Photographing the moon on a smartphone is a task that seems easy only at first glance. Even with the flagship camera Xiaomi 8 Pro (also known as the Mi 8 Pro), many users get blurred spots instead of a detailed Earth satellite. The problem is not the device, but the wrong approach: automatic mode can not cope with contrasting night light, and manual settings require knowledge of optics and exposure.
In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step method of shooting the moon on Xiaomi 8 Pro, given the specifics of his 12-MP of the main module (with aperture) f/1.8) and 2x You'll learn what you can set manually, how to stabilize a frame without a tripod, and why you can use digital zoom above that. 2x This will result in loss of detail due to Xiaomi’s interpolation algorithms, and we’ll also reveal the secrets of post-processing in Lightroom Mobile and Snapseed so that your pictures of the moon look like they were taken in a mirror.
Important: the article is aimed at owners of Xiaomi 8 Pro (model of 2018 with Snapdragon 845 processor), but most of the tips apply to other Xiaomi smartphones with a telephoto lens (for example, Mi 9 or Mi 10 Pro). If you have another model, check the presence of Pro mode in the camera application and maximum optical zoom.
1. Preparation of the smartphone: cleanliness of the lens and camera settings
Before shooting the moon on the Xiaomi 8 Pro, make sure the camera lens is clean. Even microscopic dust particles or finger marks can create glare and reduce image clarity. Use a microfiber wipe (for example, for glasses) and isopropyl alcohol (70% solution) for cleaning. Don't blow on the lens - this will only smear the dirt.
Next, check the settings of the camera app:
- 🔍 Open the camera settings → Photo resolution and select the maximum value (usually 12 MP 4:3). This minimizes the loss when cropping the frame.
- 📱 Turn on the grid (Settings) → Grid) for accurate framing of the moon.
- 🌙 Turn it off. HDR AI enhancements – they spoil night shots by adding noise.
- 🔄 Activate Pro Mode (aka Manual Mode) is the key to successful shooting.
⚠️ Note: If you use a magnetically fastened case (for example, for wireless charging), remove it before shooting. Magnets can affect the compass and gyroscope, which will cause failures in image stabilization.
It is also recommended to turn off Autofocus on the face and Smile/Blink in the camera settings – these functions interfere with focusing on the moon. If you plan to shoot with manual shutter speed, charge your smartphone at least 50%: long-term shooting in Pro mode actively consumes the battery.
2. Optimal settings of Pro mode for shooting the moon
Pro mode in the camera Xiaomi 8 Pro allows you to control shutter speed, ISO, White balance and focus. It's critical for the moon to set the first two parameters correctly:
| Parameter | Recommended value | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| ISO | 100–200 | Higher values will add noise. The moon is bright, so ISO keep to a minimum. |
| Excerpt. | 1/200-1/500 sec | Long exposure will erode the moon because of the Earth's motion. 1/250 sack. |
| Focus | Hand-held (MF), significance ~∞ | Autofocus will catch the sky. Manually set the focus to infinity. |
| White balance | 5500–6000K | The moon has a cold hue. Avoid automatic balance - it will make the picture yellowish. |
| Format | RAW (if available) | Allows you to edit the image flexibly later without loss of quality. |
How to set the focus manually:
- Switch to the switch. 2x zoom (use an optical telephoto lens, not a digital zoom!).
- Tap the screen in the area of the moon to focus the camera.
- Transfer the focus slider to the far right position (badge) ∞).
- Make sure the moon is clear – adjust your focus to the left if necessary.
If the moon is over-lit (white spot), reduce the exposure by 1-2 steps manually. In Pro mode, this is done by swiping down the screen or through a separate slider. To check the quality of the picture, use a histogram (includes in the camera settings) - the peak should be in the middle, without cropping on the right (perlight).
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If the moon is too small, do not zoom from above. 2x — It's better to shoot at maximum resolution and cut the frame later in the editor. Digital zoom on Xiaomi 8 Pro uses interpolation algorithms that "draw" pixels, degrades the detail.
3. Image stabilization: how to do without a tripod
The ideal way to photograph the moon is to have a tripod with a smartphone adapter, but if you don't have one, you can use the tools you can use.
- 🧱 Put your smartphone in a stack of books or a window sill, fixing the angle of inclination with tape.
- 🚗 Put the Xiaomi 8 Pro on the roof of the car (if shooting on the street) – metal extinguishes vibrations.
- 🎧 Use wired headphones with a volume button as a remote shutter release.
- ⏱ Turn on the timer (2 or 10 seconds) in Pro mode to avoid wiggling when pressed.
If you hold your smartphone in your hands, use a breathing technique: take a deep breath, hold your breath for 2-3 seconds, and at this point, press the shutter, also helps to rest with your elbows in the body or press your smartphone to your face (as in a selfie) to reduce tremors.
⚠️ Note: Do not use Night Mode to shoot the moon on Xiaomi 8 Pro. This mode is designed for low-light scenes and automatically zooms in. ISO And shutter speed, which will lead to the blurring of the moon due to the movement of celestial bodies. The exception is if you take a landscape with the moon (for example, the forest and the moon in the frame), but then the moon will be just a bright spot without details.
For additional stabilization, gyroscopic stabilizers can be used (for example, DJI Osmo Mobile, but this is only relevant for video. For a photo, a reliable fixation of a smartphone and short shutter speed is enough.
Clear the camera lens|Charge your smartphone >50%|Shut down. HDR and AI enhancement|Install ISO 100–200 and endurance 1/250 sack|Lock the smartphone on a stable surface-->
4. Best time and conditions for shooting the moon
The moon is visible almost every night, but it's not always convenient to photograph.
