Samsung is committed to providing a best-in-class camera experience in all conditions. Since the introduction of the Galaxy S10, the Samsung Galaxy series has used artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in its cameras to help users capture every epic moment anytime, anywhere.
As part of this, Samsung has developed the Scene Optimizer feature, a camera functionality that uses advanced AI to recognize objects and thus deliver the best results to users. Since the introduction of the Galaxy S21 series, Scene Optimizer has been able to recognize the moon as a specific object during the photo capture process and applies the feature’s detail enhancement mechanism to the shot.
When you take a photo of the moon, your Galaxy device1 the camera system will use this deep learning-based AI technology as well as multi-frame processing to further enhance detail. Read on to learn more about the many steps, processes, and technologies that go into providing high-quality images of the Moon.
| If users want to take a photo without the AI support, users can easily disable Scene Optimizer by heading to: Camera → Camera settings → Scene optimizer → off |
Understanding Super Resolution and Scene Optimizer
To take a clear picture of the moon, Galaxy cameras use Super Resolution to synthesize more than 10 images taken at 25x magnification or higher. An image taken at 25x magnification or more should eliminate noise and improve clarity and other details.
Super Resolution technology helps create images through multi-frame composition. When Scene Optimizer is turned on and the moon is recognized as an object, the camera will provide users with a bright and clear image through Scene Optimizer’s detail enhancement mechanism in addition to Super Resolution technology.
AI Deep Learning for Lunar Object Recognition
The moon recognition engine is built around different shapes and details of the moon, from full to crescent, and is based on images taken from our view from Earth.
It uses a deep learning model with artificial intelligence to detect the presence of the moon and identify the area it occupies – as indicated by the square box – in the corresponding image. After the AI model completes its training, it can detect the area occupied by the moon even in images that were not used in training.
However, the moon will not be correctly recognized by the camera and Scene Optimizer technology if it is hidden by clouds or if the lunar object itself is on the side not visible from Earth.
The brightness control process
Once the device recognizes the moon after magnification, it will control the brightness of the display to present the moon more clearly while maintaining optimal brightness.
Accordingly, when users take photos of the moon in the early evening, the sky around the moon will appear darker than the actual sky color, as the device will darken the background brightness of the subject to help the moon appear clearer. Once your device detects the moon, it will continuously adjust the focus to stay directly on the moon.
Capture the most stable images possible
Samsung introduced the Zoom Lock feature, which automatically reduces the effects of a shaky device without the need for a tripod. Combining OIS and VDIS technologies, Zoom Lock is able to minimize image blur that can be caused by handshakes, helping users take truly epic moon shots.
While zooming in and touching the display or maintaining focus on the moon for more than 1.5 seconds, the Zoom Lock feature will be activated automatically. The border of the zoom map at the top right of the screen will change from white to yellow and the moon will be fixed on the display.
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Why not try these tips when taking photos of the moon at 100x magnification? ① Rotate your Galaxy device to landscape orientation and hold the phone with both hands. ② Use the zoom map to check the location of the moon and adjust the moon to be in the center of your screen. ③ When the border of the zoom map changes to yellow, press the capture button to take a picture. |
AI-based detail enhancement for moon shots
When the moon detected by the Galaxy device is at the appropriate brightness level, the user can press the capture button and the camera takes several steps to deliver a bright and clear image of the moon.
First, Scene Optimizer reconfirms whether to apply the detail enhancement mechanism through AI processing.
The camera then takes multiple photos and then synthesizes them into one bright, noise-reduced image.
After performing multi-frame processing, the Galaxy camera further uses Scene Optimizer’s deep learning-based AI detail enhancement engine to effectively eliminate residual noise and further enhance image detail.
Samsung continues to improve the Scene Optimizer to reduce any potential confusion that may occur between the act of taking a picture of the real moon and an image of the moon.
1 Scene Optimizer is available on the Galaxy S series above the S20 model and all Galaxy Z Fold series.