How to take pictures on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: a complete guide from settings to shooting

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is still one of the most popular smartphones among amateur photographers due to its 64-megapixel main camera and flexible settings. However, even with this hardware, quality images are not obtained by everyone.

This article is not just a collection of tips, but a step-by-step algorithm that will help you squeeze the most out of the camera of your Redmi Note 8 Pro. We will learn how to adjust the settings of shooting manually, which modes to use for portraits, landscapes or night shots, and how to avoid the typical mistakes that make photos blurry or noisy. And you will learn which post-processing applications will best complement the capabilities of a standard camera. MIUI.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned user, after reading this article, your photos will stop looking like random shots and turn into conscious, thoughtful shots. Ready to start?

1. Basic camera settings: what to change immediately after purchase

The standard Redmi Note 8 Pro camera settings are designed for the average user, but they are not always optimal. The first thing to do is to disable automatic β€œimprovements” that often spoil the naturalness of the shots. AI-The camera can over-saturate colors or smooth out textures, making the faces look plastic.

How to fix it:

  • πŸ“± Open the Camera app and tap on the icon βš™οΈ Settings in upper right corner.
  • 🎨 In the section AI-Select Off or Scene Recognition Only (to avoid aggressive processing).
  • πŸ” Turn off the car.-HDR Use it only in bright sun or contrasting light.
  • πŸ“ Set the 4:3 aspect ratio instead of 16:9, so the frame will contain more details.

Another important thing is the resolution of the images. By default, the camera saves photos at 16 MP (pixels combine for better light transfer), but in good lighting, you can switch to full 64 MP.

  1. In the camera settings, select Resolution.
  2. Activate the 64 MP option (only when there is sufficient light).

⚠️ Attention: 64 MP photos take up 4 times more space (up to 20-30 MB per frame). Use this mode only for really important shots or subsequent cropping.

πŸ“Š What is the resolution you usually use on the Redmi Note 8 Pro?
16 MP (default)
64 MP (maximum)
Depends on the conditions.
I don't know what it is.

2. Shooting modes: which to choose for different scenes

The Redmi Note 8 Pro offers more than 10 shooting modes, but most users are limited to automatic, while choosing the right mode can dramatically improve the result.

Regime.What's the point?When Not to Use
Photo (Auto)Fast daytime shooting, universal modeIn low light, for portraits or macro
PortraitPhotographing people with a blurred background (bokeh effect)If the object is moving or there are too many details in the background
Night mode.Low light photo (evening, street, room)For moving objects (there will be blurring)
ProfessionalManual ISO setting, shutter speed, white balanceIf you don’t know the picture (you can ruin the picture)
MacroShooting small objects from a distance of 2-5 cmWith wind or trembling hands (a tripod is needed)

The night mode is particularly noteworthy. Unlike many budget smartphones, the Redmi Note 8 Pro handles dark scenes pretty well, but there are nuances:

  • πŸŒƒ Night mode only works when the camera is completely still, and even a slight tremor of the hands will lead to blurring.
  • ⏱️ Exposure time can be up to 4-6 seconds – use a tripod or support.
  • πŸ’‘ If the frame has light sources (lights, screen), the mode is easier to β€œpull out” details.

πŸ’‘

To enable night mode manually (if it is not activated automatically), tap the icon. πŸŒ™ in the top menu of the camera and hold the smartphone still until the end of the shooting.

3. Manual settings: how to manage ISO, focus and exposure

The Pro mode in the Redmi Note 8 Pro allows you to manually control key parameters of shooting, which is especially useful in difficult conditions, for example, when shooting against the sun or in an artificially lit room.

  • πŸ“Έ ISO β€” The higher the value, the brighter the frame, but the more noise. Optimal range: 100-800.
  • ⏳ Shutter speed is the time the shutter opens. 1/1000–1/500, dusk β€” 1/30–1/4.
  • 🎯 Focus - manually adjust sharpness if autofocus "misses." Useful for macro or portraits.
  • πŸ”† White balance, which corrects color temperature, so for example, an incandescent lamp will remove the yellowness in the room.
  • πŸ“ Exposure is the brightness of the frames. If the photo is too dark, increase the value by +0.3–+1.0.

