How to set up a camera on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: from basic parameters to professional modes

Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro

48 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP

We will not only analyze the obvious settings like permission or HDR, But there are some little-known tricks: how to calibrate white balance for different lighting conditions, why night mode sometimes spoils the frame, and how to get around the limitations of the regular camera app.

It's important to understand that the camera is not just about hardware, it's also about software processing. Xiaomi's algorithms often overdo it with noise cancellation or contrast, which leads to loss of detail. Our challenge is to find a balance between automation and manual control to get natural, but technically good images.

If you've never looked at the advanced camera settings or limited yourself to the down button, after reading this article, your photos will no longer be like everyone else's. We tested each setting in practice and only selected those that actually affect the result.

Basic camera settings: where to start

Before you dive into professional modes, make sure the basic settings are set correctly. Go to the Camera app and tap the gear in the top right corner, and there are key options that affect 80 percent of the quality of your shots.

The first thing to look at is the resolution of the photo. The default Redmi 8 Pro shoots at 12 MP with pixel binning (combining pixels for better light sensitivity). However, in some scenes, it is useful to switch to a full 48 MP - for example, for shooting textures or objects that you will have to cut later. Remember, high resolution requires good lighting, otherwise noise will eat all the details.

Equally important is the aspect ratio setting: Standard 4:3 is for print, and 16:9 or 18.5:9 is more convenient for viewing on a smartphone screen. If you shoot for social media, choose 1:1 (for Instagram) or 9:16 (for stories).

• 📸 Photo resolution: 12 MP (default) or 48 MP (detailing)
• 🔄 The aspect ratio is 4:3, 16:9, 18.5:9 or 1:1
• 🎞️ Video resolution: 1080p@30fps (optimally 4K@30fps (fitting)
• 🔍 Grid: Include Rule of Thirds for composition

Pay attention to the option. AI-It automatically recognizes scenes (portrait, landscape, food) and adjusts settings. Most of the time, it's convenient, but sometimes it's not. AI wrong, for example, it can over-saturate the colors of food or blur the background where it is not necessary. AI and use manual settings or Pro mode.

Pro mode: manual control for the perfect shot

The most powerful feature of the Redmi 8 Pro camera is the Pro mode, which hides behind the swipe left in the main menu, and here you get full control of the exposure, like on a SLR camera, and even if you're a beginner, you can shoot in conditions where automation is powerless.

Key controls in Pro mode:

1. Shutter speed (S): Responsible for the amount of light that hits the matrix. In dark conditions, increase the value to 1/4s 1/2c, but use a tripod - otherwise there will be lubrication.
2. ISO (ISO): Sensitivity matrix. 100-400, dusk — 800-1600. Higher. 3200 there's a big noise.
3. White balance (WB): Automation often makes the color temperature mistake. For incandescent bulbs, choose 2500K-3500K, daylight — 5000K-6500K.
4. Focus (MF): In manual mode, you can focus on a specific object, even if the automation stubbornly clings to the background.

A case in point: a sunset shot. Automatics usually obscure the sky to keep the earth from being lit up. In Pro mode, reduce exposure by -1.0 or -1.5, lower ISO before 100 and set the white balance on 4000K — This will save the details in the clouds and get natural colors.

⚠️ Note: When shooting in format RAW (The files are up to 50MB each, make sure that the phone has enough space, otherwise the camera will slow down or make errors while saving.

Shut down. AI-camera

Set a minimum ISO

Check the white balance

Focus manually (if necessary)

Use a tripod for long exposure-->

Night mode: when it helps and when it hurts

Night Mode in Redmi 8 Pro works on the principle of multi-frame addition: takes several shots with different exposures and combines them into one. It really saves in dark conditions, but there are nuances that few people know about.

First, night mode is only effective for static objects. If there is movement in the frame (people, cars, foliage in the wind), the algorithm will give out blurry artifacts. Second, it requires absolute immobility of the phone - even a slight shaking of the hands will spoil the result. Third, the night mode does not increase detail, but only reduces noise and improves exposure.

How to use it correctly:

• 🌃 Take it off the support, like a window sill, a table, or a mini-station, and even if you put your elbows on the body, you get lubrication.
• ⏱️ Keep your phone still, all right? 3-5 And then you interrupt the process, and you get a half-finished frame.
• 🔦 Avoid bright light sources (lights, headlights) in the frame – they create light spots that the algorithm cannot properly process.
• 📏 Night mode works better on a wide-angle camera (12 MP) than on the main one (48 MP).

Where night mode is powerless:

- Shooting moving objects (light tracks from cars, people in dance).

High contrast transitions (window in a dark room).

Situations where you need instant photography (for example, fireworks).

Portrait mode: how to avoid artificial blur

The portrait mode in Redmi 8 Pro uses a second 2MP module to assess the depth of the scene and programmatically blurs the background. In theory, this should mimic the bokeh effect from the SLR camera, but in practice it is often unrealistic. The main problem is the inaccurate separation of the object from the background, especially along the edges (hair, glasses, hands).

