The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is still one of the most popular smartphones among amateurs thanks to its 64-megapixel main camera and flexible settings. However, many owners use only 20% of its capabilities, shooting in automatic mode. Meanwhile, the right camera setup allows you to get pictures at the level of flagships of 2020-2021 – with detailed textures, natural colors and minimal noise at dusk.
In this guide, we will not only look at the obvious options like resolution or HDR, but also the hidden MIUI features that Xiaomi does not advertise.
- 🔍 Set up a professional mode for shooting in RAW and manual focusing
- 🌃 Optimize night photography without losing detail
- 🎥 Make the most of 4K video and stabilization
- 🛠️ Fix typical camera bugs through Developer Settings
All instructions are valid for the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 based on Android 12/13. If your Redmi Note 8 Pro runs on an older firmware, some menu items may differ - we will warn you about this separately.
Basic camera settings: what to change first
Before diving into fine-tuning, make sure the basic camera settings fit your tasks. Most users don't even suspect that the smartphone default shoots in stripped-down resolution or with digital zoom enabled, which spoils quality.
Open the Camera app and follow the following steps:
- 📸 Click on the icon ⚙️ Settings in the upper right corner
- 🔢 Select Photo Resolution → Set 64 MP (if you want maximum quality) or 16 MP (to save space)
- 🎞️ In the Video Resolution section, include 4K@30fps (for stable video) or 1080p@60fps (for dynamic scenes)
- 🔄 Activate Save Settings so that settings don't reset after the application is closed
The critical error of most users: shooting at 48 MP instead of 64 MP. In this case, the smartphone uses pixel binning (combining 4 pixels into 1), which reduces detail by 25%. Switch to 64 MP manually - the difference is especially noticeable when printing photos or viewing on the big screen.
| Parameter | Recommended value | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Photo permission | 64 MPs | For printing, framing, professional processing |
| Relationship of parties | 4:3 | Maximum field of view, minimum cropping |
| HDR | Auto or VL. | In contrast lighting (sun + shadow) |
| Stabilization of video | Ultrastabilization | For shooting with your hand or in motion |
⚠️ Warning: If the 64MP resolution changes, the camera starts to slow down when shooting episodes, go back to 16MP. This is due to the limitations of the Mediatek Helio G90T processor in the Redmi Note 8 Pro — it doesn’t always cope with processing large files in real time.
2. Professional Mode: Manual settings for the perfect shot
The Pro mode in the Redmi Note 8 Pro allows you to control exposure, white balance, focus and ISO — almost like in a SLR camera, which is especially useful in difficult lighting conditions or for shooting in RAW format (raw data from a matrix).
How to turn on and configure:
- Open the Camera app → swipe your finger to the left to Pro mode.
- Tap the icon ⚙️ in the top menu to unfold the sliders:
- Adjust the settings: 🔆 Exposure (EV): from -2.0 (darker) to +2.0 (lighter). For sunset, +0.7. ⚖️ White Balance (WB): select Daylight for natural colors or Incandescent lamp under artificial light. 📏 Focus: manually move the macro slider (from 0.05m to ∞ 📊: ISO: [PH007] Keep it 100-800 during the day and 800-3200 at night. Higher, too noisy.
Save the RAW
Pro
RAW vs JPEG: RAW files weigh ~50MB versus ~10MB in JPEG, but contain 4x more post-processing data. Use them if you plan to edit your photo in Lightroom or Snapseed.
Set ISO ≤ 800 in daylight |
Turn off digital zoom (use optical only)|
Check white balance with gray card |
Take a test frame and evaluate the histogram-->
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To quickly reset all settings in Pro-mode to default, tap the icon ⚙️ twice in the top menu.
3. Night photography: how to avoid blurring and noise
The night mode in the Redmi Note 8 Pro is multi-exposure (the smartphone takes several pictures and glues them together), but by default it often gives blurred frames or overlit areas. Here's how to fix this:
The best settings for night photography:
- 🌙 Enable Night Mode (Crescent icon in the camera menu).
- 🕒 Set shutter speed manually: 2–4 seconds for static objects (starry sky, architecture) or 1/4 seconds for moving (people, machines).
- 📱 Use a tripod or support, even a slight tremor of the hand will spoil the frame with prolonged exposure.
- 🔦 Turn off the flash (it spoils natural colors) and HDR (increases noise).
If your images are too dark, increase your ISO to 1600-2500, but not higher, otherwise you will see color noise. To reduce post-processing noise, use applications like Adobe Lightroom (Denoise tool) or Topaz Photo AI.
