Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro deservedly considered one of the best mid-range devices of its time, largely due to the main module of the camera 64 MP. However, the standard camera application installed by the manufacturer, often does not reveal the full potential of the sensor Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1. Many users face overlights, insufficient detail in difficult lighting conditions and unnatural color reproduction, which is solved by competent tuning.
In this article, we will discuss not only the basic settings available to each owner, but also advanced methods, including the installation of alternative software. The maximum quality of images on this device is achieved only when using Google Camera (GCam) algorithms specially adapted for the GW1 sensor. You will learn how to manage exposure, use the hidden capabilities of the Snapdragon 720G processor and understand why automatic mode is often mistaken.
Before you get into the complex mod-setting manipulations, you need to understand the standard functionality. Understanding how HDR and night mode work in stock firmware will allow you to take quality pictures even without third-party software. We'll look at each parameter in detail so you can have full control of the photography process.
Basic optimization of stock application settings
The first step to quality photos is to go deep and revisit the standard settings. Go to the camera settings menu by clicking on the three bars in the upper right corner, and select Settings. Here are the key parameters that affect the final image. First of all, pay attention to the resolution: by default, the camera can shoot in 16 MP mode, combining pixels for better light sensitivity, but for landscapes and static objects, it is better to turn on 64 MP mode manually through the upper interface menu.
Pay special attention to HDR settings. In the Settings → HDR menu, it is recommended to choose Auto mode or force it to turn on for high contrast scenes. Xiaomi algorithms sometimes aggressively illuminate shadows, making the picture flat. If you see the sky becoming white and the shadows too light, try switching to manual mode or using third-party apps.
- 📸 Save format: Enable the option HEIF in settings to save disk space without loss of quality, or use RAW post-processing.
- 🔍 Focus: Make sure that the macro and portrait settings activate automatic focusing, not fixed focusing.
- ⚡ Shutter sound: Turn off the sound if you plan to take hidden pictures, although in some regions it is regulated by software.
Don't forget the framing grid. Include it in the Settings menu. → Grid. This will help you build a composition according to the rule of thirds, which will instantly improve the visual perception of your photos. The horizon should be flat, and the key objects should be located at the intersection of lines.
Installation and configuration of Google Camera (GCam)
The most effective way to radically improve the quality of photos on the Redmi Note 9 Pro is to install a ported version of Google Camera. Google's image processing algorithms, especially HDR+ and Night Sight, work much better than stock. The GW1 sensor has excellent compatibility with GCam mods, which allows you to squeeze out the maximum of dynamics and detail.
For installation, you will need to find the right one. APK-Best Stability on the Snapdragon Processor 720G The developers of BigKaka are showing versions (AGC), Shamim or Urnyx. Once you download the installer, run it and allow installation from unknown sources. After the first run, the application can suggest downloading the configuration file (XML), It is recommended to do this for the correct operation of all modules.
⚠️ Warning: Don't download GCam from Play Market - there's a version for Pixel that won't run on Xiaomi. Use only verified ports from sites 4PDA or Celso Azevedo.
After installation, go to GCam settings. Find the Advanced section and make sure you select the correct camera ID for the main module (usually 0 or 1, tested experimentally). Also in the HDR+ section, turn on HDR+ Enhanced mode for static scenes - this will give the best detail, although it will require holding the phone still for a couple of seconds.
☑️ Verification of GCam installation
Secrets of Professional Regime (Pro)
Pro mode in a standard app or GCam gives you complete control over exposure parameters. It is an indispensable tool for shooting in difficult conditions where automation passes. The main parameters here are ISO, shutter speed, white balance (WB) and focus (MF).
Use a tripod to capture a night city or starry sky. Set a minimum ISO (usually 50 or 100) to avoid digital noise. Shutter up to 1-4 seconds, depending on the lighting. White balance is best set manually by choosing a value in Kelvins so that the sky does not go purple or orange.
When shooting moving objects, such as children or animals, the action is reversed. You need to freeze the movement. Increase the ISO to 400-800 to make the matrix more sensitive, and reduce the shutter speed to 1/100 of a second or shorter. Focus in Pro mode is better switched to manual (MF), before sharpening the slider so that the camera does not try to refocus at the most inappropriate moment.
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To capture light traces from machines at night, use Pro: ISO 50, shutter speed 2-4 seconds, focus on infinity.
Comparison of stock camera and Google Camera
To understand the difference in processing approaches, let’s compare the performance of the standard MIUI Camera app with the ported GCam. The stock app is sharpened for brightness and saturation out of the box, which many users like, but often leads to loss of detail in the lights.
Google Camera, by contrast, is looking for realism and maximum dynamic range. HDR+ takes multiple images with different exposures and glues them together, keeping details in both shadows and bright areas, especially when shooting against light or in a room with a window.
| Parameter | MIUI stock camera | Google Camera (GCam) |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic range | Medium, possible lights. | Great, details in lights and shadows |
| Color rendering | Saturated, sometimes unnatural | Natural, close to reality |
| Night shooting | Good, but with a lot of noise. | Excellent (Night Sight) with minimal noise |
| Speed of operation | Fast, instant start. | Slower, it takes time to process. |
| Stability | Tall. | Depends on the fashion version. |
The choice between them depends on your goals. If you want to take a quick picture of a document or take a picture for yourself without processing, the stock camera will cope faster. For art photography, landscapes and night shots, GCam has no competitors on this device.
Use of macros and wide-angle lens
The Redmi Note 9 Pro features a 2MP macro camera module and an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens. The Macro camera is often criticized for its low resolution, but when approached correctly, it can produce interesting results. The main thing is perfect lighting. In low light, the macro mode focuses for a very long time or does not focus at all.
The Ultra Wide camera captures more space in the frame, which is great for architecture and landscapes, but it's worth remembering that it has a narrower aperture and a smaller pixel than the main module, so it's going to be great in the daytime, and in the evening, the quality will drop dramatically.
- 🌿 Macro tip: Get as close to the object as possible, but don’t force the macro mode to be turned on if the main lens can focus itself – it will give better detail.
- 🏞 Distortion: On a wide angle, you can see distortions along the edges of the frame. Try to keep the horizon strictly in the center or use a fix in the editor.
- 🔦 Light: For macro, use an external light or flash of another phone as the lens blocks natural light.
⚠️ Warning: Don't use digital zoom (crop) instead of optical.The quality of the 2x digital zoom on the Redmi Note 9 Pro is significantly inferior to the framing of the finished shot in the gallery.
Post-processing and editing of images
Even the best shot often requires minimal fine-tuning. The built-in MIUI editor offers basic tools: framing, filters, and simple light correction. However, for serious work, it is better to use third-party applications such as Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed.
When working with RAW-file (DNG), And you have a huge margin of safety that both the stock camera and the GCam can store, and you can pull the details out of deep shadows, or you can bring back the texture of clouds in the red-lighted sky, which is impossible to do with normal clouds. JPG. Work with curves and HSL-mixer.
Where to download presets for Lightroom?
Don't overdo it with filters. Excessive saturation and contrast can kill the naturalness of the photo. Try to make the edits invisible: add some clarity, slightly adjust the temperature and white balance — this is often enough for a great result.
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Shooting in RAW format + competent post-processing give a result comparable to photos on higher-level cameras.