How to use the Xiaomi 13 camera: from basic settings to professional tricks

Why Xiaomi 13 camera needs a separate manual

Xiaomi 13 is equipped with one of the most advanced camera systems on the market in 2026: a triple module with the main sensor Sony IMX800 50 MP, ultra-wide-angle lens and telephoto with 3.2x But even this kind of hardware doesn't guarantee perfect shots without the right settings. Many users miss out on up to 40 percent of the camera's capabilities, just not knowing the hidden modes and subtleties of Leica's processing algorithms.

This article isn’t about basic point-and-take, but how to make the most of the Xiaomi 13 in any environment, from street photography in bright sunshine to nightly bokeh portraits, and we’ll take a look at not only the obvious features like Night Mode or Portrait Lighting, but also the little-known tricks: How to turn off aggressive image processing, set up manual focus for macro, or why photos are in the HEIF They occupy 2 times less space without loss of quality.

We'll focus on the common mistakes that beginners make, like why you're shooting a video in the video. 8K The smartphone overheats in 5 minutes, or how to avoid the soapy effect in low-light photos. MIUI 14.0.5 (Android 13) - current at the time of publication.

Basic camera settings: what to change first

Before you dive into professional modes, optimize the basic settings. Go to the Camera app, swipe up to access the settings (icon) ⚙️) And pay attention to these points:

• 📸 File format: by default, Xiaomi 13 saves photos in the file HEIF (This format saves space, but it may not open on older devices. JPEG, If you want to share pictures without conversion.
• 🔄 Grid: Enable the Grid option 3×3 Or the golden ratio for the right composition, which is especially important for portraits and landscapes.
• 🎯 Autofocus: In Focus, activate Object Tracking – the camera will automatically stick to moving subjects (such as children or animals).
• 🌓 Exposure: Turn off the Auto-HDR, If you notice lights in the photos, you'd better use a handheld. HDR challenging.

Note the Watermark section. Xiaomi defaults to add Leica logo to the images, which spoils the composition. Turn off this option if you do not want to edit the photo before posting.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI some settings are missing (for example, Professional Mode), reset the camera settings through Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data. It'll bring all the parameters back to the factory without losing any photos.

Shooting Modes: When and How to Use Each

Xiaomi 13 offers 12 shooting modes, but most users are limited to Photo and Video, let’s analyze what each mode is for and how to use it correctly:

Special attention should be paid to Moving Photography mode (available in More → It creates a short video (3 seconds) before and after you pull down, so you can then choose the best shot, and it saves you when you're photographing active children or athletes.

Manual settings: ISO, Exposure and focus for the perfect shot

The Xiaomi 13 auto mode handles 80% of scenarios, but you will need to manually adjust for creative shooting. Go to Professional Mode (swipe sideways in the camera app) and notice these options:

• 📏 Shutter speed: controls the opening time of the shutter. To capture water (silk effect) set 1/4–2 For nightscapes — 10–30 seconds (mandatory tripod!).
• 🌡️ ISO: Sensor sensitivity: Minimum value (100) for daylight, 800-3200 for dusk. Above 6400, noise artifacts appear.
• 🎯 Focus: You can focus in manual mode up to 3 cm from the lens (macrography). Use a magnifier to fine-tune it.
• 🔄 White balance: Automation often fails in artificial lighting. For incandescent bulbs, choose 3200K, for LED — 5500K.

The critical feature of Xiaomi 13: with manual adjustment of the shutter speed more 1/4 It automatically activates Night Mode with multi-frame processing, which can lead to unexpected artifacts if you're shooting moving objects. To turn this off, go to the camera settings. → Additionally. → Turn off night optimization in Pro mode.

To capture the sky, use these parameters:

Regime: Professional


ISO: 3200–6400




Exposure: 20-30 seconds




Focus: ∞ (infinity)




White balance: 4000K




Format: RAW+JPEG

⚠️ Attention: When shooting in RAW file ~50MB each. Make sure there is enough space on the device, or use a memory card UFS 3.1 (Recommended model: SanDisk Extreme Pro).