⚠️ Warning: When you shoot nighttime video in 4K, the smartphone overheats in 5-7 minutes of continuous recording. Watch the temperature through the Monitor CPU widget (available on Google Play). If the temperature exceeds 45 °C, the camera automatically shuts down.
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4. Video: 4K, stabilization and hidden chips
Redmi Note 8 Pro supports video in 4K@30fps and 1080p@60fps, but by default, stabilization is not working at full power. To prevent the video from shaking, turn on ultra-stabilization:
- Go to Video Mode.
- Slip on the icon ⚙️ → Stabilization → Ultrastabilization.
- For 4K video, turn off HDR (it adds artifacts as you move).
Hidden video functions:
- 🎬 Slow-mode: 120fps (720p) and 960fps (low resolution). For smooth slow-mo, shoot in bright light.
- 🔊 External microphone: connect the USB-C microphone (e.g., Boya BY-M1) via the adapter. Select External microphone in the video settings.
- 📊 Logarithmic profile: Activate MI LOG in the video settings for extended dynamic range (color correction required).
To edit video directly on your smartphone, use CapCut or KineMaster, which supports 4K processing without loss of quality. If the video breaks when you watch it on your PC, convert it to HandBrake with H.264 codec.
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For maximum stabilization, hold your smartphone with both hands, resting your elbows on the case. The alternative is to use an improvised tripod from a stack of books or a phone stand.
5. Correcting Camera Bugs Through Developer Settings
Some of the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s camera problems (such as slow focus or green) are solved through hidden Android settings to activate them:
- Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
- Tap the MIUI version 7 times until you become a developer!
- Return to the main Settings menu → Additionally. → For developers.
Useful options for the camera:
- 🔄 Debugging by USB → On (needed to connect to PC and manual firmware of the camera module).
- 📸 Do not save camera settings → Respond (so that parameters are not reset).
- 🔧 Background processes → set 4 processes (reduces the lags when shooting).
- 🎯 Disable hardware acceleration → Retraction (otherwise parts may be missing in RAW).
If the camera is “hanging” when shooting at 64 MP, try resetting its cache:
Settings → Applications → Application Management → Camera → Storage → Clear the cache⚠️ Warning: Do not enable the option of Simulating additional cameras in the developer settings, this will cause malfunctions in the main module, this feature is only for testing and can damage the firmware.
6.Camera optimization for social networks: Instagram, TikTok, Telegram
Photos and videos for social networks require a special approach: not only technical parameters, but also compliance with platform algorithms are important here: for example, Instagram compresses images with a resolution above 1080×1350, and TikTok better perceives videos with a bit rate of 8-12 Mbit / s.
Settings for Instagram:
- 📸 Photo: aspect ratio 4:5, resolution 1080×1350 (frame directly in the camera app).
- 🎥 Video: 1080p@30fps, bitrate 10 Mbit/s (configure in CapCut before exporting).
- 🎨 Color profile: disable HDR and AI-improvements - they spoil skin tones.
Settings for TikTok:
- 🎵 Sound: Record your voice separately via Dolby Atmos (includes in Settings → Sound).
- 🔄 Stabilization: Use Ultrastabilization + an external stabilizer (e.g. DJI Osmo Mobile).
- 📊 Format: 9:16 (vertical video), resolution 1080×1920.
For Telegram, you can download original files without compression: hold your finger on the send button → select File instead of Photo. This will save all metadata and quality.
7.Alternative cameras: GCam and other applications
The stock MIUI camera app doesn't always handle image processing. Many users install the Google Camera (GCam), a ported version of the Pixel camera that works better with HDR and nighttime shooting. However, the Redmi Note 8 Pro needs a special build.
How to install GCam:
- Download GCam 7.3 from Urnyx05 (tested for stability).
- Install. APK-file by allowing installation from unknown sources.
- In GCam settings, activate 🔘 HDR+ Enhanced (for better detail) 🔘 Night Sight (replaces the regular night mode) 🔘 Auxiliary cameras (for wide-angle module)
Pros of GCam:
- ✅ More natural color reproduction (without "acid" tones MIUI).
- ✅ Best detail in shadows.
- ✅ Less noise at high ISO.
Cons:
- ❌ No video support 4K (maximum 1080p).
- ❌ There are possible bugs with focus on secondary cameras.
Alternatives to GCam:
- 📷 Footage – for manual video settings (bitrate, color profiles).
- 🎥 Open Camera is open source, support RAW.
- 🔍 Manual Camera is an advanced tool for macro and long exposure.