Taking pictures of the moon on a smartphone is not an easy task, especially when it comes to shooting at night. Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi, POCO and Mi models, are equipped with powerful cameras, but without the right settings and technique, even flagship devices will give a blurred spot instead of a clear crater. The problem is that automatic modes can not cope with the contrast between the bright moon and the dark sky, and manual settings require understanding of exposure and focus.
In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions based on the features of Xiaomi cameras, including the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra and other models with telephoto lenses, we will discuss how to choose the optimal time for shooting, which parameters to set manually, and how to process the picture so that the moon is detailed, not a white spot. Without water, only proven tips and specific settings.
Why is the moon blurred or over-lit?
The main mistake when shooting the moon is trusting the automatic mode. Xiaomi camera tries to "average" exposure, which is why:
- 🌕 The moon turns into a white spot – the machine overstates the exposure to “light up” the dark sky, but overshadows the object itself.
- 📸 Focus floats – Autofocus cannot catch a distant object without contrasting boundaries.
- 🌌 There is noise and artifacts - high ISO In the dark, digital noise increases.
The second problem is the optical limitation: even with smartphones with a telephoto lens (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra with 5x optical zoom), the moon remains small in the frame. Without additional zoom (digital zoom or external optics), the details of the craters will be barely noticeable.
⚠️ Attention: Digital zoom from above 10x In most cases, Xiaomi results in a severe loss of quality. It is better to take a picture of the moon with minimal zoom, and then crop the frame in the editor.
Which Xiaomi models are better for shooting the moon?
Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally good for astrophotography, but the key options to look out for are:
| Model | Optical zoom | Matrix size | Night mode. | Suitability for the moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13 Ultra | 5x (periscope) | 1" (Sony IMX989) | Aye (with manual settings) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | 2x | 1/1.28" | Aye (basic) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| POCO F5 Pro | 2x | 1/1.28" | There (no manual settings) | ⭐⭐ |
| Xiaomi 12S Ultra | 5x (periscope) | 1" (Sony IMX989) | Aye (advanced) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
If your smartphone isn't on this list, it doesn't mean that shooting isn't possible, it just takes more effort in the post-processing phase, but it's about having a manual mode (Pro Mode) and being able to capture ISO, shutter speed and focus.
Optimal time and conditions for shooting
Even with the perfect camera settings, the result depends on external factors.
- 🌙 Moon phase: Best photographed during the first or last quarter - the shadows from craters create contrast. The full moon gives flat light, and the young month is too dim.
- ⏰ Time of day: Optimal - 1-2 hours after sunset or before dawn, when the moon is high above the horizon (less atmospheric distortions).
- 🌫️ Weather: Cloudy, haze or smog scatter light. Perfectly clear skies with minimal humidity.
- 🏙️ Location: In the city, light pollution clogs up the details of the moon.
A critical nuance for Xiaomi: the built-in HDR algorithm in night mode automatically activates in low light, but it is harmful to the moon - artificially shades bright areas. Turn off HDR manually before shooting.
💡
Use applications like PhotoPills or Stellarium to plan the position of the moon in the sky and avoid shooting through the atmosphere (below 30° above the horizon).
Step-by-step setting up Xiaomi camera for shooting the moon
Go to practice. Open the standard Camera app and follow the following steps:
- Activate Pro Mode: On most Xiaomi models, you need to swipe left on the screen or click on the PRO icon. If there is no mode, check the camera settings: Additional → Modes → Pro Mode.
Turn off all automatic assistants:
- 🔄 Turn it off. AI and HDR.
- 🌃 Turn off Night Mode (if it is on by default).
- Set the settings manually: ISO: 100–200 Shutter speed: 1/200–1/500 sec Focus: Infinity (∞) or manual focus White balance: 5000–5500K (daylight) Format: RAW (if supported)
If your model supports a telephoto lens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra), use it instead of the main camera. Digital zoom only apply to 10x - then the quality drops sharply.
AI and HDR| disabled
Selected Pro Mode|
ISO is not higher than 200 |
Hand-focus to infinity |
Phone fixed on tripod-->
⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 10 Pro and younger when aging shorter 1/1000 So, you can see purple edging around the edges of the moon. This is a processing defect -- try increasing the shutter speed to the edge of the moon. 1/500 downsize ISO before 100.
Secrets of stabilization: how to avoid lubrication
Even a slight tremor of the hands when shooting the moon causes blurring.
- 📱 Tripod: Required! You can even use a clamp mini-station. Alternatively, you can put your phone on a stable surface (e.g., a window sill).
- ⏱️ Timer or remote: Use a shooting delay (2-10 seconds) or Bluetooth remote to avoid vibrations when pressed on the screen.
- 🔇 Do Not Disturb Mode: Turn off notifications and vibrations - they can knock off focus.
- 🔋 Charging: Connect your phone to a power source – with a low battery charge, the camera can automatically reduce performance.
For models without an optical stabilizer (such as the POCO X3 Pro), try this trick:
- Enable 4K@30fps Video in manual mode.
- Record 5-10 seconds of video with the moon.
- Remove the clearest frame with the Frame Grabber app.
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The best results come from a combination: a tripod + timer + RAW-Even budget Xiaomi with these conditions will show details of craters.
Photo processing: how to "pull" the details of the moon
Raw images of the moon often look dull. Use these tools for post-processing:
| Problem. | Decision | Annex |
|---|---|---|
| The moon is too dark. | Increase exposure and contrast | Snapseed, Lightroom |
| Noise in dark areas | Apply noise cancellation | Topaz Denoise, Lightroom |
| Blurred edges | Increase sharpness with a mask | Photoshop Express |
| Purple artifacts | Color balance correction | VSCO, Lightroom |
Example of processing in Lightroom:
- Import. RAW-file.
- Increase the exposure by +0.5-1.0.
- Increase Contrast to +30 and Clarity to +20.
- In the Details section, apply Noise Reduction (luminescence: +30).
- Cut the frame so that the Moon occupies 70-80% of the area.
How to remove chromatic aberrations (purple edges)?
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced photographers make mistakes when shooting the moon on a smartphone.
- 📱 "Moon in the Fog: You shoot through a dirty lens. Wipe your camera with a microfiber before you shoot.
- 🌡️ "Spotted texture: Overheating of the matrix. Let the phone cool down 10-15 minutes before shooting.
- 🔍 "Impossible to focus": Autofocus can't handle a distant object. Switch to manual focus and set infinity (∞).
- 🌑 "Black Sky, White Moon: Too high contrast. Try shooting in the sky. RAW handcrafted.
Another common problem is automatic saving in JPEG, which compresses the image, losing detail. Always shoot in RAW if your Xiaomi model supports this format (check in the Pro Mode settings).