The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s new 200MP snapper takes impressive images, but did you know it can also take photos of the stars?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra introduces a new Astrophoto mode to the Expert RAW shooting mode within its capable Camera app, allowing anyone and everyone to take pro-level images of the night sky. But, in such a feature-heavy Camera app, it can be difficult to locate the various features and functionality available.
That’s where we at Trusted Reviews come in; we’re Samsung experts, and we’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra for the past few weeks. Here’s how to shoot pro-level photos of the night sky using your new Galaxy S23 Ultra.
What you’ll need:
A Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraA tripod (optional but recommended)
The Short Version
Open the Camera appTap MoreTap Expert RAW modeTap the star icon on the camera toolbarAdjust your capture settingsFrame up your shot Capture your shot
How to take photos of the night sky with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Step 1 Open the Camera appThe first step is to open the Camera app on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. It’s the app icon with a digital camera, if you’re unsure. Step 2 Tap MoreWhile you might assume that you’ll be able to capture the stars using the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s basic Photo mode, you’d be wrong. Tap More to browse the phone’s wide range of shooting modes. Step 3 Tap Expert RAW modeTo take high-quality photos of the stars, you’ll need to use Samsung’s Expert RAW mode. Simply tap the Expert RAW icon to access the mode. If it’s your first time using Expert RAW, you’ll have to first download the app add-on from the Galaxy Store. It’s a bit odd that it’s not installed by default, but hey… Step 4 Within the Expert RAW app you’ll find a whole host of camera controls and modes to help you capture the best images possible from the smartphone – but we’re not interested in most of these. You should see an icon that resembles a constellation of stars in the toolbar on the left of the viewfinder. Tap it to enter the Astrophoto mode. Step 5 Change your shooting settingsThis is an important step as it’ll determine how long the phone should capture the stars. When it comes to astrophotography, the longer the better, with a minimum capture option of 4 minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes. I’d recommend setting it as long as possible for the best results, but it’s totally up to you. Experiment and have a bit of fun with it! You can also enable the Star Guide that’ll project constellations onto your display to help you frame your shot and capture some truly impressive photos of the night sky. Step 6 Frame up and take your shotWith all your settings configured, it’s now time to frame up and begin your capture. You won’t be able to take photos of the stars by holding the phone in your hands – there needs to be 0 wobble if you want a crisp shot – so you’ll need to prop your phone up or, ideally, set it up on a tripod. Once you’re framed up and ready, simply tap the capture button to shoot the stars with your Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Have you tried taking photos of the stars on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? Share your best shots with us on Twitter.
Troubleshooting
Can I take photos of the stars without a tripod? Yes, while it’s possible to take photos of the stars without using a tripod, you’ll be limited in terms of the angles available to you. For the best results, a tripod is highly recommended. Can I take photos of the stars on the rest of the S23 range? You can certainly take photos of stars using the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus and the Expert RAW mode, though with a 50MP rear snapper compared to the 200MP snapper of the Ultra model, the results might not be quite as impressive.