- 🌕 Moon phase: ideally full or waning moon (2-3 days before/after full moon) ~90% of the disk, but the shadows on the craters are still visible, adding volume.
- ⏰ Time: First 2-3 hours after moonrise or before sunset, when the moon is low above the horizon, the atmosphere acts as a natural filter, smoothing out turbulence.
- 🌌 Weather: cloudless skies with minimal humidity.Fog or haze scatters light, making the moon cloudy.
- 🏙 Area: Avoid shooting in the city because of light pollution, it is better to go outside the city or shoot from a high floor.
Check the sunrise and sunset times for your region on sites like Time and Date or on apps like PhotoPills. In Moscow, for example, the moon rises around 21:00 in summer and close to 16:00 in winter. Shooting at dusk (when the sun is only setting) has an interesting effect: the sky is still blue and the moon is already visible.
If you are shooting a supermoon (when the moon is 14% larger and 30% brighter), reduce the exposure by 1 step compared to a normal shooting to avoid overlighting. In 2026, the nearest supermoons will be on August 19 and September 18.
Why is the moon in the photo reddish?
5 Post-processing: how to improve the photo of the moon on the phone
Even a properly taken image of the moon on Xiaomi 8 Pro requires processing.
Pruning and alignment:
- 🖼 In Google Photos or Snapseed, cut the frame so that the moon occupies the image. ~30 to 50 percent of the area. It hides the noise of the sky and it focuses on the details.
- 📐 Line the horizon (if it's in the frame) with the Turning tool. Curved horizon spoils perception.
2. correction of exposure and contrast:
- 🌓 In Lightroom Mobile, increase the contrast to +20–30 And lower the shadows on -15, crater.
- 🎨 Increase clarity by +15-25 (no more or you will get noise).
- 🔴 Reduce the saturation of the reds by -10, if the moon is yellowish.
Noise removal:
- 🛡 In Snapseed, use the Selective Correction tool to reduce noise in dark areas of the sky.
- 🖌 In Lightroom, turn on Noise Reduction (Details) and set Luminescent Noise to 20-30.
Example of processing in Lightroom Mobile:
1. Open RAW- file (if filmed in this format).
2. Set White Balance: 5800K, Shade: +5.
3.Exposure: -0.30, Contrast: +25, Light: +10, Shadows: -15.
4. Clarity: +20, Saturation: -5.
5. In the "Details" section, set Masking: 50, Radius: 1.0.⚠️ Warning: Don't use "Enhance Detail" filters in standard galleries (e.g. Mi Gallery) that artificially sharpen edges by creating artifacts of "tooth" around the edges of the moon.
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Take the Moon in a Format RAW (If it’s available on your Xiaomi 8 Pro, it’s 30-40% more detail in post-processing than you’d expect. JPEG.
6 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced photographers make mistakes when shooting the moon on a smartphone.
❌ Mistake 1: Using Digital Zoom
On Xiaomi 8 Pro, optical zoom is only 2x. Any increase above that will activate a digital zoom that just stretches the pixels, and the result is a soap shot without detail. 2x and trim.
❌ Mistake 2: Shooting through a window
Glass distorts light and adds glare, especially if the window is dirty or has double-glazed windows. Solution: go out onto the balcony or outdoors. If that's not possible, press your smartphone tightly against the glass and use your palm as a visor from the inside light.
❌ Error 3: Autofocus on Infinity
Many people think that the moon should just focus on maximum distance, but the autofocus on the Xiaomi 8 Pro can "miss" due to the dark background (MF) And tweak it a little bit by watching the edges of the moon be clear.
❌ Mistake 4: Shooting in Cloudy Weather
Thin clouds may not be visible to the eye, but they scatter the light of the moon, making the image cloudy. Solution: check the forecast on Yr.no - the service shows cloudiness by layer.
❌ Mistake 5: Keeping the Responsibility Only in JPEG
Format JPEG Solution: If your Xiaomi 8 Pro supports the image, losing detail in shadows and lights RAW (files with the.dng extension, always shoot in this format. RAW weight ~20 MB, but allows you to edit the photo flexibly.
7 Advanced Techniques: How to Take a Landscape Moon
If you want to capture the moon against mountains, cities or trees, you need a different approach, and the main difficulty is the difference in brightness: the moon is very bright, and the landscape is dark.
1. The twilight shooting
The best time is blue twilight (firsts) 20–30 The sky is not black yet, and the details of the landscape are visible without the moon's light. Use the shutter speed. 1/100–1/200 sec ISO 200–400.
2. HDR manually
Take two shots:
- 🌕 The first one is with an exposure on the moon (short exposure, ISO 100).
- 🏞 The second - with an exposition on the landscape (excerpt) 1/10–1/30 sack, ISO 800).
Then combine them in Photoshop (tool). HDR Pro) or Lightroom (Fuse of Merger) HDR).
3. Use of telephoto lens + wide-angle
If you want the moon to look big in the background of the landscape, use the illusion of perspective:
- 📸 Get the moon on. 2x zoom (telephoto lens).
- 🌄 Take a landscape on a wide-angle lens (main camera without zoom).
- ✂ Combine the footage in the editor, zooming in on the moon and inserting it into the landscape.
⚠️ Warning: When shooting the moon with a landscape, avoid using a flash - it will only illuminate nearby objects (such as trees), but will not help with the balance of brightness. Instead, use an external light source (a flashlight) to illuminate the foreground.
To create a "lunar track" (a picture of the moon in different phases on the same frame), use the Star Trail (Android) or StarStaX (for PC) application. You will need a series of frames taken at intervals of 5-10 minutes from a fixed position.