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EE top tips: How to use the five cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S10+

8 March 2019

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ features an incredible five cameras – three on the back and two on the front. But what do they all do, and how can you use them effectively to create stunning photographs?

It’s also worth pointing out that you can perform many of the same camera tricks on the Galaxy S10 and S10e. The Galaxy S10 also features three cameras on the back, with one less front facing camera, while the Galaxy S10e features two cameras on the back and one lens on the front.

Here’s a snapshot to get you started:

Look irresistible on Instagram

If all your images tend to end up on Instagram or find their home on Facebook, you may benefit from the dual lens selfie setup on the plus-sized Galaxy S10+.

While the Galaxy S10 and S10e do let you add some quirky background effects and even take ever-so-slightly wider-angle shots by pressing an on-screen button, the additional front-facing 8MP depth camera on the Galaxy S10+ enables you to create much truer blurred backgrounds.

Capturing a stunning selfie is as easy as perfecting your pout. Just follow these simple steps:

  • open the camera app via the camera icon or by double clicking the button on the right-hand side of the phone
  • double-click on the side button again or press the camera switch icon (bottom right-hand side of the phone) to take a selfie shot
  • you’ll see two on-screen icons – one featuring two people and another featuring just one
  • toggle between these two icons to choose between a standard selfie shot and a selfie shot with a slightly wider angle
  • click on Live focus if you want to adjust the background effect and use the on-screen slider to choose the intensity of the effect 
  • when you’re ready, press the shutter button (the big white one at the bottom of the screen)

Fit more into the frame

All three Galaxy S10 smartphones feature a 16-megapixel ultra-wide lens, enabling you to fit more into the frame of your photos. It’s the best choice for capturing images of expansive landscapes, city scenes and group shots.

To take your ultra-wide shots, open the camera app and make sure you’re using the rear-facing lenses. Then follow these simple steps:

  • you’ll see three on-screen tree symbols, choose the one with three trees (this selects the ultra-wide lens)
  • click on the swirly blue icon on the side of the screen to turn the scene optimiser on/off (the scene optimiser automatically recognises certain types of images and adjusts the settings to produce a better image)
  • if you have ‘Best Shot’ mode enabled, you can use the on-screen gridlines to help make sure your image is nicely lined up
  • press the shutter button

If you just want to use the 12-megapixel wide-angle lens instead of the ultra-wide one, follow the steps above, but click on the two-tree icon instead. The wide-angle lens brings subjects closer but doesn’t capture as much within the frame as the ultra-wide lens.

Snap incredible close-ups

The 12-megapixel 2x optical zoom lens on the back of the Galaxy S10, S10+ and S10e helps you produce high-quality images packed with breathtaking levels of detail. What’s more, you can use the phone’s digital zoom to get even closer – simply pinch in and out on the screen for up to a 10x zoom.

To take a close-up photo, open the camera app and:

  • click on the single tree icon
  • pinch your fingers in and out on the screen to select your level of zoom
  • click on the swirly blue icon on the side of the screen to turn the scene optimiser on/off (the scene optimiser recognises certain types of images and adjusts the settings to produce a better image)
  • if you have ‘Best Shot’ mode enabled, you can use the on-screen gridlines to help make sure your image is nicely lined up
  • press the shutter button

Get artistic with Live focus

Live focus is a photo setting within the Galaxy S10’s camera app, which uses the main camera and the telephoto lens to create photos with depth. Then you’re able to blur the background to make the foreground more prominent. Live focus lets you flex your creative muscle and can produce some stunning portrait images.

To use Live focus:

  • open the camera app and scroll along the bottom to ‘Live focus’
  • stay within 3-5 feet of your subject for the best results
  • use the on-screen sliding bar to adjust the intensity of your background blur – zero being the lowest intensity and seven being the highest. You can also adjust this after you’ve taken your photo.
  • toggle through the background options below the bar. You can try different types of background blur including ‘Spin’, ‘Zoom’ and ‘Colour point’. The Colour point option intensifies the colours in the foreground, while washing out background colour.
  • when you’re ready, press the shutter button

Now you know how to use the S10’s powerful lenses, go out there and capture some stunning shots of your own.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10+ here >

Learn how to use PowerShare on the Galaxy S10 >

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