Example of settings for different scenes:

πŸŒ… Landscape by day:




ISO: 100




Excerpt: 1/500




Focus: Auto (or Infinity)




White Balance: The Sun





πŸŒƒ Night City:




ISO: 800–1600




Excerpt: 1/4-2”




Focus: Manual (on the brightest object)




White balance: Auto





πŸ‘€ Portrait under artificial light:




ISO: 200–400




Excerpt: 1/60




Focus: Hand (into the eyes)




White balance: Incandescent lamp

⚠️ Attention: When manually adjusting shutter speeds longer 1/30 For a second, make sure to use a tripod or a steady support, even a microscopic tremor of the hands will lead to lubrication».

Disable stabilization (if you use a tripod)

Set the minimum ISO conditionality

Check the white balance (take a test shot)

Focus on the main object

Disable digital zoom (use only optical zoom)-->

4.Portrait Shooting: How to Get an Effect DSLR-camera

Portraits are one of the most sought-after mobile photography genres. The Redmi Note 8 Pro does a good job of doing them, but for a truly professional result, you need to consider a few things:

First, background: Bokeh works best when the background is 1.5 to 2 meters away from the object; avoid colorful or too contrasting backgrounds, which are distracting; second, lighting; the ideal option is soft diffuse light (such as in the shade of trees or by the window); direct sun creates hard shadows; and incandescent lamps add unwanted yellowness.

Settings for the portrait:

  • πŸ‘οΈ Use Portrait Mode and manually specify blur boundaries (touch the screen and hold it so that the slider appears).
  • πŸ“ Distance to the object: 1-1.5 meters (closer - distortion, then - weak bokeh).
  • πŸ”¦ Enable Face Lighting in Portrait Mode Settings (if shooting against light).
  • 🎭 Ask the model to turn his head slightly, so the light falls more advantageously.

If you want to take a picture of a group of people, switch to normal Photo mode and use serial photography (hold down the down button), so you are guaranteed to get at least one shot where everyone blinks in sync.

How to remove the effect of β€œplastic face” in portrait mode?
In camera settings (βš™οΈ β†’ Portrait β†’ Beauty effects) turn off Skin smoothing and Eye enlargement. If you want to keep background blur but remove facial treatment, take a photo in Professional mode with an open diaphragm (below). ISO shorter shutter speed and add blur later in Snapseed or Lightroom.

5. Macrographing: How to Photograph Small Objects

The fourth camera in the Redmi Note 8 Pro is a 2-cm macro lens that allows you to capture small details (insects, textures, jewelry), but requires special technology. The main problem is depth of field: at this approach, even minimal movement leads to blurring.

Tips for macro photography:

  • 🐞 Use natural light – the flash will create hard shadows and β€œknock out” details.
  • πŸ“± Keep your smartphone parallel to the object to avoid distortions of perspective.
  • πŸŒ€ Turn on Manual Focus in Macro Mode and adjust sharpness more accurately.
  • 🌬️ Shooting outside in windless weather or use wind protection (for example, your body).

If your hands are shaking, try this life hack: elbows on the table or knees, and descent with a timer (delay 3 or 10 seconds) or a voice command ("Take photos"), which will help to avoid "wisps" when you press the screen.

⚠️ Attention: The Redmi Note 8 Pro has a fixed focal length. If you hold the camera closer than 2 cm, it won't focus. The optimal distance is 2-5 cm.

6 Post-processing: the best photo editing apps

Even a perfectly shot photo can be improved with post-processing. MIUI It offers basic tools (pruning, brightness, contrast), but for serious work, it is better to use specialized applications.-5 Solutions for Redmi Note 8 Pro:

AnnexWhat's the point?PlusesCons
SnapseedFine color correction, retouch, masksFree, no advertising, saves EXIFDifficult for beginners
Lightroom MobileProfessional processing, presetsSynchronization with the desktop versionSome functions are paid
VSCOStylish filters, minimalist editsNatural tones, convenient interfaceFree filters are limited
PicsArtCollages, effects, background replacementLots of tools for creativityOverloaded with advertising
Google PhotoAutomatic improvement, archivingFree Cloud, Smart SearchLimited manual settings

To start with, we recommend you try out Snapseed, which is free and covers 90% of tasks, for example, to remove noise from a photo taken at a high level. ISO:

  1. Open the photo in Snapseed and select the Details tool.
  2. Reduce the Noise parameter by 20-30%.
  3. Add a little Sharpness (10-15%) to make up for the loss of detail.

