Best iPhone Camera Settings for Crisp Photos and Smooth Videos
Introduction
The iPhone camera has one of the most compelling cameras you can carry – but most people tend to leave their camera settings on default and wonder why some of their photos are unfocused, wobbly, or bland. Making a few small tweaks to get the best image quality can be surprisingly simple.
In this article, we’ll show you the best iPhone camera settings for crisp photos and videos, as well as some handy photography tips to help you get the best results no matter what your model is. Menu options and available settings will vary slightly depending on your iPhone model and iOS version, so be sure to check what you have available.
Getting Started: Cleaning Your Lens
Before you do anything else, give your iPhone’s lens a good cleaning with a soft microfiber cloth. Oily fingerprints and dust can cause hazy, unfocused photos that nothing on the settings menu can fix. This simple tip often delivers dramatic results, making photos look crisper and more detailed.
The Best iPhone Camera Settings for Taking Photos
Go to Settings > Camera and follow the steps below.
1. Turn On the Grid
The grid makes it easier to keep your photos balanced and framed correctly by dividing the screen into thirds both vertically and horizontally. It won’t make you a better photographer overnight, but photos with centered horizons and well-composed scenes tend to look more professional. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s completely free to enable.
2. Choose your preferred photo format
Under Formats, you’ll likely see an option to choose between High Efficiency and Most Compatible.
• High Efficiency will allow you to store smaller, higher quality photos. This is the recommended option for most users.
• Most Compatible will save your photos as JPEGs, which can be opened on more devices and programs. You could choose this option if you know you’ll frequently be sharing your photos online or sending them to people with older phones.
Some Pro models also offer the option to shoot in ProRAW, which saves your photos with greater dynamic range and flexibility for editing. This file format is much larger, however, so you should only choose this option if you plan on doing heavy photo editing.
3. Use Smart HDR and Night mode
HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a great tool that lets you take advantage of the full range of light your camera can capture. It will balance the shadows and highlights in your photo to make everything visible without being blown out. For best results, leave HDR on Auto. When you’re in low light, your Night mode will turn on automatically and capture a longer exposure. You should keep your phone as still as possible while your Night mode is on, or ideally, set it on a stable surface until the timer runs out.
4. Tap to Focus and Change Exposure
You can tap a spot on your screen to focus and hold your finger on it until you see AE/AF Lock on your screen. This will allow you to keep your focus and exposure settings steady while you take your photo. You can also move your finger up and down to make your image brighter or darker. Try not to make your image too light or dark. Lowering your exposure slightly can help you avoid blown out skies, sunsets, and windows.
5. Choose the Right Lens
Instead of trying to pinch-zoom your phone to make your subject bigger, you can use the optical zoom feature on your lenses (1x, 2x, etc). Zooming digitally can make your subject look unnaturally large and can also cause your image to appear pixelated and blurry. If you don’t have an optical zoom option on your iPhone, you can always physically move to get closer to your subject. If your model has a telephoto lens, make sure you’re using it to capture objects that are far away instead of using digital zoom.
6. Play Around With Photographic Styles
Photographic Styles lets you choose a specific look you want your photos to have without adjusting your settings for every single one. You can choose from a range of different styles including warmer colors and more contrast. You can choose a style in the Camera app or Settings, and then go back and take as many photos as you want without having to adjust your settings in between.
7. Use Live Photos and Burst Mode
Live photos capture a couple seconds of movement before and after you take a photo, which is great if you want to capture a moment where someone blinked or an animal moved. You can also take burst photos by holding the shutter button and choosing the best shot from the ones that were captured. If you want to limit storage space, you can always turn Live photos off.
The Best iPhone Camera Settings for Recording Smooth Videos
Go to Settings > Camera > Record Video. Follow the steps below.
1. Choose Your Resolution and Frame Rate
For most users, 4K at 30fps is the ideal resolution. It provides good detail while still looking smooth, and it won’t eat up too much storage space. A quick guide on resolution and frame rate settings:
• 1080p at 30fps – Great for saving space and posting social media videos.
• 4K at 30fps – Best bang for your buck.
• 4K at 60fps – Great for capturing fast subjects like kids and animals, and will allow you to slow the video down and enjoy the moment. Note that these videos will take up more storage space.
• 24fps – Perfect for more cinematic and dramatic videos. This setting is only ideal if you’re filming in good lighting conditions, too.
Make sure you stick to one resolution and one frame rate throughout your entire project, and don’t mix and match them.
2. Use the Stabilization and Action Features
iPhone cameras also come with a few stabilization features built in. If your camera has an Action mode, you should definitely use it for shooting videos while walking, running, or otherwise moving. Stabilization will help your video look much smoother, as if you’ve used a professional stabilizer, but it will also work best in well-lit environments.
3. Try Using the Cinematic Mode
Cinematic mode will allow you to capture a more movie-like video with a nice bokeh blur. You can also adjust the focus manually and shift your focus from one object to another throughout your video, even after you’ve already recorded it. This mode works best on well-lit subjects with good contrast. Avoid using this feature to record action scenes.
4. Lock Exposure While Recording
Like with photos, you can tap and hold on a part of your screen to change the exposure and lock it in place. This can prevent your video from flashing between light and dark areas as you move around.
5. Make Sure the Microphone is Capturing Good Quality Sound
Good sound is just as important as good video. Try to record your video in quiet environments and avoid covering up your microphone with your hands as much as possible. You should also consider investing in a separate microphone if you plan on recording interviews or vlogs.
Settings Worth Changing Once
There are a few other settings you can change that will save you from having to change them repeatedly. Under Settings > Camera > Preserve Settings, you can preserve your camera mode, filter, or Live Photo settings so they won’t always revert to the default ones. If you have it on your device, you should also take a look at your Lens Correction settings. These settings will correct any distortions on your photos taken with a wide-angle camera. You should also keep Prioritize Faster Shooting on if you know you’ll be taking lots of photos.
Pro Tips for Getting the Best Results
• Make sure you’re in good lighting conditions. It’s much harder to take good photos in the dark, so avoid taking photos in the middle of the night if you can.
• Keep your elbows in and try to use a tripod in low-light conditions and for recording videos.
• You can also try using a volume button to take photos. This will prevent you from shaking the phone when you press the shutter button.
• Avoid using filters while you take photos. This way you’ll get the best quality image possible.
• Make sure you have enough storage space. You don’t want to fill up your phone since this can cause your camera to malfunction.
• Update your iPhone regularly. New updates often include camera-related improvements and fixes as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best resolution to record video on iPhone?
For most users, 4K at 30fps is ideal.
Should I shoot photos in HEIF or JPEG?
High Efficiency (HEIF) is best for most users, while Most Compatible (JPEG) is best for sharing your photos online.
Why are my iPhone photos blurry?
Blurry photos are often a result of dirty lenses, poor lighting, shaky hands, and excessive zooming.
Does a high frame rate mean that my video will turn out better?
Not necessarily. A higher frame rate can make your video look smoother and capture faster action, though.
Final Thoughts
Great photos and videos require a combination of the right settings and the right habits. Turn on the grid, choose your preferred image format, and lock exposure when needed. Avoid using digital zoom and make sure you have enough lighting when you take your photos. Use a good frame rate when recording videos and keep your camera as still as possible while you record. And above all, keep your iPhone lens clean and make sure you have enough storage space for your media.
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