Owning a modern smartphone from Xiaomi or Redmi implies a powerful photo module, which is often underestimated immediately after purchase. By default, the software is set to automatic mode, which is convenient for fast shooting, but hides the huge potential of the device. To get studio-quality pictures, you need to dive into the deep settings of a standard application or third-party utilities.
Many users are unaware that their camera can do more than just click and shoot. The right configuration of exposure, white balance and focus allows you to turn a normal landscape into a work of art. In this article, we will discuss all the subtleties that will help you unlock the creative potential of your gadget.
Before you start to do complex manipulations, you need to understand the basic principles of how image processing algorithms work in the MIUI or HyperOS shell. The system often uses aggressive noise cancellation and artificial sharpening, which does not always benefit the end result. Your task is to find a balance between automation and manual control.
Basic settings and framing grid
The first thing you need to do to improve your photos is to activate the grid display, which divides the screen into nine equal parts, helping you follow the rule of thirds, and to turn on, go to the camera settings menu and find the Grid switch.
Using a grid helps to align the horizon and position objects in the frame, a fundamental technique that professional photographers use, and without it, it is difficult to achieve symmetry and harmony in an image, especially when shooting architecture or landscapes.
Also, you should pay attention to the resolution of the images. Often the default value is a value other than the maximum possible for your model. Make sure that the settings have the maximum available resolution to keep the detail in the framing.
- 📸 Activate the grid for the correct frame composition
- 🔍 Set the maximum resolution of the matrix in the settings menu
- ⚡ Turn off the shutter beep if you are shooting in quiet places
- 🌐 Check the geotag settings to link the photo to the map
Remember that turning on some features, such as HDR in Auto mode, can slow down the shooting process. If you are shooting dynamic scenes, you should switch to manual control or disable automatic frame merge, which will avoid lubrication and loss of time.
Advanced settings: Experimental mode
In the standard Xiaomi camera app, there is a hidden section called Advanced Settings or Experimental Features, which is often hidden in the back of the menu or activated by multiple clicks on the app version, and which contains parameters that affect the processing algorithms.
One of the key features is "Face Improvement" or "Buettification." Although many use this mode for selfies, its aggressive settings can make the skin unnaturally smooth, losing texture, and it is recommended to reduce the intensity of the effect or turn it off altogether to obtain realistic portraits.
⚠️ Warning: Enabling the function "Save the original photo" can significantly increase the amount of memory occupied, as both the processed and the original version of the image is stored.
Another important parameter is "Watermark." You can adjust the display by adding a model of the device or leaving only the shooting time. For professional processing, it is better to turn off the watermark so as not to overlap important details of the frame.
In this section, you'll often find the option "Schedule Shooting" or "Interval Shooting" -- these features allow you to create timelapses without third-party software, and you can adjust the interval to control the speed of the clouds or in the frame.
Hidden codes for the camera
Manual Mode (Pro): Full control of the image
Pro or Manual gives the photographer full control over exposure, where you can adjust shutter speed, ISO, white balance and focus, and it's an indispensable tool for shooting in difficult light conditions.
The ISO is responsible for the sensitivity of the matrix to light. The lower the value, the less noise, but darker the image. For night shooting, a tripod will allow you to use the minimum ISO and long shutter speed, obtaining a clean and bright frame.
Shutter speed (denoted S or T) determines the time that light hits the matrix. Short shutter speed freezes motion, long shutter speed blurs it. Experimenting with this parameter can create artistic effects that are not available automatically.
| Parameter | Value range | Influence on photo |
|---|---|---|
| ISO | 50 - 3200+ | Brightness and noise levels |
| Excerpt (S) | 1/8000 - 30 sec | Freezing or blurring of movement |
| EV (Expocorrection) | -2.0... +2.0 | Total brightness of the frame |
| WB (White Balance) | 2000K - 8000K | Color temperature (heat/cold) |
White balance (WB) allows you to adjust color temperature. Automation often miscalculates in mixed lighting, making the frame too yellow or blue. In manual mode, you can fine-tune the shade by targeting the white object in the frame.
☑️ Manual settings
Setup of video shooting and stabilization
Shooting video on Xiaomi requires special attention to stabilization and bitrate settings. The video menu offers various resolutions, from Full HD to 4K and even 8K on flagships. The choice of resolution directly affects smoothness and detail.
AI Cinema, or Video Effects, offers ready-made scenarios with real-time filters and effects, which are convenient for creating content on social networks without further processing, but for quality material, it is better to shoot in clean mode.
Image stabilization is a critical parameter. Electronic stabilization (EIS) trims the edges of the frame, but makes the video smooth. Optical (OIS), if you have one in your model, works mechanically. Combined stabilization gives the best result when walking.
- 🎥 Use it. 4K 30fps for maximum quality of details
- 🏃♂️ Enable super-stabilization when shooting in motion
- 🎙️ Check the microphone settings and windscreen sound protection
- 🔒 Record the exposure and focus with a long tap on the screen
The standard 30 fps is suitable for most scenes, but 60 fps allows you to create slow-motion video during post-processing or simply makes the movement smoother and more cinematic.
⚠️ Attention: Shooting in 8K or 4K 60fps can lead to rapid heating of the smartphone body and automatic shutdown of the camera to avoid overheating of components.
Use of third-party applications (GCam)
For owners of Xiaomi smartphones with Snapdragon processors, installing a ported version of Google Camera (GCam) is often a revelation. Google's HDR+ processing algorithms work wonders with dynamic range and color rendering.
The main difficulty is finding the right version. APK-There is no universal build, and each processor and camera model needs a different configuration, and then you download the config that the developer created specifically for your model.
The advantages of the GCam include improved detail in the shadows, more natural colors and a better night mode (Night Sight).The interface may differ from the native one, but the result is worth it. Many photographers use the GCam as the main camera for static scenes.
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When installing GCam, be sure to allow installation from unknown sources and give the app all the requested permissions to access the camera and memory, otherwise it won’t start.
It is worth noting that on MediaTek processors, GCam installation can be difficult or impossible without special patches, and in such cases it is better to use modified versions of the camera's native app or other alternatives, such as Open Camera.
Optimization for night shooting
Night Mode in Xiaomi smartphones works by a series of images with different exposures, which are then combined. To get the best result, you need to keep the device as still as possible for 2-4 seconds.
In manual mode for the night, you can try setting the shutter speed for about 1-2 seconds and raising the ISO to 400-800. This will give a more lively result with fewer digital artifacts than the automatic night mode, but you will need a tripod.
Focusing at night is a separate pain. Autofocus can go for a walk to find contrast. Switch the focus to manual mode and twist it to infinity (mountain icon) if you're shooting a landscape, or move the slider until the object is clear.
Avoid using flash in night shots if you want to get an art shot. The flash only illuminates the foreground, leaving the background black. It's better to use permanent light sources or long exposure.
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The key to night photography on Xiaomi is stability. Any shaking of your hands will smear the frame with long exposure, so lean your elbows against your body or use a fixed support.