Samsung Expert RAW

Why your smartphone photos lack the depth of a professional camera

Most mobile cameras apply heavy computational processing—smoothing textures, boosting colors, and compressing dynamic range. You end up with a flat, over-processed image that cannot be edited without losing detail. Samsung Expert RAW gives you direct access to the sensor’s raw data, bypassing all automatic corrections. This means you capture every bit of highlight and shadow information, allowing you to recover blown-out skies or deep shadows in post-production without banding or noise.

What Expert RAW actually does

The app unlocks manual control over every exposure variable. You adjust ISO from 50 to 3200, shutter speed from 30 seconds to 1/24000 of a second, and manual focus with a distance scale. A live histogram shows exposure distribution, and zebra patterns highlight clipped highlights. The viewfinder displays a grid overlay with rule-of-thirds, golden ratio, and center-cross options. You can lock white balance to a specific Kelvin value between 2500K and 10000K, with a separate tint slider.

Multi-frame capture modes set it apart from basic RAW apps. The Multi-exposure mode merges up to three separate exposures into a single DNG file, giving you HDR-like latitude without the typical halos. Astrophoto mode stacks multiple 15-second exposures automatically, aligning stars and reducing noise for clear Milky Way shots. Long exposure mode supports up to 30 seconds with live noise reduction preview. All output is saved as 16-bit linear DNG files, not compressed JPEGs.

Key tools for post-processing

• Full 16-bit linear DNG output
• Manual focus peaking with magnification
• Zebra pattern for clipping alerts
• Adjustable exposure compensation (±2 EV)

Consider downloading Samsung Expert RAW

You might enjoy this app if you regularly edit photos in Lightroom or Capture One and need maximum editing headroom. The DNG files contain 4 to 5 stops of recoverable highlight and shadow data, compared to 1–2 stops from standard RAW outputs. The app integrates with Samsung’s Pro mode in the default camera, but provides a dedicated interface with no auto-switching. No subscription fees, no watermark, no cloud storage requirement.

Internet required. In-app purchases available.