Recently, Samsung took the Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s camera for a spin at Seoul’s Han River and Olympic Parks. Check out the video below to see how watch the smartphone follow an inline skater as she dances her way across the city.

Packed with Samsung’s best photography and video features, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s pro-grade camera is perfect for capturing stunning shots of your furry friends. Galaxy user Jiyoon Kim has been using the device to record life with her two dogs, Miso and Ara, and sharing tips and memorable moments with viewers on social media. Let’s take a look at how the varied features offered by the Galaxy Note20 Ultra have helped Kim capture Miso and Ara’s most adorable sides.

① Professional-Grade Pet Portraits

Many pet owners like to visit specialty studios to have high-quality photos taken of their four-legged companions. However, it can prove challenging to make your pet look natural and comfortable in an unfamiliar setting. With the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, you can now take high-quality pet portraits and create amazing video recordings of your furry friend from the comfort of your home.

You only need three items to create incredible pet photos – a suitable backdrop, a tripod, and your Galaxy Note20 Ultra. A conveniently placed patch of colored wallpaper at home works great as a backdrop. Alternatively, you can purchase some colored paper in your preferred tone and carefully fasten it to your wall to establish your backdrop. Another trick is to add cute costumes and props and shoot from a range of angles to give variety and character to your pet portraits.

Miso’s ears perk up when he’s happy. He loves photo time.

Ara makes people smile – an authentic, happy aura is captured when shooting in a familiar space

The Galaxy Note20 Ultra comes with a 108-million-pixel, ultra-high-resolution camera. It can capture amazing details and textures, such as patterns in the fur or the color of the eyes.

“You can take great pet portrait photos with your dog looking towards the camera,” says Kim. “An important tip for taking this kind of picture is to grab your pet’s attention with fun toys while using your S Pen as a remote controller to take the photo. These kinds of tricks can help you take professional-quality pictures and really have a lot of fun with your shoot. The Galaxy Note20 Ultra can take pictures with very high resolution, which means you can get them developed and hang them up at home.”

The perfect puppy portrait!

Take pet portraits with the Galaxy Note20 Ultra and hang them up at home.

② Record Special Moments in 8K

Filming a video is the best way to record your pets’ unique characteristics. The Galaxy Note20 Ultra enables you to capture memorable moments with your pets in 8K UHD video. Just take a look at this adorable video of Miso and Ara jumping over rows of toilet paper and weaving between paper cups.

It’s easy to miss photo opportunities when you’re busy having fun with your pets. With the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, you can easily turn your favorite scenes from a video clip into high-resolution photos. Screenshots captured with the device’s 8K video function are vivid and extremely detailed, which means you can isolate memorable images from longer videos.

Ara pokes her face through a hole in the tower of toilet paper. Cropping screenshots brings vivid image quality to life.

Getting the timing just right can be challenging. With high-resolution screenshots, you can easily isolate your favorite images from longer videos.

“I used to film memorable moments when I was too busy to take individual photos. But it was hard getting high-resolution screenshots from these videos,” says Kim. “With the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, I can create high-resolution screenshots from the 8K videos. The picture quality of these shots is comparable to still photos. This feature lets me have fun with my dogs while capturing everything on camera.”

③ Transform Ordinary Scenes Into Epic Moments

Some moments with your pets can only be captured properly when they are slowed down. The Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s Super Slow-mo feature makes it possible for you to transform fleeting scenes into epic videos. With this feature, you can catch every detail of your pets splashing around in water or can even turn ordinary scenes, like taking a bath or blow drying hair, into fun and memorable experiences.

You can also try inserting a Super Slow-mo clip into one of your 8K videos to make your pet videos stand out even more.

“I love this clip of Miso’s hair blowing in the wind. I just want to watch it over and over again,” says Kim. “The quality of the video is amazing and I can just post it on my pet’s social media account without much editing.”

