Professional camera setup Xiaomi 11T

Xiaomi 11T has an impressive array of optics that can compete with the flagships of the higher price segment. However, to get the most out of a 108-megapixel sensor and get studio-quality footage, standard out-of-the-box settings are often not enough.

Configuring exposure, white balance and focus settings correctly avoids common mistakes such as nighttime lights or loss of detail in the shadows. In this article, we will take a closer look at the hidden capabilities of the MIUI Camera app that will turn your smartphone into a powerful tool for mobile photography.

You should not limit yourself to automatic mode if you want to unleash the creative potential of the gadget. Competent setup of the Xiaomi 11T camera is a balance between the convenience of automation and manual control over technical parameters.

Interface and basic application settings

The first thing that a user encounters after buying is the interface of the standard camera app, which seems simple, but hides a lot of options available through swipes and hidden menus. To start, you need to go to the settings menu by clicking on three horizontal lines in the upper right corner of the screen.

Here are the key parameters that affect the quality of the final image. First of all, pay attention to the resolution of the images. By default, the smartphone can shoot in binning mode of pixels, combining them to improve light sensitivity, but for landscape photography, it is better to activate the full 108 MP mode.

• 📸 The ratio of sides: for social networks optimal 4:3, for Stories – 9:16.
• ⚡ Regime. HDR: It is recommended to keep the “Auto” on to expand the dynamic range.
• 🌐 Geotaging: only include if necessary, linking coordinates to the photo.

It's also important to set up a framing grid, and activating the grid lines helps you follow the rule of thirds and align the horizon, which is critical for architectural photography, and it's a basic element of composition that every photographer should be able to include.

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Use the horizon level that appears when the phone is tilted slightly so that the lines of the buildings in the photo are strictly vertical.

Configuring the main module 108 MP

The Xiaomi 11T is the main sensor of the Samsung HM2. To activate its maximum resolution, it is not enough just to select the appropriate mode.

In the image quality settings, you should choose High to save as much detail as possible. However, if you plan to take hundreds of pictures on a journey, it is wiser to use the standard 12 MP mode, which gives excellent results with less file weight. Super Night Mode algorithms also work better in standard resolution.

⚠️ Note: 108MP shooting does not support zooming without loss of quality and does not work simultaneously with some filters and beauty modes.

For portrait photography, the core module uses software blur, you can adjust the degree of bokeh effect in the settings, and you don't need to twist the blur to the maximum, because this often leads to artifacts at the boundaries of the object and the background.

Working with ultra-wide-angle lens and macro

The second module of the Xiaomi 11T camera is an ultra-wide-angle lens with a viewing angle of 120 degrees. It is ideal for shooting interiors, landscapes and large groups of people. However, this module has its own features that require adjustments in the approach to framing.

Because of the wide viewing angle, you can see distortion, which is the curvature of straight lines. In camera settings, you can sometimes have a distortion correction option, but it can cut off part of the frame. For architectural photography, try to keep the camera strictly parallel to the plane of the building.

Macro mode in Xiaomi 11T is implemented software or through the crop of the center section of the ultra-wide-angle sensor, which means that the quality of macro images is directly dependent on the lighting.

• 🔍 Focusing distance: Bring the camera to the object at a distance 3-5 centimeter.
• ☀️ Lighting: for macro, you need bright daylight or additional illumination.
• 📉 Stabilization: In macro mode, electronic stabilization works less efficiently, keep your hands still.

Zoom is not recommended in this mode, as digital zoom will only worsen the already imperfect detailing of the side sections of the frame.

PRO Mode: Manual exposure settings

For those who want to have full control over the image creation process, the app has a PRO mode, where the user can manually control focal length, shutter speed, ISO and white balance, similar to the SLR settings.

The ISO is responsible for the sensitivity of the matrix. The lower the ISO (e.g., 50 or 100), the cleaner the picture and less digital noise. The ISO should only be raised in extremely low light conditions, when the exposure lengthening is impossible.

The recommended ISO values for Xiaomi 11T are:


Daytime survey: ISO 50-100




- Evening/Sunset: ISO 200-400




Night (with tripod): ISO 50-100 + long exposure




- Night (with hands): ISO 800-1600

Shutter speed (S) regulates the time during which light hits the matrix. Short shutter speed (1/1000 s) "freezes" the movement, and long (1/4 s or more) blurs it, creating the effect of movement of water or headlights. For long exposure, it is necessary to use a tripod.

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The main secret of a clean night photo is a low ISO and a long shutter speed on a tripod, not a high ISO from hand.

Video and Stabilization settings

Xiaomi 11T is capable of recording video in 4K resolution at 30 or 60 frames per second, as well as in Full HD up to 120 fps for slow motion. To get a cinematic picture, it is important to choose the right recording profile depending on the scene.

The key feature is electronic image stabilization. In video settings, you can choose between normal stabilization and Sport mode, which cuts the frame more, but better extinguishes the shaking when running. For static shooting, you better use normal mode, so you don't lose quality at the edges.

You also need to pay attention to the microphone settings, and in video mode, you can choose the direction of recording the sound: amplification of the sound in front, behind, or from all sides, and you can use an external microphone or front amplification to record the interview on the street.

Scripts and additional functions

The Xiaomi 11T has a variety of scenarios that automate the shooting process in specific conditions. Documents mode allows you to align the perspective of the shot and improve the readability of text, removing shadows.

The Long Exposure mode allows you to create artistic shots of flowing water or light tracks from machines without using complex settings in PRO mode. The algorithm itself takes a series of frames and glues them together.

• 🌌 Moonlit Night mode: automatically recognizes the moon and improves its detail, removing the lights.
• 🍳 Food mode: increases color saturation and contrast, making dishes more appetizing.
• 📄 Documents mode: aligns the plane and removes glare from the paper.

⚠️ Note: Using scene modes often disables the ability to shoot in format RAW, This limits the possibility of subsequent processing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)