Xiaomi Note 8 Pro is still one of the most popular smartphones among amateur photographers due to its 64 MP quad camera and flexible settings. However, even powerful hardware does not guarantee high-quality images without the right configuration. In this article, we will analyze all the camera parameters from basic to hidden, learn how to use professional modes and avoid typical errors that result in photos are blurred or overlit.
The Note 8 Pro features a combination of the Samsung GW1’s main sensor with an ultra-wide module, macro lens and depth sensor. But by default, the smartphone often “recorrects” colors or miscalculates exposure. We’ll show you how to manually calibrate white balance for natural tones and why night mode works better when HDR is turned off. And we’ll also reveal the secret to activating Pro Video mode, which is not on the standard menu!
Basic camera settings: what to change first
Before you dive into professional modes, optimize the standard settings. Go to the Camera app, swipe up or tap the gear in the upper right corner, and there are key options that affect 90% of the result:
- 📸 Photo resolution: Select 64 MP for maximum detail (but files will weigh) ~20MB) Social media will be enough for 16 MP.
- 🎥 Video resolution: 4K@30fps or 1080p@60fps — It depends on the task. 60 staff.
- 🔄 Aspect ratio: 4:3 gives more megapixels, 16:9 - classic frame for video.
- 🌟 AI-camera: turn off natural colors if you want. AI often overstates saturation and contrast.
Pay attention to the item Watermark - it is better to deactivate, so as not to spoil the pictures with the Mi logo. But the option Hold the shutter is useful for serial shooting: hold the down button, and the camera will take several frames in a row.
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If your camera settings are missing after the MIUI update, reset it to factory settings: go to Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear the data. This will return all default settings without losing photos.
2. Shooting modes: which and when to use
The Note 8 Pro offers 7 basic modes, but not all of them are equally useful.
| Regime. | When to apply | Hidden chips |
|---|---|---|
| Photo Photo | Universal mode for daytime pictures | Double tap on the screen activates manual focusing |
| Night. | Shooting in the dark (works even in the moon) | Keep your smartphone still for 3-5 seconds for better results |
| Portrait | Portraits of People with a Blurred Background | After shooting, you can adjust the level of blur in the gallery |
| Macro | Objects 2-10 cm away | Use the flash to avoid shaking |
| Professional | Manual settings for experienced users | You can save your photo in RAW (.dng format) |
The most underrated mode is the Document (hidden in the "More" menu), which automatically straightens perspective and enhances text contrast, is ideal for scanning pages of books or checks, but short video (6-second clips) is better not to use: the quality is worse than in standard video mode.
3. Professional mode: manual adjustment under full control
The Pro mode in the Note 8 Pro gives you access to settings that are usually hidden in the "automatic" mode. To activate it, swipe right in the camera app or click More → Professional.
- ⚖️ White Balance: Choose Daylight for Natural Tones or Incandescent Lamp in Warm Light.
- 🔘 Focus: Manually move the slider for macro or infinity (for landscapes).
- ⏱️ Exposure: for glowing tracks of cars exhibit 1-2 seconds, for the waterfalls — 1/4 seconds.
- 📉 ISO: keep within 100-800 day 800-3200 Higher than that, there's going to be noise.
The Secret Trick: To Keep Your Photos In RAW, Activate the switch in the upper right corner of the Pro-mode screen. RAW-file-weight ~40MB, but allow lossless editing of exposure and color in Lightroom.
Excerpt: 1/500–1/1000|
ISO: 100–200|
White balance: Auto or Daylight |
Focus: AF (autofocus)|
Format: RAW+JPEG-->
To capture the sky, use 10-30 seconds shutter speed, ISO 3200 and manual infinity focus, but remember to use a tripod, even micro-movement of the hand will ruin the frame.
4 Night mode: how to take the perfect photo in the dark
The night mode in the Note 8 Pro is powered by multiple shootings and additions, but many users get blurry or noisy shots, caused by incorrect settings or camera movement.
- Fix the smartphone on a tripod or hide in a hard surface.
- Turn off HDR in the camera settings (it conflicts with night mode).
- Turn on the night mode and wait for the inscriptions Hold still.
- For moving objects (such as cars at night), reduce exposure time to 1-2 seconds in Pro mode.
⚠️ Attention: if there are bright light sources in the frame (lights, headlights), the night mode can create a greenish hue. To avoid this, manually lower the lights. ISO up to 1600 in Pro mode.
To take a picture of yourself at night, use a timer for 3 or 10 seconds, this will give you time to take a position. And if you want to take lightpainting, set the shutter speed for 5-10 seconds and draw in the air with a flashlight.
How to cheat the night mode for shooting through glass
Macro and Portrait: Secrets of Photographing Small Objects and People
The Macro lens in the Note 8 Pro allows you to shoot from a distance of 2 cm, but it has two pitfalls: a shallow depth of field and sensitivity to hand tremors.
- 🕯️ Use a flash – it will illuminate the object and reduce shutter speed, reducing blur.
- 📏 Keep the camera parallel to the subject, otherwise part of the frame will be out of focus.
- 🔍 In Pro mode, set the focus manually, as autofocus often “misses».
For portrait photography, it is important to adjust the background blur (boke) correctly.
- Step away from the model by 1-1.5 meters - so the depth sensor will more accurately separate the person from the background.
- Press the screen to focus the camera on your eyes.
- After shooting in the gallery, you can change the blur level, add lighting or even change the background!
⚠️ Note: if the frame has hair or complex contours (for example, branches behind the back), Portrait mode can "cut" them together with the background.
6. Video shooting: how to make a movie, not a "shivering GO"
The Note 8 Pro supports 4K@30fps video, but by default, stabilization works poorly.
- 🎬 Enable Ultrastabilization in the video settings (splinter the frame, but removes the shaking).
- 🔊 For clean sound, connect an external microphone via Type-C or use wireless headphones as a lavalier.
- 📱 Shoot in horizontal orientation – vertical video loses half of the detail when viewed on large screens.
Hidden Chip: To activate Pro Video (with manual ISO settings, shutter speed and white balance), go to Settings → Additional → Pro Video Mode. This mode allows you to shoot in a logarithmic profile (flat image for subsequent color correction).
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For smooth zooming while shooting, use a slider on the screen, not your fingers on the lens, so avoid jerks and loss of focus.
If you're shooting slow-motion, choose 1080p@120fps for smooth deceleration. But remember, this mode turns off autofocus, so focus ahead!
7 Problems and Solutions: Why the Camera is Bad at Shooting
Even with the right settings, the Note 8 Pro can fail, and here are the typical problems and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Photo blurred | Trembling hands or slow autofocus | Use a timer or Pro mode with manual focusing |
| Colors unrealistic | AI or the wrong white balance is enabled | Turn off AI, choose white balance manually |
| Noise in the photo | High ISO or low lighting | Lower your ISO to 800, use a tripod |
| Video "breaks" | Processor overload or a copper memory card | Remove the case (overheating) or use a UHS-I card |
If the camera doesn’t start or if it gives you an error, try:
- Clear the Camera app cache in the settings.
- Update MIUI to the latest version (camera bugs are often patched).
- Reset the camera settings to factory (see tip at the beginning of the article).
⚠️ Attention: if after the fall of the smartphone camera began to shoot with a purple shade, this is a sign of damage to the lens.