④ Capture Everything All at Once  

For those who love recording their pets but find themselves missing the mark when capturing just the right moments, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a solution in the form of the AI-powered Single Take feature. Single Take provides you with a wide range of photo, video, and even ‘meme’able mode results based on just one shot. Once you have selected the mode and captured a short clip, Single Take harnesses AI to analyze the background and subject in order to recommend the best cuts of your picture or video, removing the need for manual scrolling of the different results.

 

Single Take captures Ara’s various sides, providing a range of picture options. The ‘best cut’ is enlarged at the top of the screen or highlighted with a crown

 

Features like Single Take are particularly useful for those who are video production beginners. Single Take also provides results that apply background music and immersive video effects for a professional feel. In a video of Ara running and striking a pose, for instance, the application of a lively melody in addition to a time-lapse effect changes the feel of the clip completely. The combination of all these effects can enhance the experience of revisiting some of your favorite moments.

 

 

What’s more, users of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra can also harness various features and lenses including ultra-wide, Live Focus, and time lapse while filming. From there, they can pick and choose their preferred outcomes from among a broad range of results. Those who prefer still cuts can choose individual images, while those who like watching short clips of cute-looking dogs can apply other, more meme-worthy effects. “As a person who enjoys filming, I was fascinated by the AI-powered Single Take feature,” said Kim. “I find myself using the feature regularly as it enables me to capture my dogs from a range of different perspectives.”

 

An image captured through Single Take, which delivers steady, well-structured images

 

Pets bring a lot of joy to our lives and the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is the perfect companion for recording all the amazing moments you spend with them.

 

“I have had my dogs since they were puppies. I often think it’s a shame that I wasn’t able to take more photos and videos of them growing up,” says Kim. “With the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, I can now capture every moment I spend with Miso and Ara.”

As smartphone cameras became the primary go-to camera for many, the technology powering them has become an integral part of the way we share our lives with each other. Samsung has been at the forefront of this change, building a strong heritage of camera technology that has evolved the way people use the camera — from clear night photography, to professional-grade portraits, smooth video stabilization, and selfies.

Samsung Newsroom talked with Joshua Sungdae Cho, VP and Head of Visual SW R&D at Samsung Mobile, to discuss Samsung’s camera philosophy and legacy of imaging technology.

Joshua Sungdae Cho, VP and Head of Visual SW R&D at Samsung Electronics

What is the driving philosophy behind the features and specs for cameras on Galaxy devices?

Our goal is to satisfy two very different needs. First, we help general users by democratizing the experience of professional photography, making it easy for them to create high-quality photos and videos with nothing but their smartphone. Secondly, we aim to bring a more customized shooting experience for pros who want to use their Galaxy smartphone as a professional tool. To do that, we focus on three key areas: the best shooting and viewing experience, ease of use, and controllability.

Our aim with the shooting and viewing experience is to ensure that users get crisp, vivid results every time they capture images and videos. This is why we have focused on high-resolution images, best-in-class image sensors, and other features like High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). For ease of use, we focus on creating features that make getting the best results as simple as possible. Single Take, for example, makes it easy to take multiple pictures and videos all at the same time, then recommends the best shots of the series. Finally, controllability is emphasized in our Pro Photo and Pro Video modes, giving users more control over their final results. Underpinning all of these features is AI, which ensures users get the most optimal results.

(Left) Super steady OFF l (Right) Super steady ON

Can you expand on these three pillars? How do you ensure users get the best shooting and viewing experience?

We take a lot of things into consideration for delivering the best shooting and viewing experience for both photos and video. First, we consider portraits our top priority. With warm tones, but a natural brightness and color, our cameras capture your emotions and expressions in vivid detail. We are continuing to make this a key focus area with upgrades that improve details such as skin texture and hair. Improving the resolution of the images from our cameras is one way we accomplish this.

Higher resolution images contain more pixels, and therefore, more information.  We try to find ways to get more pixels into our sensors, as well as improved optics, so that users produce sharp images and videos even when they crop or zoom. Ensuring users get great results no matter the lighting condition is also a key focus for the shooting experience on Galaxy devices.

Our advanced High Dynamic Range (HDR), for example, makes it possible to shoot in mixed lighting and still get great results. This is possible thanks to the AI in our camera, which takes three images at different exposure levels simultaneously and then combines them into one final image. This same approach is used for low-light photography. To deliver more bright, crisp images in low-light conditions, we use nona-binning technology, which uses AI to merge nine pixels into one larger pixel so it absorbs more light and creates clear, vivid images.

Last but not least, we also adopt best-in-class hardware to deliver superior viewing and sharing experiences and improve image quality. Samsung’s cutting-edge sensor technology, such as our 108MP sensors and 50x Space Zoom on the Note20 Ultra, make it possible to capture ultra-high-resolution images and even 8K video. We combine this sensor technology with other strengths of Galaxy devices, such as world-class displays to view the results and fast Wi-Fi connectivity and 5G that make sharing large files easy, to create the best all-around smartphone camera experience.

That sounds like a lot of features to pack into a smartphone camera. How do you make sure they are intuitive and easy to use?

Ease of use is particularly important for our camera philosophy. We aim to create an optimal auto-shooting mode that delivers professional looking images and video. The only thing our users need when shooting with a Galaxy device is a good subject and a memorable moment. We also pack our cameras with features that enable greater creativity while still making it easy to get great results.

Scene optimizer is a great example of how we make it easy to get professional level results. Users just have to point and shoot, and the camera delivers an image optimized for color and brightness based on the scene. We use AI to help deliver these optimizations, ensuring that every cloud, sunset, and smile is captured just as you remember.

Ease of use is also at the heart of features like Single Take. With just a single click, the camera takes multiple pictures and videos with dynamic effects simultaneously, allowing users to capture the moment in a variety of ways and choose their favorite. Features like My Filter also make it easy for users to customize their images. With My Filter, users can create a custom filter, save it, then apply it to all of the photos they shoot.

On the opposite end of this ease of use and auto-shooting, you mentioned that customization and control are an important part of the Galaxy camera experience. How do you implement those control features?

Both Pro Photo and Pro Video mode offer users more control over their final results. In Pro Photo mode, users can tweak all aspects of the photo including the ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and exposure levels. It also gives them the power to save RAW images, which they can later edit on their own. With the enhanced Pro Video mode on the Galaxy Note20 series, we’ve given users more creative control over the fine details in their videos.

In addition to manual adjustment of exposure settings, Pro Video mode introduces features such as Zoom control, allowing users to adjust the speed of their zoom for more dramatic footage. In Pro Video mode, users can also adjust the direction of the microphone to get the best sound. To top it off, we’ve also given users the power to record 8K video at 24fps on the Galaxy Note20 for high-quality results with a cinematic feel.

Many of these features seem to be powered or enhanced by AI. Why is AI such an important component of Galaxy cameras?

AI is one of the core technologies in Samsung’s camera technology because it allows us to do a lot of the heavy lifting for the user. We use AI to improve image resolution, optimize new technology for mobile, and provide better experiences for our customers.

Auto Framing on the Galaxy Z Fold2, for example, automatically shifts the view to stay centered and in focus depending on how many people are in view.  When there is only one person, it can follow their motion and keep them centered – ideal for vloggers and creatives that are using their smartphone to create content.

In the future we will continue to implement these advancements to learn, adapt, and develop new technology that improves the overall camera experience.

In addition to improvements in AI, the trend in smartphone photography has been to add more cameras on flagship devices year over year. Is this a trend you believe will continue?

We keep trying to find a balance between the best AI technology and the optimal number of cameras on our devices. Our AI technology is continuously improving thanks to the image training technology we have developed at Samsung. At the same time, we are also working to deliver the best camera hardware for our devices. If we are able to achieve the same results from multiple cameras with just a single AI-powered camera, then we will merge the technologies. Although we are not at that point yet, we are able to deliver stunning results with features like the Ultra-Wide camera that capture landscapes from a whole different perspective, and 50x zoom on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

The Galaxy Note20 series is a prime example of how our philosophy is reflected in our devices. We know that video usage has been steadily increasing, and has led to greater demand for better video features. So, for the Galaxy Note20 series, we improved on Super Steady, delivered 8K recording, and added increased functionality with Pro Video mode to enhance the user experience.

