PHONE EXPOSURE FIELD NOTES
Guide: https://yenra.com/phtgrphy/mobile-manual.html
Updated: September 20, 2026

Purpose: compare a saved automatic photograph with a deliberate override.
Choose a scene you can repeat; keep camera, lens, framing and focus steady.
Examples below are starting experiments, not measured phone presets.

PHONE / OS / APP VERSION:
CAMERA OR LENS (main, ultrawide, telephoto):
SCENE / LIGHT / SUBJECT MOVEMENT:
DESIRED RESULT (darker mood, highlight detail, less blur, cleaner shadows):
SUPPORT (handheld, stable surface, tripod):

SHOT A: automatic reference
Night mode on/off and displayed capture time:
Important highlights retain detail? Subject sharp? Desired mood?

SHOT B: first change
EV compensation, if available (try -0.7 EV for a darker night comparison):
Or describe brightness slider position:
Manual shutter duration in seconds (for example 1/125 s):
ISO (or Auto):
Physical aperture, only if supported (f-number or Auto):
Night mode on/off and capture time:
Result / remaining problem:

SHOT C: change only what solves the remaining problem
Try -1.3 EV for another darker comparison; or shorten shutter duration for motion.
Settings and result:

COMPARISON RULES
- Inspect the saved pictures at consistent screen brightness, then zoom for detail.
- Protect important sign/face/building detail; small bare lights may remain white.
- Camera support reduces camera shake; moving subjects can still blur.
- A Portrait Depth f-number usually controls simulated blur, not captured light.
- Night-mode capture time is not a direct manual shutter-speed setting.
- If shutter, ISO and aperture are fixed, a +/- reading may only be a meter.
- Auto ISO may counteract a shutter change. Note which variable is still automatic.

ILLUSTRATIVE MATH: same lens, fixed physical aperture and unchanged lighting
1/30 s at ISO 800 -> 1/120 s at ISO 3200:
one-quarter the exposure time, four times the ISO; similar nominal brightness,
potentially less motion blur and more noise. Processing can change the result.
At the same ISO: 1/4 s -> 1/8 s halves captured light (one stop darker).
At the same ISO: 1/4 s -> 1 s gives four times the light (two stops brighter).

KEEP / NEXT EXPERIMENT:

RESET CHECK
Release AE/AF Lock. Set exposure compensation to zero. Restore shutter, ISO,
white balance and supported physical aperture to Auto as appropriate. Check
whether your app preserves settings. Keep the automatic reference for comparison.

OFFICIAL CONTROL REFERENCES
Apple exposure: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-camera-tools-iph3dc593597/ios
Apple model-specific controls: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-advanced-camera-tools-ipht182e41vsz41/ios
Pixel Pro controls: https://support.google.com/pixelcamera/answer/14106982?hl=en
Pixel Night Sight: https://support.google.com/pixelcamera/answer/9708795?hl=en
Controls depend on model, selected camera, mode and app version.