If you're filming in RAW (Available in Professional mode, process such files in Lightroom - there are more opportunities to work with color and exposure.

πŸ’‘

Always save the original photos before processing (βš™οΈ β†’ Save) turn on the option to Save originals to be able to return the original version.

7.Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that spoil the frame, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

  • πŸ“Έ Dirty lens is the most common, but common, problem. Before shooting, wipe the camera with a soft cloth (not paper!). Fat spots and dust create blur and glare.
  • 🌑️ Lights: when part of the frame is completely white (such as the sky or lamp). HDR Reduce exposure manually.
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Uneven horizon - sloping lines spoil the composition (βš™οΈ β†’ Grid. β†’ 3Γ—3).
  • πŸ‘» Noise in the photo appears at high ISO Or low light. Use a tripod whenever possible and lower it. ISO.
  • 🎭 Unnatural colors are often wine. AI-Turn it off or adjust the white balance manually.

Another common mistake is using digital zoom. Optical zoom in the Redmi Note 8 Pro is limited. 2x, And all the above is software zoom, which is a big quality magnification, so if you want to zoom in, you better get closer or shoot the frame at maximum resolution, and then cut it in the editor.

Finally, don’t ignore the format. HEIF. In camera settings (βš™οΈ β†’ Photo format can be selected HEIF instead JPEG. This format takes up 2 times less space at the same quality, but not all devices and social networks support it. VK, better stay on JPEG.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

πŸ“± Why the Redmi Note 8 Pro is a blur?
There are several reasons: Trembling hands – use a short shutter speed (1/250 Or a tripod. Wrong focus: touch the screen where the sharp object should be. Dirty lens, wipe the camera. Poor lighting, turn on Night Mode or use an external light source. If the blur only appears when approaching, check if digital zoom is turned on.
πŸŒƒ How to shoot video at night on Redmi Note 8 Pro?
Night video is a weak spot on your smartphone. To improve your score, use an external light source (lightlightlight, streetlight). 4K@30fps β€” less noise than in 1080p. Lock your smartphone on a tripod or a support. Manually install it. ISO higher 1600, Otherwise, the video will be in the snow. Use CapCut or KineMaster to edit it, and there are tools to reduce noise.
πŸ”§ Can I install GCam on the Redmi Note 8 Pro?
Google Camera (GCam) can improve photo processing, especially in mode HDR+ However: You need the correct version of GCam (e.g. from the BSG or Urnyx05). Not all functions will work (e.g. macro or ultra-wide camera portrait), focus or overheating bugs, and you can download GCam on forums. XDA Developers or 4PDA (Find out more about the Redmi Note 8 Pro).
πŸ“Έ How to make a bokeh effect on any camera (not just the main camera)?
Bokeh is best done on the main camera in Portrait mode, but if you need to simulate it on an ultra-wide or macro camera: Take a photo in Professional mode with the maximum open aperture (below). ISO, Take the photo to Snapseed or Lightroom. Use the Blurr or Mask tool to manually blur the background while keeping sharpness on the main subject. For realistic effects, blur the background gradually, rather than evenly.
πŸ”‹ Why does the camera warm up during long shooting?
Redmi Note Camera Overheating 8 Pro is a well-known problem, especially when shooting videos in 4K or 60fps. Using Night Mode or Pro mode with long shutter speed. Running multiple applications in the background (for example, a navigator) + To avoid overheating: Close all unnecessary apps before shooting. Remove the case (it reduces heat output). Use modes 1080p@30fps Let's get the camera to rest every time. 15–20 minute-long.