How to set up Xiaomi camera for professional shots

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are equipped with powerful sensors that can compete with semi-professional SLRs. However, out of the box, the software often runs in "safe" mode, smoothing out details without revealing the real potential of optics. Users who just open the application and shoot lose up to 40% of the quality that a lens could give.

To get juicy, detailed shots and a blurry background without unnecessary artifacts, you need to manually intervene in the work of algorithms. In this article, we will discuss how to turn your smartphone into a creative tool using hidden settings and professional shooting modes.

Basic settings of the Camera application

The first thing to start with is to log into the expanded settings menu, and to do that, open the standard Camera app and click on the three horizontal bars at the top right of the screen. In the menu that opens, select the Settings gear, and that's where the key switches that affect the final image are hidden.

Note the item "Save the original photo." If this feature is active, the smartphone will save two files: one processed by the MIUI algorithms, and the second - a "raw" image from the sensor without retouching and noise reduction, which is critical for those who plan to further processing in Lightroom or VSCO.

• 📸 Enable "Save the original photo" for maximum quality.
• 📐 Activate the "Grid" to build a composition according to the rule of thirds.
• 🔊 Turn off the shutter sound if you plan to shoot in quiet places.

Also, the basic settings often have "Improving" or "AI Magic" in them, and it automatically tweaks the saturation and contrast, making the photo brighter, but sometimes unnatural. This can be useful for landscapes, but for portraits, it's better to use manual control.

⚠️ Note: When you turn on the option to save the original photo, the amount of memory occupied doubles. Make sure that your device has enough free space or configured sync with the cloud.

Remember to check the resolution of the video recording periodically. By default, the system can set 1080p to save space, whereas your Xiaomi is able to write in 4K at 30 fps or even 60 fps. This change dramatically affects the clarity of detail when playing on large screens.

Mastering Pro-mode for manual control

For those who want to have full control of the shooting process, there is a Pro mode that allows you to ignore automatic algorithms and self-expose exposure, focus and white balance, and you can switch to this mode through the top menu of scene selection.

The key here is ISO, sensor sensitivity. The lower the ISO (e.g., 50 or 100), the cleaner the picture and less digital noise. However, low ISO requires more light. If you shoot outside during the day, set the minimum value for perfect detail.

Shutter speed (denoted as S or T) regulates the time during which light hits the matrix. Short shutter speed (1/1000) "freezes" movement, and long (1/2 or more) creates a lubrication effect, which is useful for shooting flowing water or light traces at night.

• ⏱ Short exposure for shooting sports and children.
• 🌊 Long exposure for art landscapes with tripod.
• ☀️ Low. ISO noise-free daytime.

White balance (WB) allows you to adjust the color temperature of the frame. If the photo is too blue or yellow, it is difficult to fix it quickly in automatic mode. In Pro mode, you can manually set the value in Kelvins so that the colors look natural in any light.

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Use your Pro histogram to control your exposure. If you're left-shifted, you're dark, you're right overlit, and you're perfect for a uniform distribution without cutting edges.

Don't be afraid to experiment with focusing. By switching focus to manual mode (MF), you can achieve macro-imaging effects even on conventional lenses by bringing the camera close to the subject, which opens up opportunities for taking pictures of textures, insects and fine detail.

Setting up night shooting and HDR

Night photography on Xiaomi smartphones has become a benchmark thanks to Night mode. However, to work properly, you need to understand the principle of operation: the camera takes a series of images with different exposures and glues them into a single frame, to do this, the phone must remain stationary for a few seconds.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) also works on a similar principle, but is designed for high contrast scenes, such as when you shoot a person in a bright sky. Turn on HDR automatically or forcefully to save details in both shadows and lights.

It's important to understand the difference between digital and optical zoom. At night, digital zoom (the pinch approach) severely degrades quality by adding porridge from noise. It's better to take a shot at a wide angle and then frame it when editing, the result will be cleaner.

⚠️ Warning: When using long shutter speed night mode, don't touch your smartphone and avoid floor vibrations.Even a microshift can lubricate the entire frame as it takes seconds to shoot.

Some Xiaomi models have a special Starry Sky mode or the ability to manually set the shutter speed in Pro mode for 30 seconds, which allows you to capture the Milky Way, which is not visible to the human eye.

Working with portrait mode and blur

Portrait mode uses telephoto lens data or artificial intelligence algorithms to create a bokeh effect, so you have to keep your distance to make the result look professional rather than a cheap software mask.

The optimal distance to the subject is usually 1 to 2 meters. If you get too close, the system can lose the boundaries of the subject and begin to blur the ears or hair. If you move too far, the blurring effect will barely be noticeable.

• 👤 Watch the focus: the yellow frame should clearly cover the face.
• 💡 Use natural light or a light source from the front/side.
• 🎨 Adjust the blurring degree with the "f" slider before or after shooting.

The newer versions of MIUI have the ability to change the blur after the photo is taken, so open the image in the gallery, click "Change" and find the Portrait tool, where you can move the slider, changing the virtual aperture.

It's also worth experimenting with studio lights that are simulated software, and modes like Contour Light or Stage Light can add drama, but often look unnatural, and for everyday photos, it's better to use the standard mode with moderate blur.

Secrets of video shooting on Xiaomi

Xiaomi's smartphone video capabilities are often underrated. In addition to standard resolution, there are stabilization and slow motion features. Electronic stabilization is critical for vlogs and dynamic scenes, which trims the edges of the frame but makes the picture smooth.

When shooting in 4K, make sure that HEVC (H.265) mode is enabled in the video settings if your phone supports it.This is a modern codec that delivers high quality with a smaller file size compared to traditional H.264.

Slow Motion is available at 120 or 240 frames per second. Remember that the sound in these videos is often not recorded or recorded separately, and then synchronized. For best results, use good lighting, because at a high frame rate, the matrix receives less light.

⚠️ Note: When shooting a video in 4K/60fps If the device overheats, the recording will automatically stop. Remove the protective case for better heat removal during long recording.

To create timelapses, use the built-in Timelapse mode, the phone will take a series of snapshots at a given interval and glue them together into video, ideal for capturing clouds, sunsets or busy traffic.

Utilities and additional tools

Xiaomi’s camera has a lot of built-in utilities that are often ignored, such as Documents, which automatically aligns the perspective of a piece of paper taken and improves text readability by removing shadows.

Clone mode allows you to create funny photos where the same person is captured in different places in the frame, the camera takes a series of pictures and glues them together, keeping them still, this requires a tripod or a very hard hand.

For macro enthusiasts, some models have a separate mode or the ability to switch to an ultra-wide-angle camera from close range (2-4 cm), which allows you to see the world of insects and textures in detail that is not available to the ordinary eye.

• 📄 Documents mode for scanning checks and papers.
• 👯 Clone mode for creative group photos with yourself.
• 🔍 Macromode for shooting small objects close-up.

Also worth mentioning is the Long Exposure feature in the add-on menu, which allows you to take photos of flowing water, turning it into a smooth white veil, or blur the movement of people in the frame, leaving buildings clear.

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Built-in filters and effects are not just toys, they're powerful tools for quick processing. Try using the Logarithmic filter in Pro mode for color correction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)