To improve the outcome:

1. Place the object at a distance 1-2 The closer a person is to the background, the worse the algorithm will cope with the blur.
2. Use natural light. A flash or bright sunlight creates sharp shadows that the portrait mode handles poorly.
3. After shooting, touch the Edit icon in the gallery - you can manually adjust the level of background blur.

If the portrait mode stubbornly "eats" the details (for example, blurs the tips of the hair), try this trick:

1. Take a photo in normal mode with a resolution of 48 MP.
2. Open it in any graphics editor (like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile).
3. Use the mask blur tool and manually circle the object, so you get a more natural effect.

⚠️ Note: Portrait mode on Redmi 8 Pro doesn't work with objects less than 20% of the frame. If you're shooting a person from afar, the algorithm will just shut down without warning.

Video: How to Avoid Noise and Noise

Redmi camera 8 Pro is able to shoot video in resolution before 4K@30fps, But the default is on. 1080p@30fps. For most tasks, this is enough, but when writing in 4K There are two problems: the processor's heat and the noise in the dark scenes, and if you're not planning on editing or putting it on the big screen, you can limit it to Full. HD.

For a smooth video:

• 🎥 Enable Stabilization in the video settings (it only works in the video settings) 1080p).
• 🔊 Use an external microphone (connects via Type-C) as the built-in microphone picks up the noise of the processor fan when heated.
• 📱 Close all background apps – they create lags when recording.
• 🔋 Connect your phone to charge if you’re taking a long shot: 4K-Video drains battery by 1% per minute.

Features of different video modes:

If you are shooting videos for YouTube or TikTok, use the settings:

- Format: 1080p@30fps (Optimal balance of quality and file size).

- Stabilization: On.

Microphone: external (if possible) or noise reduction in settings.

White balance: Auto (but check before shooting - sometimes gives a blue tint).

💡

To capture the screen (e.g. gameplay), use the built-in screen recording function in the notification curtain, which provides higher quality than third-party apps and does not load the camera.

Hidden camera functions: what is not written in the instructions

The Redmi 8 Pro has some non-obvious features that can be activated through Settings. → Extra or special gestures. Here are the most useful ones:

1. Quick camera start-up

Twice press the Volume Down button, the camera will open even on a locked screen. This works even if the phone is in your pocket. To turn on the feature, go to Settings. → Screen locking → Quick camera launch.

2. Filming in format RAW

In Pro mode, tap the icon. RAW The files will be saved in.dng format, which can be edited in Lightroom or Photoshop without loss of quality. RAW-file ~50MB.

3. Manual flash control

In Pro mode, you can force the flash to turn on or off, even if the automation thinks it's unnecessary, useful for macro highlighting or document shooting.

4.Voice-controlled timer

Turn on voice commands in the camera settings, and now you can say "Cheez" (or whatever word you choose) to take a picture without tapping the screen, which saves you when you're taking a group selfie or a tripod.

5. Shooting with two cameras at the same time

In some firmware (for example, MIUI 12+) Dual video mode, which captures video from the main and front camera simultaneously, is available.

Post-shoot photo processing: Minimum effort for maximum results

Even a perfectly pictured image can be improved. 2-3 We recommend Snapseed (free, from Google) or Lightroom Mobile (requires registration). Here are the basic edits that will turn your photos from "good" to "wow":

1. Trimming and alignment

Use the Crop tool to remove the extra elements at the edges. Turn on the Golden Ratio grid for the right composition. If the horizon is littered, align it with the Turn slider.

2. Exposure correction

In most cases, it is enough to raise the shadows (+20...+40) and lower the light slightly (-10...-20). This will bring back details in darkened and overlit areas. Don't touch the contrast globally, use the Selective Correction (in Lightroom).

3. Color correction

If the colors look dull:

- Increase the saturation +10...+15 (no more, otherwise the skin will look abnormal).

- Adjust the Temperature: for warm frames (sunsets, autumn) add +500...+1000, for cold (winter landscapes) — -500...-1000.

Snapseed has a Selective tool that allows you to change the color of an individual object (for example, make the grass greener without touching the sky).

4.Sharpness and noise

When shooting at 48 MP or in poor light, you can see noise.

- Noise suppression: +20...+30 for luminisance, +10...+20 for color.

- Masking up sharpness: +15...+25 (web publishing only; for printing, do not apply sharpness in mobile editors).

Example before and after processing:

• 🌅 The sky is overlit, the shadows on the earth are black, the colors are faded.
• ✨ After editing: Lights: -25 Shadows: +35 Temperature: +800 (gold-colored) Saturation: +12 Sharpness: +18 (masking)

⚠️ When exporting photos from the editor, always choose the quality of 100% and format. JPEG (if you don't work with RAW). Compression in social networks and so degrades quality, so do not skimp on bits.

💡

The most common processing error is to over-increase contrast or saturation, which kills detail in lights and shadows, making the photo unrealistic. Always check the histogram (in Lightroom) — if the graph rests on the edges, you've lost data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up Redmi camera 8 Pro