 11 Pro
- → Samsung S24 Ultra vs S26 Ultra Camera: Worth the Upgrade?
- → Samsung S23 Ultra vs S26 Ultra Camera: Time to Upgrade?
Rankings and buying guides
Features that work on your S26 Ultra
- → Samsung Expert RAW: Pro Photography Guide (2026), the RAW workflow, Astrophoto and the Labs tools
- → S Pen Camera Remote: Can the S25 Ultra S Pen Take Pictures?
- → Samsung Camera Assistant: Every Setting and When to Use It, every switch in the app, including 24MP and shutter limits
- → 12MP vs 24MP vs 50MP vs 200MP on Samsung: Which to Use
- → 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, exposing and grading Log footage
- → One UI 9 Camera and Gallery Changes for Galaxy Photographers, what moved or was renamed in the update
- → One UI 8.5 Photo AI: Photo Assist & AI Eraser Explained
Price and release
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