How to set up a camera on Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S: a complete guide with secret chips

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, famous for its balance of performance and shooting quality. However, even with a great hardware (the main module is 64 MP + ultra-wide angle), many users get worse shots than they could. It's all about settings: factory camera settings are often optimized for a "universal" scenario, rather than your specific shooting conditions.

In this article, we’ll break down all the key camera settings on the Redmi Note 10S, from basic parameters like resolution and HDR to hidden features like manual focusing and white balance calibration. You’ll learn how to make the most of the camera in different scenarios: low light, shooting moving objects or creating portraits with a blurred background. And we’ll also reveal the undocumented features of the MIUI Camera app, which Xiaomi doesn’t advertise.

1. Basic camera settings: where to start

Before you dive into the fine-tuning, make sure you have the optimal "basic" settings. Go to the Camera app, swipe up (or tap on the gear in the upper right corner) and check the following points:

• 📸 Photo resolution: Choose 64 MP for maximum quality (but remember that such shots take up a lot of time). ~20-30 MB each. 16 MP is enough for everyday shooting – the camera automatically combines pixels for better detail.
• 🔄 The aspect ratio is 4:3 for print, 16:9 for smartphone screens. Experiment!
• 🌟 Quality. HDR: Turn on the car-HDR or HDR 10-bit (This is especially important for shooting against light or in contrasting scenes.
• 📱 Grid: activate the Rule of Thirds - this will help to correctly build the composition of the frames.

Note the Watermark item, if it is on, all photos will show the Mi logo and smartphone model, which can be turned off if you don't need Xiaomi ads in your photos, and check if the Shutter Sound option is activated, which is mandatory in some countries (e.g. Japan), but in Russia it can be safely turned off.

2. Shooting modes: which to choose and when

The Redmi Note 10S offers a whole arsenal of shooting modes, but most users are limited to standard Photos. Meanwhile, the right mode can dramatically improve the result.

Special attention is given to Professional mode, which allows you to manually control key parameters of shooting, which is especially useful in difficult conditions. For example, when shooting a sunset, you can fix the white balance by 4500K to avoid a cold hue, or increase the ISO value to 800 for shooting indoors without a flash. Don't be afraid to experiment, in this mode you immediately see how the changes in parameters affect the final frame.

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If the background blur is not working well in Portrait mode (e.g., eating away at the hair or edges of an object), try increasing the distance to the model or using the rear camera instead of the front camera.

3. Hidden camera features: what is silent Xiaomi

The camera app in MIUI contains some non-obvious features that are not mentioned in the official documentation, and here are the most useful ones:

• 🔍 Manual focus in video: in Video mode tap on the screen and hold your finger on the object - a yellow square with the inscription will appear AF Lock. Now the focus is fixed, even if the object is moving.
• 🎭 Double exposure: In Portrait mode swipe left to Double exposure, which allows you to overlay two frames (for example, a portrait). + landscape) with regulated transparency.
• 📏 Horizon level: In the camera settings, turn on Level, and you'll see a grid with a tilt indicator, useful for taking pictures of architecture or landscapes.
• 🔄 Quick camera switching: Swipe left or right twice to instantly switch between main, wide-angle and macro cameras.

Another little-known feature is RAW, which is to activate it.

1. Open Professional Mode.
2. Slip on the gear icon in the upper right corner.
3. Enable the option to Save RAW.

Now, with each photo, it will be preserved. RAW-file (with the extension.dng), which can be edited flexibly in Lightroom or Photoshop without loss of quality. RAW borrower ~30-50MB in the photo!

4. Optimization of the camera for shooting in the dark

The night mode on the Redmi Note 10S works well, but its effectiveness depends on the right settings.

1. Increase exposure time: Manual (Professional) shutter speed for 1-4 seconds. The longer the exposure, the more light will hit the matrix, but the risk of "grease" is higher.
2. Use a low ISO: despite the fact that in the dark you want to raise the ISO for brightness, it adds noise. Optimally, ISO 800-1600.
3. Turn off HDR: In night mode, HDR can degrade detail. Better take a shot without HDR, then edit it manually.
4. Adjust the white balance: in the dark, automation often makes mistakes. Try the 3500-4000K for a warm hue.

