What is the width in the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi: all about wide-angle shooting

Owners of modern Xiaomi Redmi smartphones often encounter the term “width” when choosing a new device or exploring the capabilities of an existing gadget. This is the slang name for a wide-angle lens, which has become the standard for the main camera in almost all modern models of the mid- and high-end segment. Understanding the principles of this module allows you to take much better and more spectacular pictures, especially in limited spaces or when shooting landscapes.

Unlike the main module, which has a focal length close to the human eye (equivalent to 26-28 mm), the width captures a much larger frame area. In Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, this module usually has a viewing angle of 115 to 123 degrees. This means that in one photo you can fit twice as many objects as in the picture from the main camera without going back.

Using a wide-angle camera requires some skill in composition, because it distorts perspective. The extremes of a frame can stretch, and the central ones can seem farther than they really are. However, these features allow you to create dynamic shots that convey the scale of architecture or the grandeur of mountain peaks, making wide-angle photography an indispensable tool in the arsenal of a mobile photographer.

Technical characteristics of the wide-angle module

Physically, the “width” module in Redmi smartphones is a separate camera with its own matrix and lenses. Most often, manufacturers install sensors with a resolution of 8 MP or 13 MP, although the flagship models of the Xiaomi Mi or Redmi Note Pro series also contain 50 megapixel wide-angle cameras. The quality of the final picture depends on the size of the matrix and the aperture of the lens, which is usually f/2.2 or f/2.4.

It's important to understand that optical zoom works backwards in the case of a wide lens. If the main lens has a conditional ratio of 1x, then the wide-angle lens is often labeled as 0.5x or 0.6x. This means that it "approaches" objects, making them visually farther and smaller, but containing a huge viewing angle. Some advanced models use pixel combining technology (binning), which allows you to get more luminous pictures with insufficient light.

⚠️ Note: Wide-angle lenses in Xiaomi smartphones often don’t have autofocus or have a very limited focus range.Do not try to shoot macro objects (insects, textures) wide unless the specs say macro mode is supported, as you will get a blurred image.

Aperture is another critical parameter. Because the physical size of the lens in a smartphone is limited, the aperture of a wide-angle module is often narrower than that of the main camera, which leads to more noisy and less detailed images in the evening or indoors. MIUI processing algorithms try to compensate for this with software noise reduction, but physics is physics.

Differences between main and macro camera

Beginners often confuse a wide-angle camera with a macro lens, since both modules can be located next to the main camera block. The main difference lies in the focal length and purpose. The main camera (wide) is designed for universal shooting in all lighting. Ultra-wide is needed to cover large spaces. Macro camera (usually 2 MP or 5 MP) allows you to focus on objects 2-4 cm from the lens, but has an extremely narrow viewing angle.

When you switch between modes in the Xiaomi camera app, you'll notice a difference in exposure and color reproduction. The core module usually handles HDR better and balances white. The wide-angle module can produce a cooler hue and a slightly darker image because of the lower aperture. The macro camera often produces a low-resolution picture, suitable only for posting on social media without much zooming.

Here are the main differences in the form of the list:

• 📸 Viewing angle: Shirek captures to 123°, The main one is about 78.°, macro-less than 60°.
• 🔍 Focusing distance: The Shire focuses from 10 see further, macro - from 2 see, the main one is 10-15 centimeter.
• 💡 Power: The core module is always lighter and better in the dark than the width or macro.

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Shire is not a replacement for the main module, but a specialized tool for specific scenes where frame area is important, not the detailing of each pixel.

When is the best time to use a wide-angle camera

There are a number of scenarios where using a wide-angle lens in Redmi smartphones gives an undeniable advantage, primarily interior photography. When you shoot an apartment or a room with a regular camera, you often cut corners or you can't show the entire layout. Switching to 0.5x, you can easily fit the entire room into the frame, being in the center of it.

Landscape photography is the second most popular genre for shirk, and mountains, sunsets, and wide avenues of cities look grand and grand in these images, and the lines in the photos become more expressive, and the sky takes up most of the shot, which adds air, and it's also ideal for group photography, where you want to take a picture of a large group of people without putting them in a few rows.

Creative photography also benefits from using distortions: if you put an object in the center of the frame, it will look proportionate, and the background will stretch to the edges. This creates a dynamic effect and speed. However, be careful with portraits of people: if you put a person out of the center, his face or figure can be disproportionately stretched, which looks unnatural.

Configure and activate the mode in MIUI

In the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, the camera management is as simple as possible. To activate wide-angle mode, open the standard Camera app. In Photo mode, you will see a button that says "1x" or "Wide" at the top or bottom of the screen (depending on the orientation of the phone).

To fine-tune things, you can use additional settings. Click on three bars in the corner of the screen to open the settings menu. Here you can activate the grid, the horizon level (very useful for a shirk so that buildings don't fall) and the timer. Some Xiaomi models have a feature to correct distortions around the edges of the frame, which you can include in the camera settings menu.

The way to quality settings:


Camera → Three stripes (Menu) → Settings → Photo quality → Select “High”

And there's also video, and many people forget that a wide-angle lens is available when you're recording video, and it allows you to shoot dynamic stories or vlogs, holding your phone up your arm and grabbing more of your surroundings, and stabilization in this mode may be less efficient than on the main camera, so try to keep your phone tighter.

⚠️ Warning: Switching between the main lens and the wide can result in a noticeable jump in exposure and color while recording a video. Try to plan the switches ahead of time or use manual settings if your Redmi model supports Pro Video mode.

Comparison of the quality of shooting different modules

To better understand the difference in detail and color reproduction, consider a comparative table of characteristics of typical modules in mid-segment smartphones Redmi Note.

As you can see from the table, the main camera is technically superior to the other modules in all respects. Shirik sacrifices resolution and aperture for the angle of view. Macro camera in budget models is often decorative in nature and inferior in quality even to the digital zoom of the main camera. Therefore, for everyday shooting it is better to use the bundle "Main" + Chic».

Tips for getting the best shots on the wide

The first and most important piece of advice is to keep an eye on horizon lines and verticals. From the wide angle, any tilts of the phone become very noticeable. Buildings can fall back. Use the built-in level in the Xiaomi camera app to hold the phone strictly parallel to the ground, which will give your architectural snapshots a professional look.

The second piece of advice is composition: Don't be afraid to go close to objects in the foreground. Exaggerates wide-angle optics: near objects seem huge, and distant ones seem very small. Use this to create depth. For example, close-up a flower against a huge mountain range.

The third tip is to avoid direct light sources in the frame. A wide angle increases the likelihood of the sun or bright lamp hitting the lens, which causes lights and loss of contrast (flare). If the sun hits the frame, try to slightly change the angle of the phone to cover the lens with your hand or shadow, removing the glare.

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Shoot from the bottom. Because the width is so distortive, shooting from ground level (for example, putting your phone on the pavement) can make objects visually huge and impressive, adding drama to the usual plot.

Using a wide in Xiaomi Redmi opens up new horizons for mobile photography, understanding its limitations and strengths to turn ordinary shots into artwork. Experiment with angles, watch the lights, and don't be afraid to break the rules of composition, because that's where the creativity of wide-angle optics lies.

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The main secret of an excellent shirk is the presence of a pronounced foreground, which sets the scale and depth of the image.