Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Change Recording Mode in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

By default, the stock Camera app uses normal as the recording mode. This recording mode will let you record videos with normal quality. But, if needed you can change the recording mode according to your need. You'll be provided with 5 recording modes. Since each of the recording modes has their own advantage, select the right recording mode will give you a better result.


How to change recording mode in the stock Camera app?
You can do so by using the following steps:
  1. Open the stock Camera app.
  2. Tap to open up the detailed settings menu.
  3. Tap Recording mode and then select from the following options:
    • Normal: this option is enabled by default. Select this option if you want to record the video with normal quality.
    • Limit for MMS: select this option if you want to decrease the quality of the video to allow you send the video via messaging. This mode limits the video up to 295K.
    • Slow motion: select this option when you record a video of a moving object and want the device plays the video in slow motion. You can set the slow motion value to: x1/2, x1/4 or x1/8. As the example, if you choose x1/4 then the device will play the video four times slower than the actual.
    • Fast motion: select this option when you record a video of a moving object and want the device plays the video in fast motion. You can set the fast motion value to: x2, x4 or x8. As the example, if you choose x4 then the device will play the video four times faster than the actual.
    • Smooth motion: select this option to get a better result when you record a video of a fast moving object.
  4. The recording mode has been changed.

As a note, the feature to take photos whilst recording videos is only available in normal mode while the zoom function can only be used in normal mode, limit for MMS mode and smooth mode.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Take Photos Whilst Recording Video in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Whilst recording a video, there are some scenes that may be good if captured as photos. Luckily, the stock Camera app lets you easily take photos whilst recording the video so that you can still continue recording the video and capture the desired scenes. Since taking photos whilst recording video is a default feature, you can directly use this feature without you have to set anything first.


How to take a photo whilst recording a video in the stock Camera app?
You can do so by using the following steps:
  1. Open the stock Camera app.
  2. Aim the camera to the object.
  3. Tap to start recording video, or say "Record video" if you have enabled the voice command feature for recording videos, or press the Volume key if you have set the Volume key as the video-recorder key.
  4. Whilst recording video, you can take a photo by tapping . FYI, you can tap this icon to take more photos whilst recording video.
  5. Tap to end recording, or press the Volume key if you have set this key as the video-recorder key.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Record Video Using the Volume Key in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

By default, the Volume key in the stock Camera app is set as the zoom key that can be used to adjust the zoom level. But, if needed you can assign this key to other functions, one of which is as the video-recorder key. Set the Volume key as the video-recorder key will let you start and end recording videos simply by pressing the Volume Up key or the Volume Down key.


How to set the Volume key as the video-recorder key in the stock Camera app?
You can do so by using the following steps:
  1. Open the stock Camera app.
  2. Tap to open up the detailed settings menu.
  3. Scroll the settings menu to the very bottom.
  4. Tap Volume key and then select Record video.
  5. The Volume key has been set as the video-recorder key.

How to use the Volume key to record a video?
When you have set the Volume key as the video-recorder key, now you can use this key to start and end recording a video. See the following steps as the example:
  1. Open the stock Camera app.
  2. Aim the camera to the object.
  3. To start recording video, press the Volume Up key or the Volume Down key.
  4. Since there's no key that can be used to pause or resume the recording. If you want to do so, you can use the on-screen icon by tapping to pause the recording and tapping to resume the recording.
  5. To end recording video, press the Volume Up key or the Volume Down key.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Record Video Using Voice Command in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

For any reason, if you want to be able to start recording videos without you have to tap any on-screen video-recorder icon or press any physical button, you can alternatively do so by using the default voice command for recording video that is available in the stock Camera app. Unfortunately, there's no voice command to pause/resume/end recording videos so that you have to do so manually.


How to enable the voice command feature for recording videos in the stock Camera app?
Since this feature is not enabled by default, you have to enable this feature first before you can use it to record videos by using the following steps:
  1. Open the stock Camera app. You can speed up the way you access the stock Camera app by enabling the camera shortcut in the lock screen.
  2. Tap to open the detailed settings menu.
  3. Scroll the settings menu to the very bottom.
  4. Tap Voice control to enable the voice command feature for recording videos.
  5. A window will pop up to show you the voice command that can be used to record videos. The default voice command to record video is "record video".


