Use camera features on Galaxy S26

There are a few ways to launch the Camera app on your Galaxy S26.

• From the Home screen: You can directly open the Camera app by tapping the Camera icon located on the Home screen.
  
  
• From the Lock screen: While the phone is locked, you can swipe up from the Camera shortcut icon on the Lock screen to immediately launch the Camera app without unlocking the phone.
  
  
• From the Apps screen: You can navigate to the Apps screen, then locate and tap the Camera icon to launch the Camera app.
  
  
• Double press the Side button: You can launch the Camera app by double-pressing the Side button. Keep in mind that this option will need to be set in advance. To do so, navigate to Settings, then tap Advanced features, and then tap Side button. Tap Double press, and then tap the switch at the top of the screen to turn it on. Tap Camera, and then select Open Camera.

Your Galaxy S26 makes capturing photos and videos effortless—use a button press, voice commands, or palm gestures. Choose from various shooting modes to achieve your desired effect.

1. Open the Camera app, and then tap the Quick controls icon (the four dots).
2. Tap the Settings icon, and then tap Shooting methods.
3. The following options will be available: 
   • Press Volume buttons to: Select Take pictures or record video, Zoom in or out, or Control sound volume.
     Note: If the 'Press Volume buttons to' is set to 'Take pictures or record videos,' sound cannot be adjusted when recording videos.
   • Voice commands: You can take pictures or record videos using preset commands. 
   • Floating Shutter button: Enable this to take pictures using a second Shutter button that you can position anywhere on the screen.
   • Show palm: Take selfies when showing the palm of your hand to the camera.
4. After you've chosen a shooting mode, tap Back twice to return to the viewfinder and capture photos or videos.

Even from a distance, zoom in to capture stunning details in photos and videos. Get up close to your subject without being physically near it.

1. To get started, open the Camera app, and then tap PHOTO.
2. Swipe up or down on the screen to switch to the rear camera.
3. Pinch the screen with your fingers to zoom in. You can also tap the options at the bottom of the screen to zoom in and out.
4. When zooming in past 10x, Space Zoom automatically engages, and a thumbnail of your target will appear in the corner of the screen. Once you start zooming in even more, you can use this thumbnail as a guide to center your shot. 

Zoom in to capture not just visuals but sounds too! The Zoom-in Mic feature enhances audio as you zoom while filming. Ensure it's enabled by opening the Camera app, tapping the Quick Controls icon (the four dots), and then tapping Settings. Turn on Zoom-in Mic under the Audio options.

Your Galaxy S26 offers various camera tools to enhance your photos and videos. Open the Camera app, choose your mode, and tap the Quick Controls icon (the four dots) to access these options:

• Settings: Open the Camera's Settings menu.
• Flash: Enable or disable the flash or automatic flash.
• Timer: Set a timer for taking pictures and videos.
• Ratio: Select your desired aspect ratio.
• Resolution: Select your desired resolution.
• Exposure: Use the slider to select your desired exposure.
• Motion photo: Turn motion photos on or off. This allows you to capture a short video clip of the action right before releasing the Capture button.
• Filters: Select your desired filter or download new filters from the Galaxy Store. You can also adjust the filter's strength, color temperature, contrast, saturation, and film grain.
• Face: Enable this option to adjust your selfies.
• Super steady: A stabilization feature that reduces shakiness and blurriness in videos.
• Dual recording: captures video footage using both the front and rear cameras simultaneously.
• Auto framing: Automatically adjusts the camera's focus and framing to keep subjects centered and in view.

Make your selfies pop with the Camera app's filters for perfect lighting and effects. For an even smoother experience, use the S Pen on a compatible Galaxy S26 Ultra for added convenience.

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Switch to the front-facing camera. Swipe up/down or tap the Flip Camera icon.
3. Adjust the viewing angle (normal or wide) using the icons at the bottom of the viewfinder.
4. Add filters:
   • Tap the Effects icon (top right). 
   • Choose a color filter, or adjust face settings (Face) or color tone (warm/natural).
5. Tap Capture or press the Volume buttons to snap your selfie.

