Use Top Shot to take photos and save frames from a motion photo. With Top Shot, you can also pick your favorite shot. Learn how to open the Camera App.
Use Motion Mode to take an Action Pan or Long Exposure photo
- Open your Camera app
.
- Scroll to Motion.
- Choose which blur effect to use:
- Action Pan: Add a creative blur to the background. Hold your camera still or follow a moving subject to add a creative blur to the background. Tap Capture
when you have the photo just right.
- Long Exposure: Add a creative blur to a moving subject. Hold your camera still or follow a moving subject to add a creative blur to the subject. Tap Capture
- Action Pan: Add a creative blur to the background. Hold your camera still or follow a moving subject to add a creative blur to the background. Tap Capture
| Device | Action Pan | Long Exposure |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel 5a (5G) and earlier | No | No |
| Pixel 6 | Yes | Yes |
| Pixel 6 Pro | Yes | Yes |
| Pixel 6a | No | No |
| Pixel 7 | Yes | Yes |
| Pixel 7 Pro | Yes | Yes |
| Pixel 7a | No | Yes |
| Pixel Fold | No | Yes |
| Pixel 8 | Yes | Yes |
| Pixel 8 Pro | Yes | Yes |
| Pixel 8a | No | Yes |
| Pixel 9 | Yes | Yes |
| Pixel 9 Pro & Pixel 9 Pro XL | Yes | Yes |
| Pixel 9 Pro Fold | No | Yes |
Action Pan works best when:
- The subject is a person with a visible face.
- The subject is moving. Photos of still or very slow-moving subjects may show no or little effect.
- There’s one obvious main subject. Try to keep the main subject in the foreground and in front of any other people in the photo.
- The subject is a large part of the photo and has been in the viewfinder for more than a second before you tap capture.
Tips for taking a Long Exposure photo
Tip: To get help, activate Google Assistant on your Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro and ask, "How do I take motion photos?" Learn more about Pixel support on Assistant.
Long Exposure works best when you hold your device still. Long Exposure photos start when you tap Capture.
The length of exposure adapts to motion in the scene depending on size and speed of the item in focus.
Use Top Shot to save frames from a motion photo
When you turn on Top Shot, you can take motion photos and get recommendations of the best image.
Important: These features are only available on Pixel 3 & later, including Pixel Fold.
Turn on Top Shot
- Open your device's Camera app
- At the bottom left, tap Settings
.
- Set Top Shot to Auto
or On
.
Pick a Top Shot
Take motion photos to capture something in motion and then pick a favorite shot from your motion photo using Top Shot.
Tip: Recommended shots are saved in higher resolution and in HDR.
To save the motion photo as a video, tap More 
Export Video Export.
Export Video Export.