6 Google Pixel 8 camera settings you need to change

Google's flagship smartphones from 2023, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, have excellent cameras. While you can click some beautiful pictures and shoot great videos with them in no time, you should change the camera settings below for even better results.

1. Enable Palm Timer

Pixel 8's 10.5MP front camera can take stunning selfies. While you can use the volume keys as the shutter button in the Pixel Camera app, there's a better way to take photos from your Pixel's front camera.

You can hold out your palm to start the timer and automatically take a selfie. This feature makes taking group selfies easy, especially when you place your phone on a tripod or lean it against a surface for a better frame.

1. Open the Pixel Camera app on Pixel 8.
2. Click the Settings icon in the lower left corner.
3. Select More settings from the menu that opens.
4. Click on the Palm Timer option. You can always enable the remote activation option or only when a 3 or 10 second timer is set.

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Then, hold your palm towards the camera before taking a selfie. You must hold your hand for a few seconds to ensure the camera app detects it. Once done, it will start a 3-second timer before taking the photo.

2. Shoot in macro mode

The ultra-wide camera on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro can act as a macro camera, allowing you to get close to your subject and take photos from a different perspective. You can even record macro videos with high detail.

Enabling the Macro Focus feature on the Pixel 8's camera app is easy. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Pixel camera app.
2. Click the Settings button located in the lower left corner.
3. Set Macro Focus to Auto from the settings menu.

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Using the automatic option is best because your Pixel 8 will turn it on when you get close to the subject. A flower icon will appear in the viewfinder to indicate this. This feature works in both photo and video modes. You can also tap the icon to quickly turn it off.

Note that macro videos will be noisy unless you record them in well-lit conditions. But this is the best choice if you want to get close to your subject while shooting with the Pixel 8.

3. Shoot HDR videos

Google's Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro can record significantly better video than their predecessors. And if you want better dynamic range, color, and contrast in your videos, consider recording them in HDR mode. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro can record 10-bit HDR video from all four cameras, including the 10.5 MP front camera, at 4K resolution up to 30FPS. Here's how to enable this feature:

1. Open the Pixel camera app.
2. Switch to Video mode from the Photo/Video switch at the bottom.
3. Open the Settings menu by clicking the cog icon in the lower left corner.
4. Toggle the HDR button next to 10-bit HDR. Remember that switching to 60FPS will automatically disable this option.

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Now you can shoot HDR video on Pixel with higher brightness and more lifelike colors.

HDR videos may appear washed out when shared in unsupported apps or incompatible platforms. They were recorded using the H.265 codec and may not play on older devices.

4. Video Boost

If you have a Pixel 8 Pro, you can record even better videos using Video Boost. Think of this feature as Night Sight for video. It will increase the brightness and sharpness of your recorded videos to make them stand out. While Video Boost also works for scenes shot during the day, its benefits are more apparent when shooting in difficult, low-light conditions.

There are some limitations to keep in mind when recording video with Video Boost:

1. The length of each video is limited to 10 minutes.
2. Video Boost works with the main 50MP sensor, not the other cameras on the Pixel 8 Pro. You're also limited to 2x zoom in this mode.
3. The video you record must be uploaded to Google Photos for Video Boost processing, a process that usually takes several hours. This doesn't happen on the device, so you can watch the final video a few hours after it's backed up to the cloud.
4. Video Boost clips take up significantly more space than regular videos.

Despite the above limitations, Video Boost can help you shoot better videos with the Pixel 8 Pro, especially when shooting low-light scenes. Follow these steps to enable it:

1. Open the Pixel Camera app on Pixel 8 Pro.
2. Switch to Video mode from the Photo/Video switch at the bottom.
3. Click the cog icon in the lower left corner to display the Settings menu.
4. Enable the Video Boost option.

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Now you can enjoy exceptional color, brightness, and sharpness on your recorded videos. Due to various limitations of Video Boost, you should use this mode to record video only in specific situations.

5. Night Sight in Time Lapse

Do you often shoot time-lapse videos with the Pixel 8? You can enable Night Sight for time-lapse videos to capture even better footage in low light conditions. Once enabled, this feature is easy to use; simply place your Pixel on a sturdy surface.

1. Open the Pixel Camera app on your Pixel 8 and switch to Video mode.
2. Select the Time Lapse option from the bottom mode selector.
3. Click the cog icon in the lower left corner to open the Settings menu.
4. Enable the Night Sight option.

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Your Pixel 8 will now record time-lapse videos with Night Sight enabled with more detail and better brightness. The ability to record time-lapse videos in Night Sight is an underrated feature on the Pixel 8 that you must try.

Note that time-lapse videos with Night Sight enabled will take up more storage space than regular time-lapse clips. To create 10-second footage, you must record a 5-minute video at 1080p resolution or 20 minutes at 4K resolution.

6. Save to Locked Folder

Google Photos has a handy Locked Folder feature where you can keep your private photos and videos hidden from prying eyes. You don't need to migrate media content later; Instead, you can use the Pixel Camera app on your Pixel 8 to save photos and videos directly to this secure folder.

1. Open the Pixel Camera app on Pixel 8.
2. Switch to Photo or Video mode, depending on what you want to capture.
3. Press and hold the last photo/video preview you see to the left of the shutter button.
4. A Save to pop-up menu will appear, from which you can select Locked Folder to save the content you capture there.

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You may be prompted to set up Locked Folder in Google Photos if you haven't done so already. Any photos or videos you move into this folder won't appear in your Google Photos library. To access Locked Folder, you need to enter your Pixel 8's PIN or pattern.

Changing the above settings on Pixel 8 will further enhance your photo and video shooting experience. You can take photos from a new perspective, enjoy better video quality in low light, easily take selfies with Palm Timer, and quickly hide your private photos.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 02 February 2024