Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is equipped with a quadruple camera with a separate macro lens, but many users do not know how to unleash its potential. This article will help you turn ordinary pictures into professional macro photos - with clear details, the right depth of field and bright colors.
We'll take a look at not only basic camera settings, but also advanced techniques, from choosing the right lighting to post-processing in apps, and you'll also learn which errors are most likely to spoil macro shots and how to avoid them.
Why Redmi Note 9 is a good place to shoot macro
The main camera Redmi Note 9 has a resolution of 48 MP, but for macro photography uses a separate 2-MP macro lens with a focal length of only 4 cm This allows you to photograph objects from a distance of 2-10 cm, maintaining the clarity of small details.
Key advantages:
- 🔍 Minimum focusing distance – you can shoot insects, tissue textures or microelectronics.
- 🎯 Autofocus (as opposed to fixed focus on many budget smartphones).
- 🌈 Color Transmission – Sony’s Matrix IMX586 (in the main chamber) provides saturated tones.
But there are limitations: the macro lens doesn't support HDR or Night Mode, so in low light, quality drops. But it's solvable, and we'll talk about that later.
Preparing the phone for shooting
Before you start shooting, follow these steps to avoid blurry or dark images:
Clean the lens of dust and fingerprints
Turn off digital zoom in camera settings
Set 48 MP resolution for the main camera
Include the grid (lines according to the rule of thirds) in Settings →
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Pay special attention to the purity of the lens. Even microscopic dust particles on a macro lens can create blurred spots in the photo. Use a microfiber wipe (for example, for glasses) and don't blow on the lens - saliva leaves greasy marks.
In the camera settings (Settings → Resolution), select 48 MP for the main camera, which will allow you to crop the frame without loss of quality if the macro lens can not cope with the detail. Also activate the grid, which will help you to correctly compositionally build the frame.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use cases with "protrusions" around the camera - they can block light or create glare when shooting from close range.
Selection of the object and composition of the frame
Not all objects look equally good in macro photography.
- 🐞 Insects (butterflies, ants, bees) – remove them in the morning when they are less active.
- 🌸 Flowers and plants – choose buds with textured petals (such as roses or cacti).
- 💎 Jewelry and minerals – will emphasize the shine and cut.
- 📱 Microelectronics – boards, connectors, chips (interesting for technical blogs).
The rule of composition is to place the main object not in the center, but at the intersection of the grid lines (the rule of thirds). For example, if you shoot a butterfly, its head should be in the upper third of the frame, and its wings should occupy the lower two thirds.
Avoid overloaded backgrounds. Macrographs emphasize background blur (boke), but if the background is too colorful (for example, grass with flowers), it will distract from the main object.
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So if you're going to take insects, you're going to use a lure, a drop of honey on a leaf, and the ants or the bees will stay a few seconds, and you'll have time to take pictures.
Camera settings for the perfect macro
In Redmi Note 9, macro photography is automatically turned on when approaching the subject, but manual settings will give the best result.
- Select Photo Mode (not Portrait or Professional).
- Hold the phone to the object 4-7 cm on the screen will appear Macro prompt.
- Tap the screen to fix the focus (a yellow square will appear).
- Adjust the exposure by shifting the brightness slider up/down.
Key settings for manual settings (Professional mode):
| Parameter | Recommended value | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| ISO | 100–400 | Higher values (800+) add to the noise. |
| Excerpt. | 1/200–1/500 | Short exposure will prevent blurring from shaking hands. |
| White balance | Car or daylight | Avoid the incandescent lamp - it gives a yellow tint. |
| Focus | Manual (MF) | Autofocus can “jump” when shooting from close range. |
⚠️ Warning: When shooting in Professional mode, turn off AI-camera – it automatically increases saturation, which can spoil the natural colors of macro objects.
Lighting: Natural vs Artificial
Natural light is the best choice for macro photography.
- 🌅 Golden Hour (first hour after sunrise or before sunset) – soft shadows.
- ☁️ Cloudy weather – scattered light without glare.
Remove objects against light (counterlight) to emphasize the texture (such as transparent dragonfly wings or villi on leaves).
If natural light is not enough, use artificial sources.
- 💡 Ring lamp – uniform lighting without shadows.
- 🔦 Phone flashlight - point at an angle of 45° object-bound.
- 📱 Flash is only a last resort, as it creates hard shadows.
Critical: When shooting insects or flowers, never direct light directly at an object, it will frighten a living being or create a light on the petals. Use reflected light (for example, from a white sheet of paper).
How do you do it? DIY-softbox
Post-processing: how to improve macrophoto
Even the perfect shot can be made better with editing.Recommended apps for Redmi Note 9:
- 📱 Snapseed – free, with Selective Correction and Sharp Tools.
- 🎨 Lightroom Mobile – Professional color correction.
- 🔍 AfterFocus – for background blur (imitation of bokeh).
Basic edits:
- Cut the frame to remove the extra elements at the edges.
- Increase Sharpness by 10-15% (no more, otherwise artifacts will appear).
- Adjust Shadows and Lights to work out the details.
- Reduce saturation by 5-10% – macro photos are often too bright.
For advanced processing in Lightroom, use Curves to give the image a volume, such as slightly darken the mid tones (RGB: 128) for contrast.
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Don't overuse filters! Macrophotos are valuable for their naturalness - just adjust the exposure and sharpness.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced photographers face typical problems when taking macro pictures on a smartphone, and here's how to solve them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Blurred image | Trembling of the hands or the wrong focus | Use a delay timer (2-3 seconds) or a tripod. |
| Dark photo | Lack of light or low exposure | Raise your ISO to 400 or use external light. |
| Overlights | Direct sunlight | Take a shadow or use a diffuser (such as fabric). |
| Wrong colors | The Wrong White Balance | Shoot in RAW format (in Professional mode). |
Another common mistake is to take pictures of moving objects (like bees in flight).
- Switch to Video and record, and then select the best shot.
- Use Sport mode (if available) to increase shutter speed.