If your Instagram Reels are coming out blurry, there are a few potential causes and solutions you can try. The blurriness is usually due to shooting with a poor camera, compression from uploading, or using the wrong export settings. Improve your footage quality by shooting with your rear camera at the highest resolution possible. Also make sure you are exporting at optimal settings, not compressing too much on upload, and shooting in adequate lighting conditions.
Use the Rear Camera Instead of the Front-Facing One
One of the most common reasons Reels come out blurry is because you used your front-facing selfie camera to record the video. The quality on front-facing cameras is almost always worse than rear-facing ones. For example, the iPhone 13 Pro front camera is 12 MP while the rear is 48 MP. Recording Reels with the lower quality front camera will likely result in blurriness.
For best results, flip your phone around and record with the higher resolution rear camera whenever possible. Having a good quality primary camera lens makes a big difference in image sharpness and clarity. Your rear camera also performs better in low light situations. For Reels you want to show off the highest quality visuals, so stick to the rear camera for shooting.
Record at the Highest Resolution
In addition to using the rear camera, you also want to record video at the highest resolution possible. The resolution can be adjusted in your phone’s Camera app settings. For example on iPhone you can go to Settings > Camera > Record Video and choose 1080p at 60fps or 4K at 60fps.
High resolution captures more detail and will result in sharper, clearer videos. Low resolution settings like 720p will be more prone to pixelation and blurring. Shooting in at least 1080p is recommended, with 4K being ideal if your phone supports it.
Recording in high resolution will take up more storage space, so make sure you have adequate room on your phone. But the tradeoff for higher visual quality is usually worth it.
Ensure Adequate Lighting
Lighting conditions can also impact Reels clarity. Recording video in low light results in increased noise, graininess, and blur. For best results, film Reels in bright, evenly lit spaces whenever possible.
If shooting outdoors, aim for overcast days instead of direct sunlight which can cause harsh shadows and overexposed areas. Indoors, face toward windows and add extra lighting like ring lights if needed. Improved lighting brings out more color and detail for a sharper, clearer picture.
Hold the Camera Steady
Shaky footage can also contribute to blurry Reels. When recording handheld, use a firm grip and remain static as much as you can. Move slowly and avoid quick jerky motions. Or consider stabilizing your phone against a tripod or stationary object. The more stable your camera is as you film, the clearer the resulting footage will be.
You can also use the rear camera while facing forward to record more steadily. Hold your phone flipped toward you and watch the preview screen as you film yourself. This provides more stabilization than holding your camera extended and facing away from you.
Clean the Camera Lens
Dust, fingerprints, and other debris on your smartphone camera lens can potentially impact image sharpness. Give your lens a quick cleaning with a microfiber cloth before filming your next Reel. This will remove anything obstructing the lens and allow for the clearest, sharpest footage possible.
Avoid Digital Zoom
It can be tempting to use the digital zoom function while recording Reels, especially when filming from a distance. But avoid using digital zoom whenever possible, as it will introduce blurriness. The zoomed area is basically an artificial crop that gets enlarged and loses quality.
Instead of digital zoom, move yourself physically closer to your subject for the shot. This will provide real optical zoom without compromising quality and clarity. If that’s not feasible, just record the shot from a further distance without zooming in digitally.
Adjust Focus Properly
Make sure you properly focus your shot before recording. Tap the area of priority focus so it’s sharp before you begin. Autofocus can sometimes get thrown off and produce blurry results if not set correctly. Locking the focus ahead of time ensures your subject will be clear while filming.
Also pay attention to maintaining the optimal focal length from your subject and avoiding moving too close. Reels shot from too close can introduce blur from a narrow depth of field. Find the right distance that keeps your subject sharp and clear.
Check for App or Upload Compression
After recording a high quality video, the footage may become compressed during the uploading or exporting process, resulting in reduced sharpness and clarity in the final Reel. Video apps can apply compression to reduce file size at the expense of some visual quality.
Try exporting and uploading your Reel using recommended optimal settings to preserve quality. In some apps like Adobe Premiere Rush, you can adjust the export bitrate higher to reduce compression. Likewise within the Instagram app, choose higher resolution and minimal compression when exporting.
Also avoid re-compressing an already compressed Reel. Each round of compression introduces new artifacts that degrade the image. Maintain the highest quality settings from recording all the way through to uploading for best results.
Adjust Editing Effects
Certain editing effects when applied excessively can also impact Reel clarity. For example, overdoing sharpening filters can cause halos and artifacts that degrade image quality. Using too much noise reduction can soften details and cause blurriness.
Aim for subtle, light handed use of filters and effects only as needed. Also avoid stacking multiple effects likesharpness, contrast, saturation etc. Too many effects compounds problems like artifacts. Try to enhance Reels using core correction tools sparingly.
Check Device Storage Space
If your smartphone is running low on storage space it can impact Reel quality. Video recording requires moving significant data very quickly. If your device lacks enough free storage and bandwidth to capture the full resolution video, the RESULT can be more compression and artifacts.
Try freeing up more storage space on your phone and see if it improves the video quality. Having at least 10-20% free space available is ideal. Or record Reels directly to an SD card if your phone has an external storage slot. Proper device storage capacity helps ensure clarity.
Use a Video Editor to Enhance
If your Reels are coming out slightly blurry, you can run them through a video editing app to help sharpen and enhance the footage. Apps like VSCO and Adobe Premiere Rush include tools like sharpening, noise reduction, and image stabilization that can help improve quality.
Be careful not to overdo it on effects or you can risk degrading the image. But light and selective use of enhancement tools can help compensate for minor blur and distortion introduced during recording or compression.
Upgrade Your Smartphone Camera
Some smartphone cameras simply produce blurrier, lower quality results than others. If your device has an older or basic camera, an upgrade may be necessary for substantially clearer Reels.
Investing in a new iPhone or Android device with a high end multi-lens camera system can make a big difference in image sharpness and quality. Newer phone cameras also perform better in low light situations. If your current phone camera lacks clarity, an upgrade may be worthwhile.
Use Third Party Camera Apps
The default camera app on your smartphone may not provide the clearest results, especially on Android devices. Try using third party camera apps that offer advanced controls and settings for improved stabilization, resolution, framing, and other factors that impact clarity.
Apps like Filmic Pro, Moment Pro Camera, and ProCam X allow extensive customization for recording the highest quality video possible on your device. Adjusting key settings in these apps can help maximize Reel sharpness.
Consider Using a Gimbal
Gimbals are camera stabilizers that use internal motors to provide smooth, shake-free footage as you move with the camera. This improved stability can enhance Reel clarity and prevent blur caused by unintentional camera motion.
Handheld gimbals from companies like DJI and Zhiyun can stabilize your smartphone’s camera as you record. They provide more fluid and controlled camera motions, resulting in clearer, more professional looking Reels.
Summary
To troubleshoot blurry Reels, ensure you record using the rear camera at the highest resolution possible in bright, stable lighting. Also avoid compressing footage and limit editing effects. Upgrade your smartphone or camera app if needed for higher quality capabilities. With some adjustments to optimize stability, focus, lighting, and compression, you can produce super clear Instagram Reels.