Samsung phones often suffer from shutter lag, particularly the mid-range and low-cost versions. This delay can make it more difficult to photograph moving subjects and result in fuzzy images.
If you’re wondering how to fix shutter lag on Samsung phones for faster photos, the good news is that there are a few simple techniques to optimize your camera performance and lessen shutter lag.
Easy Ways to Fix Shutter Lag on Samsung Phones
Free Up Memory by Closing Other Apps
The camera app uses a lot of memory, and it can’t work properly if background apps and system processes take up much of your phone’s memory. This can lead to slower image processing and more shutter lag.
To fix this- you can clear your phone’s memory before using the camera. Go to Settings > Device care > Memory and tap Clean now.
If certain apps keep running in the background and using up memory, you can put them into deep sleep. Just go to Settings > Battery > Background usage limits > Deep sleeping apps, and select the apps causing the issue.
Focus by Tapping on Your Subject
Most people open the camera app and quickly press the shutter button to take a photo. While this is easy, it can cause more shutter lag.
Camera takes longer to identify what to focus on and to adjust settings like ISO, shutter speed and white balance if you don’t tap on your subject to focus first. It might even focus on the incorrect item at times.
The camera knows what to focus on and is prepared to take the picture more quickly if you tap on your subject before shooting. In order to prevent focus and settings from changing while shooting, you can also tap the padlock icon in the viewfinder.
Reduce Image Size for Faster Shots
High-resolution photography allows you to save larger, more detailed photographs but it also strains your phone’s processing and slows down the camera, particularly on low-cost models.
Shutter lag can be minimized and processing time reduced by using a lower resolution. Additionally, when shooting at night, it is preferable to reduce the resolution because it can introduce additional noise.
Control Shutter Speed Using Pro Mode
Pro Mode gives you more control over your camera settings. By increasing the shutter speed, you can reduce shutter lag. But be careful — setting it too high in low light can make photos dark, so you might need to adjust the ISO for better results.
Go to More, locate the Pro tile, and drag it next to your primary camera modes to activate Pro Mode. To manually change the shutter speed in Pro Mode, use the slider.
Faster shutter speeds work best in bright places like daytime or well-lit rooms. Avoid using them in low light because they can make your photos blurry.
Use Burst Mode to Avoid Shutter Lag
If you’re capturing moving subjects, using burst shots helps you avoid missing the perfect moment. With burst mode, you can quickly shoot multiple pictures and choose the best one without worrying about timing.
Open the Camera app, navigate to Settings, press the Swipe Shutter button and choose Take burst shot to activate it. To begin shooting in burst mode, simply swipe down the shutter button. All the burst photos will be grouped in one tile in your gallery, so it won’t clutter your photos.
Keep in mind, burst mode doesn’t work well in low light, so make sure there’s enough light when using this feature.
Disable HDR, Scene Optimizer, and Filters to Reduce Lag
Using functions like Auto HDR, Scene Optimizer, and filters puts additional strain on your phone’s camera, which might cause shutter lag and slow down shooting. If you want speedier photos, it’s best to disable them in the camera options.
For added detail, Auto HDR merges many images at varying exposure settings, but it takes time and occasionally produces unnatural-looking images.
Though the results aren’t always better, Scene Optimizer makes an effort to identify the scene and modify the contrast and colors. Filters are simple to add later in the Gallery app or with any other photo-editing program.
Improve Camera Speed with Camera Assistant in Good Lock
Samsung’s Good Lock app has several useful modules, and one of them is Camera Assistant. It includes a feature called Quick Tap Shutter that helps reduce shutter lag.
Normally, your phone takes a photo when you lift your finger off the shutter button. But with Quick Tap Shutter, the photo is taken as soon as you tap the button, making it easier to capture fast moments.
Since Good Lock is a Samsung-exclusive app, you can download Camera Assistant only from the Galaxy Store. After installing it, open the camera app, go to Settings > Camera Assistant, and turn on Quick Tap Shutter.
Using this feature along with the other tips can help improve your camera speed. However, don’t expect the same smooth experience as an iPhone — but it will make a noticeable difference.
FAQ
1. Why do Samsung phones have shutter lag?
Samsung phones, especially mid-range and budget models, often experience shutter lag because the camera app requires a lot of memory and processing power. If other apps are running in the background, it slows down the camera’s performance, causing delays when taking photos.
2. How can I reduce shutter lag on my Samsung phone?
You can reduce shutter lag by:
- Closing background apps and freeing up memory
- Tapping to focus before taking a photo
- Lowering the image resolution
- Using Pro Mode to control shutter speed
- Enabling Quick Tap Shutter in the Camera Assistant module (Good Lock app)
3. Does lowering the image resolution help with shutter lag?
Yes, lowering the image resolution reduces the amount of processing your phone needs to do, which helps minimize shutter lag. It’s especially helpful in low-light conditions where high resolution can cause more noise.
4. What is Quick Tap Shutter, and how does it help?
Quick Tap Shutter is a feature in Samsung’s Camera Assistant (Good Lock app) that allows the camera to capture a photo as soon as you tap the shutter button, instead of when you release it. This helps reduce shutter lag and is useful for capturing fast-moving moments.
5. Can filters and HDR slow down my Samsung camera?
Yes, using features like Auto HDR, Scene Optimizer, and filters adds extra processing time, which can cause shutter lag. It’s better to turn them off if you want faster photos. You can always add filters later using the Gallery app or other editing apps.
