Introduction: Is it possible?
Have you ever tried to capture the starry sky on a smartphone, but only got blurry dots on a black background? With the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, this is real - despite the camera's modest by modern standards (the 48MP core module with an aperture of f/1.8). The key to success is the right settings, stabilization and understanding of the limitations of the device.
This article isn't about the "perfect" shots for National Geographic, but about how to maximize the potential of your Redmi Note 7 in the night.
- 🔧 Camera settings you've never used
- 📱 Applications replacing the regular “Pro-regime"
- 🌌 Technological tricks to reduce noise
- ⚡ A process that will save even a failed frame
Spoiler: Without a tripod or improvised support (like a stack of books), it's almost impossible to get quality images -- the Redmi Note 7 sensor is too small for long shutter speed manual photography.
1.Preparation of the phone: what to do before shooting
The first rule of night photography is that 90% of success depends on preparation.
Clean the camera lens (dust and fingerprints spoil the frame)
Charge your phone at least 70% (cold quickly puts the battery down)
Turn off mobile internet and Wi-Fi (background processes interfere with processing)
Install the application for manual settings (if you plan to use Pro mode)
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Pay special attention to cleaning the lens. Even the microscopic dust particles on the wide-angle module of the Redmi Note 7 will turn into blurry circles at long exposure, which can not be removed in the editor. Use a microfibre wipe (not paper!) and isopropyl alcohol for degreasing.
Also check the space available on the phone. RAW (more on that later) takes up to 25MB per frame. A series of 20 shots will require ~500MB of free space to be stacked.
⚠️ Warning: If the air temperature is lower +10°C, Redmi Note 7 can automatically shut down during long shooting. Before going outside, put your phone in your inner jacket pocket to warm up.
2. Camera settings: hidden capabilities of the full-time application
The regular MIUI camera app on the Redmi Note 7 hides some useful features for night photography.
- Night Mode: Switch to Night Mode, which automatically takes a series of different exposures and combines them. Importantly, keep your phone still for 3-5 seconds while you're processing, and even a slight shaking of your hand will ruin the result.
- Manual settings (Pro-mode): Go to More → Pro mode. You can manually set it here: 🔘 Shutter speed: maximum possible on the Redmi Note 7 - 32 seconds (but really useful range - up to 10 seconds, then too much noise). 🔘 ISO: Don’t bet above 1600 – this phone has more noise than light. 🔘 Focus: Put it in mode MF (hand-held) and set on ∞ (Autofocus doesn't work well at night.
Experiment with white balance (WB). The best value for the starry sky is 4000K (incandescent lamps), which gives cold tones a natural hue.
Automatic Night.
Pro-mode with manual settings
Third-party applications (GCam, NightCap, etc.)
I don't take pictures at night.-->
| Parameter | Recommended value | What happens if you overdo it? |
|---|---|---|
| Excerpt. | 4-8 seconds | Stars will turn into stripes due to the rotation of the Earth |
| ISO | 800-1600 | Colored noises (purple and green dots) will appear |
| Focus | ∞ (infinity) | Blurred dots instead of clear stars |
| Format | RAW (if any) | JPEG loses parts in post-processing |
3. Star photography apps: Which is better than GCam?
The MIUI is a limited camera, and for serious astrophotography on the Redmi Note 7, it is worth trying out alternative applications:
- 📸 Google Camera (GCam) with a modification BSG or Urnyx05: These ports add Astrophotography mode, which is not in the original firmware. 4PDA (Find out more about GCam for Redmi Note 7). After installation: Select Night mode. Point your phone to the sky and wait for the words "Astrophotography mode on" (appears automatically). 4-5 minutes, the app will make up to 200 And combine them.
- 🌙 NightCap Camera (paid, but there is trial): Specialized in night shooting. There are Star Trails (star trail) and Light Boost (light amplification). Minus - not all functions work on Xiaomi due to the processing features of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660.
- 🔭 Camera FV-5: For advanced users, it allows you to save in RAW, adjust exposure and use bracketing (series of images with different exposures).
- Noise suppression: 🔘 Tab Detailing → Noise: Smoothing 60, Detailing 30 🔘 Scale it up to 100 percent and see if the stars are blurry. Use presets for convenience. Download the free astrophotography presets (see "Lightroom astrophotography preset free") and adapt to your images. ⚠️ Attention: Don't use the Dehaze tool in Lightroom for nighttime shots. It adds artificial contrast that spoils the natural appearance of stars. 6 Common mistakes and how to avoid them Even experienced photographers make mistakes when shooting stars on a smartphone: 🚫 Shooting through glass: Windows, glasses, screen protection, all add glare and reduce clarity. Always shoot outdoors. 🚫 Using digital zoom: Redmi Note 7 doesn't have optical zoom.Any increase = Loss of quality. Better cut the frame later. 🚫 Full Moon photography: Bright moonlight clogs stars. The best time is a new moon or the first/last quarter. 🚫 Ignoring light pollution: You will see the maximum in the city 20-30 For a good shot, you have to go to the stars. 50+ Another common problem is an overheated phone, which is a long shot of Snapdragon. 660 It starts to trottlize, which causes the camera to refuse to save pictures: 🧊 Take off your case before shooting. 🧊 Use a cooling stand (for example, from a laptop). 🧊 Take breaks between series of pictures. 7. Alternative ways: if stars fail If after all the attempts the pictures are still disappointing, try these ideas: 🌄 Sunset shooting with silhouettes: Stars appear in the sky already through 30-40 minutes after sunset. Combine them with the silhouettes of trees or buildings – you will get an atmospheric frame even without perfect focusing. ✨ Light Painting: Take a flashlight and draw a figure or word in the frame while the exposure is long. The stars in the background will add magic. 🌠 Shooting meteor showers: During starfalls (for example, the Perseids in August) take a series of pictures at intervals 30 Chance to catch a meteor — 1 frame 20. If you want to get guaranteed quality shots of stars, consider buying a smartphone clip lens (like the Xenvo Pro Lens. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions: Can You Take a Picture of the Milky Way on Redmi Note? 7? Technically yes, but only under ideal conditions: no moon, minimal light pollution, stacking 15-20 time-frame 8 sec ISO 1600. It's not going to be a professional image, but you can see the shape of the galaxy. Why do you see stars in the photo as green or violet? It's a chromatic aberration, a distortion that's reinforced by high values. ISO. To reduce the effect: Reduce ISO before 800 In Lightroom, use the chromatic aberration tool. Which tripod is better to use? For Redmi Note 7 Any compact tripod with a 1/4" The main thing is the weight of the phone (~180 (d) so do not overpay for models designed for 1+ Can we shoot stars in front of the camera? No. Redmi Note front camera. 7 permit 13 MP, aperture f/2.0 It doesn't support manual settings. The most you get is a blurry stain. RAW files are made dark? This is normal: RAW doesn't go through automatic processing like JPEG. Show it in Lightroom or Darktable, increasing exposure and contrast. RAW has 4-5 times more data than JPEG, and you need to use it properly.