Ultimately, whatever we do is in service of consumer needs, to ensure every feature, experience and design choice offers increased functionality and quality.

Samsung has always been at the cutting edge of mobile photography providing industry-leading capabilities in Galaxy smartphones. Features such as Single Take, Pro-Mode, Ultra-Wide, Hyperlapse among others can take your photography skills to the next level and bring out your inner photographer to the fore.

One such shutterbug is Auditya Venkatesh. An avid traveler, a skilled photographer and a Galaxy expert, Auditya’s curiosity inspires him to capture the beauty of everyday life around him—one that often misses our eye.

Audi has been a part of Team Galaxy and has been capturing some stellar shots with his Galaxy S20 Ultra & Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

Read on as he spills the beans on his favourite camera features and some tips for you to make the most of smartphone photography.

Resolution is key

With Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s 108MP camera, you can capture minute details even after cropping the image.

Auditya’s tip: Use your smartphone’s camera to click the picture and use social apps only after clicking to make any edits. This way you get the best possible image.

Pro mode for greater flexibility

To create the image just as you want it, use the Pro mode. This will help you control every aspect of the camera functions.

Auditya’s tip: If you are not very comfortable with manual settings, Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s Night mode is very efficient in automatically adjusting the exposure to ensure the best lighting and quality of the image.

Handy Telephoto lens

Having a far-reaching optical Telephoto lens in the camera comes in very handy to get to subjects that are far away and to get just what you need in your frame. The Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s 12MP telephoto camera paired with 50X Super Resolution Zoom is perfect for this.

Auditya’s tip: Keep a microfibre cloth always handy with you and clean your lens before taking the picture to ensure maximum clarity.

Magical Slow Motion

Almost everything looks magical in Super Slow-Mo or Slow Motion. 960fps slows your footage down by nearly 40 times! You get to see each tiny detail unfold.

Auditya’s tip: If you are shooting Slow Motion videos, shoot in a place where there’s a lot of light. This will compensate for the extreme frame rate at which your phone is shooting. Avoid shooting indoors where your light source is powered by AC electricity as it will induce flicker in your images

Tell stories with Hyperlapse

Create stories with Hyperlapse to give a unique perspective on things. The small changes that you can’t observe in real-time—like the growth of a sapling or the movement of clouds—can be beautifully captured through this feature.

Auditya’s tip: Use the form factor of the smartphone to your advantage. Put it through small spaces, bring it closer to the ground and find unique perspectives.

And here’s a treat for all you budding photographers. Hone your photography skills with pro tips by the Galaxy Expert using the new Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G. Join his LIVE session on September 5 at 3 p.m.

Event link: https://samsungplus.webex.com/samsungplus/onstage/g.php?MTID=e0f8ae088f07a3553510b05648ec78f0e

Event number:   170 534 2089

Event password:  050920

The powerful Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra, along with their versatile ecosystem, have been designed to help us achieve more in this age of the next normal, and deliver new connected experiences across health, productivity and more. Check out these five Galaxy Note20 features that can keep help optimize your productivity and keep you working efficiently, even when remote.

Work Smarter With the Redefined Samsung Notes

While the stunning display, seamless syncing with Microsoft services, and upgraded S Pen have already made headlines, there’s still more to discover about Samsung’s most powerful Note series yet.

Check out these five hidden tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of your experience with the Galaxy Note20 series.

Capture More of the Moment With Single Take

The Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra’s camera introduces an improved Single Take experience. The AI-powered feature now allows you to capture up to 14 types of photos and videos simultaneously within five to 15 seconds of capture time. To use the feature, open the Camera app and tap Single Take mode from the menu options. Set your capture time by tapping the timer above the camera menu and sliding the timer bar to your desired setting. Then, tap the shutter button, pan around, and the camera will automatically capture the best clips. After finishing, tap the preview thumbnail and you will see optimized results for the scene you captured.

