Pro mode camera settings: a cheat sheet for every scene
Shutter speed, ISO, white balance and focus to start from for daylight, sunsets, rain, portraits, concerts, night streets, the moon and the stars. Set, shoot, check, adjust.
How to use this cheat sheet
Pro or manual mode gives you shutter speed, ISO, white balance and focus. The settings below are starting points. Set them, take a shot, check it at full size, and change one thing at a time. If a setting is new to you, read manual camera settings explained first.
Phone lenses have a bright, fixed aperture, so daylight needs much faster shutter speeds than you might expect from a traditional camera. If a shot comes out too bright even at your lowest ISO and fastest shutter, that's the light, not you.
Two habits make every setting below work better: keep ISO as low as the shutter speed allows, and check that the brightest part of the picture isn't solid white.
Daylight, sunsets and rain
| Scene | Shutter | ISO | White balance | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny day | 1/1000 to 1/4000 s | Lowest | 5,200 to 5,600 K | Lower the exposure if the sky turns white. |
| Overcast or shade | 1/250 to 1/1000 s | Lowest | 6,000 to 7,000 K | Raising the kelvin warms the cool light. |
| Sunset | 1/500 to 1/2000 s | Lowest | 5,500 to 6,500 K | Expose for the sky and let the foreground go dark. |
| Rain, freeze drops | 1/500 s or faster | As needed | Auto or 5,500 K | A dark background makes drops stand out. |
| Rain, streaks | 1/30 to 1/60 s | Low | Auto | Brace the phone; the drops blur into lines. |
People, pets and concerts
| Scene | Shutter | ISO | White balance | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait outdoors | 1/250 s (shade) to 1/2000 s (sun) | Lowest | 5,500 K, or warmer for skin | Tap to focus on the eyes. Use a 2x to 3x lens for flattering proportions. |
| Portrait indoors | 1/60 to 1/125 s | 400 to 1600 | 3,200 to 4,000 K | Face a window for soft light. |
| Kids, pets, sport | 1/500 to 1/1000 s | Auto, or as needed | Auto | A fast shutter matters more than low noise here. |
| Concert | 1/125 to 1/250 s | 800 to 3200 | 3,500 to 4,500 K | Stage lights clip easily: lower the exposure until the faces keep detail. |
Night, the moon and the stars
| Scene | Shutter | ISO | Focus and WB | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Night street, handheld | 1/15 to 1/30 s | 800 to 3200 | Auto focus; 3,500 to 4,500 K | Brace against a wall, or use Night mode. |
| Night street, on a support | 1/2 to 2 s | 100 to 400 | Tap to focus; 3,500 to 4,500 K | Moving lights turn into trails. |
| The moon | 1/500 to 1/2000 s | Lowest | Focus at infinity; 5,000 K | Use your longest optical lens, not digital zoom. |
| Stars | Longest available (often 10 to 30 s) | 800 to 3200 | Focus at infinity; 3,800 to 4,200 K | Tripod, self-timer, and a truly dark sky. |
| Fireworks | 1/2 to 2 s | Lowest | Focus at infinity; auto WB | Tripod. Start the shot as the rocket launches. |
| Light trails | 1 to 5 s | Lowest | Tap to focus; 3,500 to 4,000 K | Tripod. Longer shutter, longer trails. |
More on low light, including when to trust Night mode instead, is in how to take better night photos on Android.
Your phone's limits
The longest shutter, the highest ISO and whether you get manual focus at all depend on your phone, and often differ between its lenses. Some phones cap the shutter at a second or less, while others go to 30 seconds. Check what your phone's camera supports if a setting is missing.
One Camera puts ISO, shutter speed, focus distance and white balance on real dials in Manual photo and Pro Video (part of One Camera Pro, free for the 7-day trial). It asks your phone what each lens supports and shows only that, so the ranges you see are the ones your hardware can really use.
Questions
What are the best pro mode settings for night photography?
Handheld, start around 1/15 to 1/30 s at ISO 800 to 3200. With the phone on a support, use a lower ISO (100 to 400) and a longer shutter (1/2 to 2 s). Set white balance around 3,500 to 4,500 K for street lighting.
What pro mode settings should I use for the moon?
Your lowest ISO, a fast shutter around 1/500 to 1/2000 s, and focus set to infinity. The moon is brightly sunlit, so it needs far less exposure than the dark sky around it suggests.
What settings do I need to photograph stars with my phone?
A tripod, focus at infinity, ISO 800 to 3200 and the longest shutter your phone allows, often 10 to 30 seconds. Use the self-timer and find a dark sky away from city lights.
What pro mode settings are best for concerts?
A shutter of about 1/125 to 1/250 s, ISO 800 to 3200, and white balance around 3,500 to 4,500 K. Lower the exposure until faces under the stage lights keep their detail.