I underestimated my Samsung camera until I found these hidden features

Published Jul 31, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT Parth, a seasoned tech writer, wields the keyboard (or pen) with finesse to unravel the intricacies of both Windows and Mac operating systems. He has covered evergreen content on mobile devices and computers for multiple publications over the last six years. You can find his work on AndroidPolice, GuidingTech and TechWiser. Whether it’s demystifying system updates, deciphering error codes, or exploring hidden features, Parth’s prose guides readers through the binary maze. When not immersed in tech jargon, you’ll find him sipping chai, pondering the next software review, and occasionally indulging in a friendly debate about mechanical keyboards. I have used Samsung phones for years, yet I rarely explored the Camera app beyond the usual Photos, Portrait, and Video modes. The hardware was clearly capable, but the overall experience never felt dramatically different from other Android phones I had used. That changed when I started digging through the camera settings, shooting modes, and less obvious menus that Samsung barely highlights. Use timer multi-photo options The standard camera timer is useful when I want to step into the frame, but Samsung’s multi-photo timer makes it far more practical. Instead of capturing only one picture after the countdown, I can ask the camera to take around three to five photos with a gap of roughly 1.5 to 2 seconds between each shot. That small pause gives me enough time to change the expression, adjust posture, or try a completely different pose without running back to the phone every time. I find this especially useful when I am shooting alone or creating content for social media. I can set the phone on a tripod, start the timer, and move naturally through several poses while the camera handles the rest. The option is available under the Camera -> Settings -> Camera Assistant -> Shutter menu. Unlock additional modes Two cameras capture the complete story Samsung also lets me bring additional shooting modes, such as Single Take and Dual Rec, into the Camera app, and both offer far more flexibility than the standard Photo and Video options. Single Take is useful when I do not know whether a photo, short clip, or stylized moment will work best. I can record a scene once and let the phone generate multiple results from it. Dual Rec is the mode I use most often because it lets me record from two cameras simultaneously. I can choose different lenses depending on the situation and even save the recordings as separate files, which gives me much more freedom during editing. At a concert, I can use the telephoto camera to record the stage while capturing my reaction with the selfie camera. I can do the same when my little one takes his first step and keep the main moment in focus while also preserving my own reaction. Enable Zoom-in mic My zoom finally follows the sound Zoom-in mic is one of those Samsung Camera features that sounds minor until I use it in a noisy environment. The option is accessible under the Camera Settings -> Video -> Audio options menu. When I zoom in while recording a video, the phone also tries to emphasize the audio coming from the subject's direction. It produces a more focused result by reducing surrounding noise and making the person, performer, or object in front of the camera easier to hear. I find it useful at concerts, school events, family functions, and outdoor gatherings. If I zoom in on a singer on stage or my child speaking from a distance, the audio feels better matched to what I am filming rather than capturing every conversation happening around me. Enable Quick tap shutter The shutter now keeps up Samsung’s camera app normally captures a photo when I lift my finger from the shutter button, which can introduce a tiny but noticeable delay. After enabling Quick tap shutter from Camera Assistant, the phone takes the picture as soon as I touch the button instead. The difference may sound insignificant, but it makes the camera feel much more responsive, especially when I am trying to capture something that will not stay still. I find it useful when photographing my child, pets, moving vehicles, or any moment where a fraction of a second matters. Quick tap shutter does not remove processing delays or guarantee a perfectly sharp photo, but it reduces the lag between my action and the actual capture. Use the 24MP mode More detail, far more editing freedom Samsung’s regular Camera app defaults to 12MP, which works well for quick, everyday photos, but I turn to Expert RAW when I want more detail and greater editing flexibility. On supported Galaxy phones, the app offers a 24MP mode that gives me a useful middle ground. Samsung uses what it calls 24MP fusion, which combines the additional detail available from a 50MP image with the multi-frame processing of a 12MP capture. Expert RAW also gives me access to computational RAW photography. Alongside a ready-to-share JPEG, I can save a DNG file that contains more image information for later editing of exposure, white balance, highlights, and colors. My Galaxy camera had more potential I initially treated Samsung Camera like any other smartphone camera app: open it, frame the shot, press the shutter, and move on. After exploring Camera Assistant, Expert RAW, advanced video controls, and shooting modes, I realized how much functionality I had been overlooking. None of these tools can replace good lighting or careful composition, but together they make my Galaxy camera far more versatile than I once believed.