If you're shooting moving objects (like a fireworks or a car with its headlights on), use a serial shot. To do this, hold the shutter button, the camera will make up to 20 frames per second from which you can choose the best one. Also, in night mode, an external light source helps: even another smartphone's flashlight, directed at an angle, can significantly improve detail.

Install the smartphone on the fixed surface|Shut down. HDR|Choose. ISO 800–1600|Record the white balance by 3,500–4000K|Use a shutter timer (2-10 seconds)-->

5. Video setting: resolution, stabilization, sound

The Redmi Note 10S camera supports 4K@30fps and 1080p@60fps, but the default mode is often 1080p@30fps - ostensibly to save space. To change that:

1. Open the Camera app and go to Video mode.
2. Slip on the settings icon (cog) in the upper right corner.
3. Select Video Resolution and set 4K (3840×2160) or FHD (1920×1080) at 60 fps.
4. Activate Video Stabilization (EIS) – this will reduce the “shaking” but slightly trim the edges of the frame.

To improve sound when shooting video:

• 🎤 Use an external microphone (connected via a USB-C Bluetooth).
• 🔇 Turn off Noise Reduction in your audio settings if you’re shooting music or important voices – Xiaomi’s algorithm sometimes eats up high frequencies.
• 📱 Check the volume level through the microphone icon on the recording screen.

If you're shooting dynamic scenes (sports, dancing), choose 1080p@60fps, high frame rate will make the video smoother. For static scenes (interviews, landscapes), 4K@30fps with stabilization enabled. Remember that 4K heats the processor very much - with prolonged shooting, the smartphone can start trottling (automatic performance decline), which will lead to video jerks.

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For professional video shooting, use applications like Filmic Pro or Open Camera, which give you more control over settings than a standard MIUI camera.

6. Solving common camera problems

Even after you set up your camera correctly on the Redmi Note 10S, users are faced with typical problems.

⚠️ Warning: If the camera fails to connect to the camera, restart the smartphone. If the problem recurs, clear the Camera app cache in the settings (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Camera. → Clear the cache).

If the camera gets worse after the MIUI update (e.g., the detail deteriorated or artifacts appeared), try rolling back on the previous firmware version or installing Google Camera (GCam), a modified camera application with improved processing algorithms. For the Redmi Note 10S, the GCam versions from the developers of BSG or Urnyx05 are suitable (see the 4PDA forum).

⚠️ Note: When using GCam, turn off HDR+ In the app settings, if you notice a strong interface braking, also check compatibility with your version. MIUI — Some GCam builds are not working properly on new updates.

7 Additional accessories for improving shooting

Even with the perfect camera settings, the Redmi Note 10S has physical limitations: small array, no optical stabilization, etc. Fortunately, this can be compensated for with inexpensive accessories:

• 📸 External lenses: macro-lens (10x–15x) for small objects or wide-angle lens (120)°+) We recommend brands Xenvo or Apexel.
• 💡 LED-Panel: A compact LED light (such as Neewer 10) will help you shoot in dark rooms or create soft light in portraits.
• 🎤 Directed microphone: Boya is suitable for video blogs BY-M1 Or Rode VideoMic. It's connected through USB-C or 3.5 mm (with adapter).
• 🔧 Mini-staff: even a small tripod (for example, Joby GorillaPod) will avoid “wisps” during a long exposure.

If you are seriously interested in mobile photography, consider buying gadgets for stabilization:

• DJI Osmo Mobile is a stabilizer with a tracking system that converts trembling video into smooth.
• Hohem iSteady Mobile+ is a budget alternative with good stabilization and vertical shooting.

A waterproof case (such as the JOTO Universal) is useful for shooting from water or in the rain, it protects your smartphone from splashes and allows you to take photos underwater at depths of 30 meters. Before buying, check if your model is supported - some cases are not suitable for smartphones with a protruding camera.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions