How to set up the camera on Xiaomi Mi 10

Xiaomi Mi 10 has an outstanding photo module that, when properly approached, can compete with professional equipment. However, many owners use only a small part of the device’s capabilities, relying on standard automatic mode. Deep tuning allows you to unlock the potential of the 108-megapixel matrix and optical stabilization.

In this article, we'll explore not only the basics, but the hidden features that turn a normal shot into a work of art. You'll learn how to control exposure, adjust focus, and use manual modes for challenging shooting conditions. Understanding these processes is key to achieving consistently high results.

Basic calibration and interface preparation

Before you start complex experiments, you need to bring the basic settings to the optimal state. The standard image processing algorithm in the MIUI shell is often prone to oversaturation of colors, which is not always true, the first step is to turn off the unnecessary filters and adjust the framing grid.

Go to the camera settings menu by clicking on the three bars in the upper right corner, and select Settings. Here it is important to activate the grid display by selecting the 3x3 option, which will help you follow the rule of thirds and align the horizon when shooting architecture or landscapes.

Also worth paying attention to the AI Image Improvement feature. While it is useful for fast food or plant photography, in professional scenarios it is better to turn it off to avoid unnatural post-processing.

• 📸 Open the camera app and go to the settings menu via the gear icon.
• 📐 Enable the display of the framing grid for the composition.
• 🤖 Turn off or adjust the sensitivity AI-natural-flower scenes.
• 💾 Make sure that the format of the save is set to JPEG High quality or RAW.

Don't ignore cleaning your lenses before you shoot. Fat finger marks create a soapy image and glare from light sources that you can't programmatically remove. Rub the lens with a soft cloth in front of every important shot.

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Use a microfiber to wipe the lens, as paper wipes can leave small villi and scratches on the oleophobic lens coating.

Setting up the resolution and the aspect ratio

One of the main features of the Xiaomi Mi 10 is the Samsung HMX sensor with a resolution of 108 MP. By default, the camera uses pixel binning technology, combining 9 neighboring points into one, which gives the output a 12 MP shot with excellent light sensitivity. However, for maximum detail, you need to manually switch to 108 MP mode.

For landscape photography, where every detail is important, switching to full resolution is justified. However, remember that this mode does not work with finger zooming and some artificial intelligence functions. Files take up much more space, so keep an eye on the free space in memory.

The aspect ratio also affects the final image. The standard is 4:3, which uses the entire matrix area. 16:9 just cuts the top and bottom of the frame, which is convenient for viewing on smartphone screens, but reduces the number of captured pixels.

⚠️ Attention: 108MP is only available in the standard Photo mode. In Portrait mode or Night mode, the maximum resolution is automatically reduced to 12MP for the algorithms to work correctly.

Let’s look at the main differences in the formats of shooting:

Choosing the right format is a trade-off between quality and speed. For social media, 12 MP is enough, whereas for printing or cropping, it is better to use the full potential of the matrix.

Manual exposure and white balance settings

Camera automation often misfires in difficult light conditions, making the shot too dark or overexposed. The Xiaomi camera app has a handy quick correction slider. When you tap the screen to focus, you'll see a sun slider next to the focus square.

By moving it upwards, you increase exposure by making the frame lighter, which is useful in counterlight. By lowering the slider, you can keep the details in bright areas, like when you're shooting a sunset or a sky, and it's the fastest way to influence the final image without going to complex menus.

To do more fine-tuning, you need a manual settings mode (slider icon) that you can record shutter speed and ISO. Long exposure allows you to shoot (cityscapes at night) without noise, but requires a tripod; short shutter speed freezes motion, which is ideal for shooting sports or children.

White balance (WB) is responsible for color temperature. Automotive can turn yellow in artificial light or blue in the shade. Manually putting a value in Kelvin, you achieve neutral white. For daylight it is about 5500K, for incandescent lamps it is 2800-3200K.

• ☀️ Use short exposures (1/500 and shorter) for the survey of moving objects.
• 🌙 Long exposures (1/10 and longer) require the immobility of the camera or tripod.
• 🎨 Adjust white balance if the colors on the screen are different from reality.
• 🔒 Fix it. ISO minimally (50-100) for the absence of digital noise.

Experiment with these parameters in static conditions to understand the logic of their work. Understanding the relationship between ISO, shutter speed and aperture (which is fixed in a smartphone) is the basis of photographic skill.

Use of Pro mode and RAW format

For those who plan to process photos in Lightroom or Photoshop, RAW (DNG) will be an indispensable tool, which stores all the information from the matrix without compression and the use of improvement algorithms, giving a huge freedom in post-processing.

To activate shooting in RAW, go to Pro mode (Professional) and in the top panel find the RAW icon. Unlike JPEG, RAW files have less contrast and saturation immediately after shooting, but allow you to pull out details from deep shadows and lights that in JPEG would be lost forever.

In Pro mode, manual focusing is also available. Slider switching to mode. MF (Manual Focus, you can sharpen the infinity for landscapes or macro objects, which is especially useful with an ultra-wide-angle camera that can focus from very close range.

⚠️ Attention: Files RAW occupy 5-10 more space than usual JPEG. Before a long photo shoot in this format, make sure that your Xiaomi Mi is on the same page. 10 free-memory.

Working with RAW requires color correction skills. If you don’t plan to process pictures on a computer or tablet, it’s better to stay in the JPEG High Quality format, since the built-in Snapdragon image processor does the job perfectly.

Specificity of portrait mode and zooming

Portrait mode on Xiaomi Mi 10 uses telephoto lens data and background blurring algorithms. For best results, the distance to the subject should be between 0.5 and 2 meters. When shooting indoors, there is often a focusing error if the object is too close.

It's important to keep an eye on the face. Portrait mode works best in good, uniform light. In low light, noise reduction can eat away at the texture of the skin, making the face plastic. Use natural light from the window or soft diffuse light.

The 2x optical zoom on the main camera delivers excellent quality without losing detail. Digital zoom (10x, 30x, 50x) works by cropping the matrix and software interpolation. Quality at zoom above 10x drops sharply, and it only makes sense to use it in extreme cases.

• 👤 Watch the contours of the object: the algorithm can be mistaken with complex edges (hair, glasses).
• 💡 Avoid taking portraits against a bright light source.
• 🔍 Use it. 2x zoom for classic portrait focal length.
• 🚫 Don't rely on zoom above. 10x for important personnel due to loss of sharpness.

For group portraits, it is better to switch to the main camera (1x) or ultra-wide so that all participants are in the frame and are in focus.The wide-angle portrait mode works worse due to distortions at the edges of the frame.

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The optimal distance for portrait mode on Xiaomi Mi 10 is 1-1.5 meters. Closer - the risk of defocus, then - the algorithm will not be able to qualitatively separate the background.

Low-light shooting

Night shooting is a scenario where the Xiaomi Mi 10 shows its best sides thanks to optical stabilization (OIS) and a large sensor.The built-in Night mode takes a series of images with different exposures and glues them into a single frame, removing noise and increasing detail.

When using night mode, it is important to keep the phone still for 2-4 seconds while processing is underway. If the hands are shaking, the final image can be blurred. In extremely dark conditions, it is better to use a tripod or elbow against a hard surface.

There's also Long Exposure in the add-on menu, which turns moving objects (cars, people) into blurry plumes, leaving the static background clear, a creative tool that requires a smartphone to be fixed.

Remember to wipe the camera before you shoot at night. Any contamination on the lens in the dark turns into bright, ugly glare from streetlights that can't be removed with a retouch.

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To shoot light tracks from cars at night, use a tripod, Long Shutter speed mode and set the ISO to a minimum, and shutter speed for 2-4 seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)