Camera Tips & Tricks for Your Galaxy Note5

Okay, let's be honest...when's the last time you actually used a compact, standalone camera? With its high-tech sensors, 16-megapixel resolution, and a myriad of professional settings—like exposure adjustments, white balance and modes—it's easy to see why the Galaxy Note5 will become your go-to, always-there photographic device. Here are a few ways to get the most out of it.

Focus on Exposure, Resolution...and Focus

The best photos leverage your camera's built-in focus, exposure, and resolution settings. If things appear a little blurry on your display, tap your subject to refocus your shot. Photographing against direct sunlight? Intentionally overexpose the shot to allow more foreground light into the aperture by manually increasing the camera's exposure setting. And unless you're suffering from memory issues—the storage kind, not the forgetting kind—always opt for a full 16-megapixel resolution.

There's a Reason They're Called Rules

Professional photographers follow the Rule of Thirds, and your camera's built-in grid lines make it a hard rule for even the noobiest photog to break. With the grid engaged, compose your shot so the main subjects are along the lines or at points where they intersect. It's a sure way to create photos that are eye-catching.

Harness the Power of HDR

The HDR mode on your Galaxy Note5 simultaneously captures fine details in both shadows and highlights, creating shots that are high contrast, saturated and sharp. When enabled, your camera essentially takes multiple shots at different exposures, and then combines the images to produce a single shot that's more dynamic and closer than ever to what the human eye sees.

Ready and Steady for Every Shot

Since the slightest wobble causes blurring, try to brace your hand against a stationary object or use a tripod to steady your shot. Then, be gentle when you tap the shutter to avoid moving the phone further. That said, the camera shutter button isn't the only way to snap a picture. For an even steadier shot and a bit more flexibility, configure your Camera's settings so your "Volume" button snaps photos, then connect a headset with a volume toggle to use as a remote shutter instead.

Get So Close You Can Touch It

With "Selective Focus" mode, you can render a section of your photo in sharp detail while somewhat blurring the rest. This allows the subject to really pop off the page, so the viewer zeros in on the area that's sharp and places less attention on subjects further from the camera.

A Burst of Shots When the Action's Hot

When it comes to taking photos of your kids, your pets, or fast-paced action, "Burst" mode helps you get at least a few clear, unblurry shots every time. To use it, simply hold down the shutter button to take a few dozen shots in rapid succession. Keep shooting until the moment is over—then pick the best one later.