How to use voice command to record a video?
When the voice command feature for recording video has been enabled, now you can use it to start recording videos. See the following steps as the example:
  1. Open the stock Camera app.
  2. Aim the camera to the object.
  3. Say "record video" to start recording the video.
  4. If needed, you can pause the recording by tapping and then resume the recording by tapping .
  5. Tap to stop recording video.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Adjust the Zoom Level in the Stock Camera App in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

In some conditions, you will probably need to adjust the zoom level before taking a photo, for instance: when you can't get closer to the subject because it is not safe or in a difficult location, when you want to take a photo of a small object, etc. Fortunately, the stock Camera app lets you adjust the zoom level up to 4x so that you can still get the best shot while you're in those conditions. But, you have to remember that you can't zoom in or out your photos when you're in these shooting modes: shot&more, panorama, virtual tour shot, surround shot, animated photo and sequence shot.


How to adjust the zoom level in the stock Camera app?
You can do so by using two different methods: by using the default zoom gesture and by using the Volume key.

Method #1: By using the default zoom gesture
When you're in the stock Camera app, you can easily zoom in your photo by spreading two fingers apart together on the image in the preview screen and zoom out your photo by pinching the screen. FYI, since this gesture is a default feature in the stock Camera app, you can directly use this feature without you have to set anything first.


Method #2: By using the Volume key
When you're in the stock Camera app, you can set the Volume key as the zoom key by utilizing the Volume key option in the camera settings menu. This will let you zoom in your photo by pressing the Volume Up key and zoom out your photo by pressing the Volume Down key.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Use Tap to Take Pics Feature in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Tap to take pics is a feature in the stock Camera app in Samsung Galaxy S5 which will let you take photos simply by tapping the image on the preview screen. Since tapping the image on the preview screen can also be used to change the focus manually, enabling tap to take pics feature will let you take a photo with more quickly and give you a well-focused photo because the camera will take the photo automatically once the subject is in focus.


How to enable tap to take pics feature in the stock Camera app?
Since this feature is not enabled by default, you have to enable it first before you can use this feature to take photos by using the following steps:
  1. Open the stock Camera app. FYI, you can speed up the way you access the stock Camera app by enabling the camera shortcut on the lock screen.
  2. Tap to open up the detailed settings menu.
  3. Tap Tap to take pics to turn this feature on.
  4. Tap to take pics feature has been enabled.

How to take a photo using tap to take pics feature?
When the tap to take pics feature has been enabled, now you can automatically take photos simply by tapping the image on the preview screen. As the example, we'll try taking a photo using tap to take pics feature in auto mode by using the following steps:
  1. Open the stock Camera app. By default, the camera uses auto as the shooting mode.
  2. Aim the camera to the object.
  3. Tap the image on the preview screen where the camera should focus. When the subject is in focus, the focus frame will turn green and the photo will be captured automatically.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Use Volume Key to Take Photos in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

For some reason, you may want to be able to take photos using the physical button, for instance: if you want to take photos as you used to do with your conventional/digital camera or if you're in a condition when it's difficult for you to take photos using the on-screen icon or the voice command. Fortunately, the stock Camera app lets you change the Volume key function as the camera key so that you can use this physical key to take photos.


How to set the Volume key as the camera key?
By default, the Volume key in the stock Camera app is set to adjust the zoom level. Thus, you have to set this key as the camera key first before you can use this key to take photos. You can set the Volume key as the camera key by using the following steps:
  1. Open the stock Camera app.
  2. Tap to open up the detailed settings menu.
  3. Scroll the settings menu to the very bottom.
  4. Tap Volume key and then select Take pictures.
  5. The Volume key has been set as the camera key.

How to take a photo using the Volume key?
When the Volume key has been set as the camera key, you can take a photo by pressing the Volume Up key or the Volume Down key. As the example, we'll try taking a photo in auto mode with the Volume key by using the following steps:
  1. Open the stock Camera app. By default, the Camera app uses auto as the shooting mode.
  2. Aim the camera to the object.
  3. If needed, you can change the focus point by tapping the screen where the camera should focus. When the subject is in focus, the focus frame turns green.
  4. Press the Volume Up key or the Volume Down key to take a photo. As a note, to get the best result, make sure to hold the phone as steady as possible when pressing the Volume key to take photos.