Samsung’s top-of-the-line Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G has proven that it’s more than just a well-rounded everyday smartphone. It’s a powerhorse that’s perfect for creatives and users with demanding lifestyles. And behind its beastly performance is a powerful set of cameras that’s got a lot up its sleeves.
At the back, we get a quad-cam setup composed of a 12MP F2.2 ultra-wide, a 108MP F1.8 wide-angle, a 10MP F4.9 10x telephoto, and a 10MP F2.4 3x telephoto lens. The one on top of the LED flash is actually a Laser Autofocus sensor. The front camera, on the other hand, packs a 40MP F2.2 sensor.
We took it for a quick spin, and generally, we like how the photos look significantly sharp, rich in colors, and have impressive dynamic range.
We found ourselves using the ultra-wide lens a lot. And it does a very good job in matching the colors as in standard mode.
Now the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G doesn’t have a dedicated macro lens, but thanks to its laser autofocus, it automatically detects super close scenarios to switch the camera to the 12MP lens to give you an enhanced detailed shot.
Besides that, we were more impressed when it comes to night photography. Using its night mode enhances the quality, brightness, and sharpness without looking too grainy or washed out. We even got a clear shot of the moon! Plus, you can even take well-detailed selfies with the night mode turned on.
One of the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s top camera features is its zoom capabilities. Zooming in 3x to 10x gives you clear and crisp images with less noise if used in low light settings.
As for that 100x space zoom, we must say that it did improve a lot, and it’s pretty easy to use since it has a small preview to track where you’re focusing at. Of course, it’s not too clear, but the details are now more visible compared to what we first saw in the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Well, I don’t know if you’ll use this feature a lot, but it’s there, and it’s cool.
Portrait shots look awesome too. The subject-background separation is often on point and if you want to tweak it, Samsung allows you to change the background effects in post.
It’s fun to take selfies with its 40MP front camera. We get bright and detailed photos that look favorable on skin tones. Similar to its rear cameras, we get an impressive dynamic range and you can always take wide selfies.
If you want to make the most of its camera tricks and hacks, you can start with the Pro mode that allows you to experiment with ISO, white balance, aperture, and focus. This feature also allows you to take RAW image formats.
Then there’s the improved Single Take Feature, wherein users can take up to15-second videos, and immediately with AI, it’ll give you suggested photos/videos so you can share your best moments.
Next is the newly introduced “Director’s View”, which essentially allows you to record videos with the front and rear camera simultaneously, with the output resembling a video call. This can be handy for vlogging or other social media posts.
When it comes to videos, you can shoot up to 8k with the rear cameras, but that will limit to only 24fps. So we mostly stick to 4k that can be used up to 60fps. Thankfully, the video stabilization now works across all settings from HD up to 8k.
Overall, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s cameras are one of the best that you can get in a smartphone today. What do you like most about it? Let us know in the comments.
Zoom capability