How to take a picture of the moon on Xiaomi: a full guide to settings

Many Xiaomi smartphone owners face the frustration of trying to capture the night sky: instead of a clear crater disk, a blurred white spot appears in the lens. The camera's standard automatic mode often fails to cope with the contrasting light of the moon against a dark background, overexposing the frame and losing surface details. However, MIUI and HyperOS hide powerful tools in their arsenal to turn your gadget into a full-fledged telescope for amateur astrophotography.

The secret is not only the telephoto lens, but the right use of manual exposure settings. The current flagships and even mid-range models from the Chinese brand are equipped with algorithms that can pull the texture of lunar regolith, if given the right commands. In this article, we will break down a step-by-step algorithm that will allow you to get a picture worthy of desktop wallpaper.

You don't need a tripod to start with, although it's desirable for maximum stability, but the key is understanding how the sensor works. The main mistake is to rely on artificial intelligence in automatic mode, which tries to brighten the moon by making it a flat circle. We need to do the opposite, darken the frame so that shadows and relief appear. Let's dive into the technical nuances of the tuning.

Preparation of equipment and timing

Before you get to the camera settings, you need to have the physical conditions to do a good job. Trembling hands are the biggest enemy of astrophotography, especially when you use maximum zoom, where any micro-movement lubricates the picture, and if you have the ability to elbow against a hard surface or use a mini-station, the result will be much sharper.

Also critical is the condition of the optics. Wipe the camera with a soft cloth, as even greasy fingerprints with a bright light source (which is the Moon) will create unnecessary glare and porridge in the frame. Choose when the satellite is high above the horizon to minimize the impact of atmospheric haze and city lights.

The battery charge should be taken into account, and using maximum zoom and high-brightness screens in the cold season can quickly drain the battery, and make sure you have at least 20-30% charge so that the shooting process does not stop at the most critical time.

• 🌙 Wipe the camera lens with a microfiber before shooting.
• 🌙 Find a high ground or open space without lights.
• 🌙 Use a timer or voice control to lower the shutter.
• 🌙 Turn off the flash, it is absolutely useless for shooting celestial bodies.

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Use headphones with a volume button like a shutter-release cable - this will eliminate the shaking of the smartphone at the time of pressing the screen.

Using the Pro mode for detailing

The most reliable way to get a high-quality shot is to switch to Pro (or Manual) mode in the Camera app, which is where you get full control of the sensor parameters, ignoring automatic scenarios that are often mistaken when shooting bright objects against a dark background.

First of all, you need to set an ISO value. To image the moon, it should be minimal — usually 50 or 100. High sensitivity will add digital noise and make the surface of the satellite grainy, depriving it of its natural texture. Low ISO will ensure the purity and depth of black in the surrounding space.

The next critical parameter is shutter speed (denoted by the letter S or T). Automation often puts shutter speeds around 1/100 or 1/200, which is a bit too high for a bright disk. Try setting the value in the range from 1/400 to 1/1000 seconds. The shorter shutter speed, the clearer the craters are, but the darker the frame becomes. Experiment until the disk is gray rather than white.

Focus must be manually (MF) directed, and the focus slider can be moved until the edges of the disc are as sharp as possible. Often, zooming in before setting the focus helps. Don't rely on autofocus, it can walk and defocus in the dark.

Zoom settings and stabilization

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, especially the Mi Ultra series or Xiaomi 13/14 Pro, have powerful telephoto lenses. However, even if you have a budget model, digital zoom combined with the right settings can give a surprising result. Try not to go beyond optical zoom (usually 2x, 3.2x or 5x), as digital zoom simply trims the matrix, degrades the quality.

If your smartphone supports Super Moon mode or has a special algorithm in More -> Long Shutter speed (although it is rarely needed for the Moon, it is better to use Pro), use it. However, the classic Pro mode gives more control. When using zoom above 10x, turn on the AI Camera function with caution: sometimes it overrips the edges, making craters unnatural.

Image stabilization (OIS) should be enabled, but remember that with very strong zoom (30x-50x), it can be delayed. Give the camera a couple of seconds after zooming so that the stabilization algorithms "grab" the object and stop pulling the picture.

For phones without optical zoom, it is recommended to use third-party apps from Google Play, such as Open Camera, which allow you to more flexibly manage digital crop and save pictures in RAW format for later processing.

Comparison of camera capabilities of different Xiaomi series

Not all of the Chinese giant's smartphones are equally good at night shooting: Flagship models feature larger sensors and better optics, giving them an edge in detail. Below is a table to help you understand what to expect from your device.

Owners of devices without a telephoto lens should not despair. Using Pro mode and setting a minimum ISO, you can get a clear, though not large, disk of the moon, which can then be framed in the editor. The quality of the source file in RAW will be much higher than that of a compressed JPEG from the machine.

Image processing: from a gray circle to a masterpiece

A snapshot is only half the success. A raw file (especially in RAW or DNG) often looks faded and gray. This is normal, since the sensor stores as much information as possible without aggressive processing. To unlock the potential of the frame, you will need an editor, such as Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile or Xiaomi's built-in editor.

First, increase contrast and clarity (Structure or Clarity), which will emphasize the boundaries of craters and seas. Then work with lights (Highlights) — reduce them to "pull" details in bright areas of the disk that may have lit up. Shadows can be slightly lowered, so that the background becomes deep black.

Don't over-saturate. The moon is monochrome, and adding color to it will make it unnaturally yellow or orange. Better add a little heat if you want to create an atmosphere, but keep balance. Sharpening at the very end and carefully so that there's no noise.

⚠️ Note: Avoid using filters «HDR» It's automatic when you're shooting the moon. HDR It tries to average brightness, which often leads to double contours or “halos” around the satellite, spoiling the image.

Frequent errors and troubleshooting

Even following the instructions, users may encounter problems. One of the most common is the inability to manually set the shutter speed. In some versions of the firmware, with AI enabled, the camera blocks manual settings. Solution: disable the AI and switch to Pro mode before pointing at the object.

Another problem is that focus is walking and not fixating, which happens when you try to focus on the dark sky near the moon, focus strictly on the edge of the lunar disk, where the contrast is highest, and if autofocus can't catch on, go to fully manual focus mode (MF) and spin the wheel until clarity is reached.

If the pictures are cloudy, check if the lens is foggy. A sharp exit from a warm room into the cold air causes condensation. Give the phone 5-10 minutes to lie in a case or just in your pocket to keep the temperature level. Also check the protective glass of the camera - cheap glasses often give a strong degradation of the image when zooming.

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The key to success is low ISO, short shutter speed and manual focus, and automation is your enemy.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to shoot the moon through a window glass. Any pollution, glare from room light and glass defects are guaranteed to spoil the frame, turning the satellite into a shapeless spot.

Additional Advice for Advanced

For those who want to go further, there is a method of shooting 4K or 8K video, followed by choosing the best shot. The video stream often has a lower frame shutter speed, allowing you to "freeze" atmospheric fluctuations. Choose the clearest frame from the video and save it as a photo.

It’s also worth trying out third-party apps that are sharpened for astrophotography, such as ProCam X or Manual Camera: DSLR. They can provide access to more subtle settings than the standard application, such as separate focus settings for different lenses.

Remember, atmospheric conditions play a huge role. In fog, rain or heavy clouds, even the most expensive Xiaomi 14 Ultra will not be able to penetrate the haze. Choose clear nights with good visibility of stars - this is the best indicator of atmospheric transparency.