How to take better photos with your cell phone

If you’re like a lot of people, you take more photos than ever before, but not with traditional cameras. You’re probably using a smartphone, and their built-in cameras, lenses, and editing tools are more sophisticated than ever. But like a lot of things in life, the latest and greatest features aren’t that great if you don’t know how to use them properly. So, Consumer Reports offers helpful tips to help you get the most out of your camera anywhere.

Portrait mode is a popular feature offered on many phones. What is he really doing? The bokeh effect is used to blur the background and make the subject stand out. To use it, tap the word “portrait” under the viewfinder, then tap the subject so the camera knows what to focus on. You can also add this effect on some phones back You took a picture.

Another cool feature is Night Mode, which keeps the camera shutter open for a long time to capture more light. However, you do need a steady hand for the best results. To keep the camera still when the shutter is open, try locking your elbows to the side. Or, better yet, use a tripod.

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Another tip for CR is to avoid pinching the screen to zoom and instead use the camera’s optical zoom. This is a telephoto lens labeled 2x or 3x on the screen. If you don’t have one, get closer to the action or take a larger photo, then crop the photo later to avoid losing resolution.

And if you’re in the new phone market, the good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot to get a high-quality camera. There are expensive high-end models like the $ 1,100 Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (Canada $ 1,550) and the $ 1,300 Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G ($ 1,820 in Canada). However, there are also more budget models with cameras that have passed CR ratings. Apple’s iPhone XR is $ 500 ($ 700 in Canada) and the OnePlus 8 is $ 450 ($ 700 in Canada).

Taking good selfies can be difficult. It is difficult to lift the smartphone up high and tilt it while pressing the button. But CR says there is an easier way. For example, use a smartwatch to remotely activate the shutter. Or, most phones have a 3- or 10-second timer before a photo is taken, so you can focus on posing instead of pressing the shutter button.