With the Galaxy S26, your nights stay vibrant and clear. Nightography captures concerts, cityscapes, and dinner celebrations in vivid detail, even in low light. When taking photos or recording videos, it automatically adjusts in real time, ensuring your captures are clear and bright—no need to worry about lighting or settings.

To capture a photo or record a video:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Tap Photo or Video mode below the viewfinder.
3.  Adjust the viewing angle (normal or wide) using the icons at the bottom of the viewfinder. 
4. Use the Capture button to take your picture or start recording.
   • For Photos, you can tap the Moon icon to enable Night mode.
   • For Videos, Nightography will automatically adjust as you shoot.
5. Tap the thumbnail in the bottom left corner of the Camera app, or open the Gallery, to view your pictures and videos.

Horizontal Lock with Super steady ensures cinematic stability and consistent framing, even during fast or unpredictable movements. Real-time motion analysis from the gyroscope and accelerometer works alongside Super steady to minimize shake and keep your horizon perfectly level when activated.

To use Horizontal lock with Super steady:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Tap Video mode below the viewfinder.
3. Tap the Super steady icon (it looks like a person in motion) in the top-right corner or from the Quick controls (the four dots).
4. Tap the Horizontal lock icon (it looks like a person in motion inside a box).
5. Tap the Record button to start recording videos in a locked horizontal position.

The Camera app's Settings menu allows you to customize your preferences. Open the Camera app, tap the Quick controls icons (the four dots), and then tap the Settings icon to access the following options:

Intelligent features

• Scanning: Automatically show a button when a document is detected to scan it. Tap the option to enable Auto scanning, which will scan a document without a tap. You'll also have the option to remove unwanted objects, in case your fingers are in the frame.
• Shot suggestions: Get on-screen guides to help you line up great shots. 
• Photo enhancer: Set the quality optimization options to prioritize quality or speed in Photo mode. You can also enable Scene optimizer to automatically adjust exposure, contrast, white balance, and more based on what is detected in the camera frame. The Scene optimizer is only available when using the rear camera.
• Customer filters: Learn how to create your own filter to apply to photos and videos with just the tap of a button.
   

Photos

• Photo format: Save space by capturing pictures with Photo mode in high efficiency image format (HEIF), and set your desired format to save for Pro mode pictures.
• Watermark: Place a watermark on your photos. You can select the information included in the watermark as well.
• Motion photos: Adjust how you capture Motion range photos, audio feedback, and timing.
   

Videos

• Video format: Enhance your videos with advanced recording formats. Available options include High efficiency videos, High bitrate videos, HDR videos, Log videos, and APV videos.
• Auto FPS: Automatically record brighter videos in low-light conditions by optimizing the frame rate.
• Video stabilization: Activate anti-shake to keep the focus steady when the camera is moving.
• Dual recording: Choose how Dual recorded videos are saved, either as a preview in one file or in separate files.
• Audio options: Enhance your videos with advanced audio recording options such as Zoom-in mic, 360 audio recording, and Audio playback.
• Save extra storage: Enable to record videos directly to USB storage instead of your phone.
   

General

• Tracking auto focus: Keep a moving subject in focus.
• Composition guide: Display a level and viewfinder grid lines to help compose a picture or video.
• Location tags: Attach a GPS location tag to your pictures and videos.
• Save selfies as preview: Save selfies as they appear in the preview without flipping them.
• Swipe up/down to: Switch between the front and rear cameras with just a swipe.
• Shooting methods: There are a few different methods you can choose from and enable, such as Press Volume buttons to, Voice commands, Floating Shutter button, and Show palm.
• Settings to keep: Choose whether to use the same shooting settings as the last time, such as the shooting mode, selfie angle, and filters.
• Shutter sound: Play a tone when taking a picture.
• Vibration feedback: Enable vibrations when tapping the screen in the Camera app.
   

Good Lock Labs

• Camera Assistant: Download and install to customize your own camera settings to your preference.

Privacy

• Permissions: View the Camera's permissions.
   

Additional settings

• Reset settings: Reset the Camera's settings.
• About Camera: View app and software information.