Make Your Personality Shine in Portraits

The upgraded Single Take mode on the Galaxy Note20 series isn’t just giving you more time to shoot – it’s also allowing you to do more with the results. Color Picking Portrait has been added to Single Take, allowing you to take studio-like portraits by choosing a background color to make your subject stand out.

Share Wi-Fi With Friends

We’ve all felt the frustration of repeatedly sharing the Wi-Fi password when having guests over. The Galaxy Note20 series removes that pain by allowing you to request Wi-Fi access information from near-field devices with people in your Contacts. Your friends can then share the password with you, making it easy to log in to new Wi-Fi networks.

Find the Highest Quality Wi-Fi Connection

When connecting to Wi-Fi in public spaces, the Galaxy Note20 series also makes it easy to find the fastest and most stable signal. When searching for Wi-Fi, the Galaxy Note20 series provides information about the login requirements and quality of the connection below the name of the network, so you can easily find the most stable, secure connection every time.

Share Your Favorite New Song With a Friend

Nothing brings friends together like a shared love of music. The Galaxy Note20 series makes sharing your latest favorite song easy with an upgraded Music Share experience. While previously the feature only allowed music to be played on devices connected to a shared friend’s phone, on the Galaxy Note20 series, you can listen to the Buds connected to your phone and the Galaxy Buds connected to your friend’s phone. Simply turn on Music Share, select your friend’s Buds, and both Buds will play the same music.

Take Control Over Video Watching With Bixby

The Galaxy Note20 series gives you more control over your video watching experience with Bixby voice control. While streaming your favorite show from your phone, you can seamlessly switch to the TV screen by telling Bixby: “Play this show on TV.” You can also switch back by saying “Play this show on mobile again” for a smooth, continuous viewing experience.

If you missed a scene or want to skip ahead, voice control makes it easy by giving you the power to rewind, fast forward, pause, and play content. Voice control can also help you search for something to watch by telling Bixby to play the title of your favorite show.

When developing each Note, Samsung conducts countless polls, interviews, tests and trials, and scans hundreds of platforms for user feedback, all in an effort to identify ways to add exciting new facets to the smartphones’ user experience. The Galaxy Note20 series and its powerful innovations are the latest products of this comprehensive process.

Click on the video below for a behind-the-scenes look at how Samsung designers, developers and innovators optimized the newest Galaxy Notes to suit users’ lifestyles.

When designing the series’ newest additions, to empower users to be as productive as possible, the team behind the Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra made enhancing the S Pen and the Samsung Notes app top priorities. The result of their extensive efforts is a smoother and more intuitive note-taking experience – one that’s more accurate and responsive, makes navigating your device a breeze, and makes capturing, editing and sharing your ideas effortlessly easy.

Click on the video below to learn more about the S Pen’s newest tools and tricks.

The exciting event, which was livestreamed from Korea, kicked off with the unveiling of the Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra – productivity powerhouses that combine top-of-the-line specs with an even more versatile S Pen. The smartphone series’ debut was followed by presentations introducing the Galaxy Tab S7 series, the Galaxy Buds Live, and the Galaxy Watch3 – devices designed to help users maximize work, play, and everything in between.

The event also saw Samsung strengthen its leadership of the foldable smartphone segment and open the door to a new mobile era with the introduction of its third foldable device, the Galaxy Z Fold2. The groundbreaking smartphone’s reveal concluded a showcase that was chock full of eye-catching moments, including a surprise appearance by K-pop phenomenon BTS.

If you missed it, check out the video below to experience the excitement of Galaxy Unpacked for yourself.

Samsung’s most powerful Notes yet bring PC power and the best Galaxy mobile gaming experience available to the palm of your hand. Both come packed with industry-leading productivity tools, including a new and improved S Pen, and both have been optimized, inside and out, to immerse you in your favorite entertainment.

For those who just can’t wait to get their hands on the devices, we’ve got a very special treat: a sneak peek at the Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s unboxing experience! Check out the video below to see what’s inside the box, and don’t forget to visit Samsung Newsroom’s Galaxy page for more information on the newest Notes.