Videotape: 8K, Stabilization and hidden restrictions

Xiaomi 13 Supports video recording in resolution up to 8K@24fps, But this regime has a number of limitations:

• 🔥 Overheating: during filming 8K Smartphone Heats Up to 45°C in 5-7 minutes. Use an external fan or cooling case.
• 💾 Storage: 1 minute 8K video ~600 MB. It takes an hour to shoot. ~36 GB of free space.
• 🎞️ Stabilization: in 8K Only electronic stabilization works (EIS), slicing off the edges of the frame 10%. For smooth video it is better to shoot in 4K@60fps hybridized (OIS+EIS).
• 🔊 Sound: Built-in microphone records stereo, but for professional sound, plug in an external microphone through USB-C (Recommended by Rode VideoMic NTG).

Slow-motion is available for shooting:

• 1080p@960fps — maximum deceleration, but the duration of the roller is limited 0.5 seconds (15 second-out).
• 720p@1920fps — even more slowing down, but with a strong loss of detail.

To avoid jerking during editing, activate the Record with pre-buffering in the video settings. The smartphone will constantly record the last 3 seconds in the buffer, allowing you to "wind" the video back after clicking on the record.

💡

To shoot from a drone or quadcopter, turn off Autofocus and set the focus to infinity (∞). This will prevent constant refocusing on moving objects.

Photo processing: how to correct shooting errors

Even with perfect settings, post-processing is sometimes required, and the Xiaomi 13 has a few tools built in to do this:

1. Photo Editor (available when viewing the photo) → Edit: — Curves: fine-tuning exposure, contrast and color balance. — Selective correction: changing the color of individual objects (for example, making the sky blue). — AI retouch: automatically removes wrinkles and skin defects in portraits.
2. Leica Authentic Look (in camera settings): Adds Leica's signature style with high contrast and saturated colors. Included separately for photos and videos.
3. Google Photos: If the built-in editor isn’t powerful enough, use Magic eraser to remove extra objects or Color accent to selectively color.

For processing RAW-File Recommended Applications:

• 📱 Lightroom Mobile (free with in-store purchases)
• 🖥️ Darktable (free analogue of Photoshop for PC)
• 🌐 Photoshop Express (simplified version for quick editing)

⚠️ Note: When exporting edited photos, choose the format JPEG with a quality of 90-100%. HEIF does not support layers and some effects, which will lead to loss of edits.

💡

Always save original photos before editing. In Google Photos settings, activate Create a copy when editing to avoid irrevocable changes.

Hidden functions and life hacks for experienced users

Some features of the Xiaomi 13 camera aren’t obvious or hidden in the depths of the menu:

• 🔍 Macro mode without loss of quality: in Professional mode, set the focus 3-5 cm from the lens and use an ultra-wide-angle camera!
• 🎭 Double exposure: Take two pictures (such as portrait and landscape), then select Overlay in the editor and adjust transparency.
• 📡 Remote shooting: connect headphones with control buttons – a brief press on the volume button will work as a shutter release.
• 🔄 Quick camera switching: Tap the screen twice to switch between the main and front camera (works even while recording video).

For shooting panoramas with movement (for example, rotation on 360)°):

1. Select Panorama mode.
2. Press the recording button and slowly rotate clockwise.
3. For smoothness, use a tripod with a rotating head.
4. The finished video can be exported in format MP4 or GIF.

If you need to shoot through glass (for example, in an aquarium or out of an airplane window), activate the option to remove glare in the camera settings. The algorithm will reduce reflections, but can add noise in dark areas.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even with the right settings, Xiaomi 13 users face typical problems.

If the Xiaomi 13 camera starts to “glutch” (close itself, does not save photos), follow the following steps:

1. Clear the app's cache: Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
2. Check the permissions: In the same settings, make sure the camera has access to storage, microphone, and location.
3. Update the firmware: go to Settings → About Phone → System Update.
4. Reset the camera settings: Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data (photos will not be deleted).

⚠️ Warning: If after the fall of the smartphone in the photos appeared purple spots or lines - this is a sign of damage to the matrix.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions