Taking pictures of the moon on a smartphone is a task that seems impossible without a SLR camera and a telephoto lens. But the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, despite its budget price tag, can surprise you with the right approach, and the key is to understand the limitations of technology and use it as efficiently as possible.
In this article you will find non-model tips like “turn on” HDR», We're going to have specific settings that are tailored to the 48MP Redmi Note 9 camera, and it's going to take into account its weaknesses, which are the lack of optical zoom and the tendency to noise in the dark, and we're going to figure out how to get around those limitations, which apps will help improve the outcome, and why we're going to shoot the moon in a format. RAW This smartphone is useless – its processor simply can not cope with the processing.
The secret to successful photography lies in three pillars: preparation (from timing to cleaning the lens), technical settings (manual mode, focus, exposure) and post-processing, and even if you don't have experience in mobile photography, following our guidelines, you can get a shot that you're not ashamed to share on social networks.
1. Preparation for shooting: time, weather and equipment
The moon is one of the brightest objects in the night sky, but it requires a few key factors to take into account. First, the moon phase: the full moon seems like the perfect option, but in fact it is better to choose days when the moon is illuminated by 70-90%. In this case, the shadows of craters on its surface are visible, adding volume to the image. Second, atmospheric conditions: fog, smog or high humidity blur the image, and the wind can move the smartphone during the shooting.
The optimal time to take pictures is the first 2-3 hours after the moon rises or before it sets, which is low above the horizon, and atmospheric distortion is minimal. You can check the exact time of sunrise / sunset in applications like PhotoPills or Star Walk 2.
- 🌕 Moon phase: 70-90% illumination (not full moon!) Use MoonCalc website for tracking.
- 🌡️ Weather: cloudless, low humidity, minimum wind. Check on Windy or AccuWeather.
- 📱 Equipment: tripod (even miniature), remote control or camera timer, napkin for cleaning the lens.
- 🔋 Battery charge: at least 50%. Manual shooting and long focusing quickly drain the battery.
⚠️ Warning: Don't take the moon through window glass, it distorts light and adds glare. Even if it's cold outside, go out onto the balcony or outdoors.
If you don't have a tripod, use the tools you can do: put your smartphone on a stack of books, a window sill, or attach it with tape to a flat surface, and the main thing is to avoid the trembling of your hands, which, if you zoom in, will turn the moon into a blurry spot.
2.Redmi Note 9 camera settings for shooting the moon
The standard camera app on the Redmi Note 9 is not optimized for astrophotography, but it has a manual mode (Pro Mode) that allows you to manually adjust key parameters. Open the camera, swipe left to Pro mode and set the following values:
| Parameter | Recommended value | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| ISO | 100–200 | Higher values add noise. The moon is bright enough to shoot at a minimum. ISO. |
| Excerpt. | 1/200-1/500 sec | Long exposure will blur details due to the movement of the moon across the sky (it moves at speed) ~0.5° minutely!). |
| White balance | 4000–5000K | Automatic white balance will make the moon yellow. Set the value manually closer to daylight. |
| Focus | Manual (MF) | Autofocus will catch the sky. Switch to manual and set infinity (∞). |
| Permission | 48 MP (full) | After the shot, you can crop the frame, saving the details. 12 MP will give too little "material" to framing. |
Important nuance: Redmi Note 9 It does not support shooting in format RAW Don't waste time looking for this mode, it's just not there. Instead, take a few shots with different exposures (e.g., a few shots with different exposures, 1/200 and 1/400 Sec. and then choose the best one.
Use digital zoom to increase, but no more than 4-5.×. A bigger magnification would lead to a loss of quality, and the alternative is to take the moon without zoom, and then crop the photo in the editor, while maintaining the original resolution.
Shut down. HDR night-time|Clean the lens of dust and prints|Set the minimum ISO (100–200)|Switch to Manual Mode (Pro Mode)|Disable stabilization (it worsens sharpness when shooting from a tripod)-->
3. Alternative applications for shooting the moon
Xiaomi’s standard camera is limited in settings, so it’s worth trying third-party apps for the best result. RAW (If the smartphone hardware supports it).
- 📸 Camera FV-5: full control ISO, It's shutter speed, white balance, supports shooting in the RAW On some devices (unfortunately not on the Redmi Note 9).
- 🌙 NightCap Camera: a special application for night shooting with a Star mode that can be adapted for the moon.
- 🔍 ProCam X: convenient interface for manual settings, the ability to save EXIF-Data (useful for error analysis).
- 📱 Open Camera: Free, open source app that allows you to capture focus and exposure separately.
When using third-party applications, don’t forget to turn off optimizations MIUI, which can automatically "improve" images. → Additionally. → Special features disable the photo enhancement option (if you have one in your firmware version).
Important: before shooting, close all background applications. Redmi Note 9 does not have a powerful processor, and excessive load can lead to the camera freezing at the most critical moment.
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If the moon is over-lit, try using the exposure correction (icon «±» in the camera app) and reduce exposure by 1-2 steps.
4. Shooting and typical beginner mistakes
Even with the right settings, it's easy to make mistakes that will ruin the frame, and here are the most common ones and how to avoid them:
- Fluid Moon. Cause: shaking hands or misdirection. Solution: Use a tripod and manual infinity focus (∞). If the focus “runs away”, try pasting a piece of matte tape on the lens (this will reduce autofocus).
- The moon is too small. The reason is not enough zoom. Solution: take without zoom, and then crop the photo in the editor (for example, in Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile). Digital zoom over 5× only to worsen the quality.
- Noise in the photo. Cause: high ISO Or long exposure. Solution: lower the speed. ISO before 100–200 and use the shutter speed no longer. 1/200 Noise can be partially removed in post-processing (for example, the Denoise tool in Lightroom).
- The moon is yellow or red. The reason is wrong white balance. Solution: set white balance manually to 4,000–5000K Or use the preset daylight setting.
Another common problem is flashlights or windows, which are produced when a bright light source is in the frame, and to avoid this, shoot in a place where there is no direct lighting (for example, on the dark side of the house), and if the glare has already appeared, it can be removed in the editor with the Healing or Clone Stamp tool.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use a flash when shooting the moon - it will only light up dust on the lens and create unnecessary glare. Flash on a smartphone is useless for objects beyond 2-3 meters.
Why is the moon in the photo flat?
5 Post-processing: How to Make the Moon Clearer and More Expressive
Raw images of the moon with Redmi Note 9 rarely look perfect — usually they require processing. The main tasks are to increase sharpness, reduce noise and adjust colors.
- 🎨 Adobe Lightroom Mobile: Noise reduction, Sharpness and Curves tools will help to work out the details.
- ✂️ Snapseed: handy for framing and local correction (for example, you can brighten only the moon without affecting the background).
- 🌌 Photoshop Express: A Simple Interface to Improve Contrast Quickly.
Step-by-step instructions for processing in Lightroom Mobile:
- Import the photo and cut it so that the moon occupies most of the frame.
- Increase the contrast by 20-30 units and lower the shadows by 10-15 to highlight the craters.
- In the Details section add Sharpness (Sharpness mask) ~50) and apply noise suppression (fluorescent noise) ~30).
- Adjust White Balance: Shift the temperature towards colder tones (3500–4000K) natural-colored.
- Export in maximum quality (100% JPEG).
Don't overdo it with sharpness, it can create artifacts in the form of "dented" edges, and if the moon looks non-natural, reduce the sharpness settings by 20 to 30 percent.
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The most important step in post-processing is framing, so don't be afraid to crop the photo so that the moon is 70 to 80 percent of the frame, which hides the resolution flaws and makes the picture more dramatic.
6 Advanced Techniques: How to Remove the Moon with Crater Details
If you want to get a picture that shows the craters and the texture of the moon's surface, standard settings aren't enough. Here are some advanced techniques:
- 🔭 Shooting through a telescope or binoculars: if you have an optical device, attach your smartphone to the eyepiece using an adapter (stands) ~500-1000 rubles. This will allow you to increase to 20-50× quality-free.
- 📏 Stacking: Take 10 to 20 shots with the same settings, and then combine them in RegiStax or Autostakkert! (there are mobile analogues), which will reduce noise and increase detail.
- 🌑 Shooting in RAW (Workaround: Although Redmi Note 9 does not support RAW In standard mode, you can try the GCam app (a modified camera from Google). DNG, But job stability is not guaranteed.
For the telescope view:
- Place the telescope on a tripod and point to the moon.
- Attach your smartphone to the eyepiece so that the moon is in the center of the frame (use an adapter or hold it with your hands, but it is less stable).
- Turn on the camera manual mode, install ISO 100, exposure 1/100–1/200 Sec and focus manually.
- Take a few pictures and choose the clearest one.
If you choose to experiment with GCam, consider that:
- Not all versions work well on the Redmi Note 9.
- RAW-files will weigh ~20 to 30 MB each, so make room on your phone.
- Processing RAW It requires a powerful PC or tablet – on the smartphone itself it is difficult to do.
7. Examples of successful and unsuccessful images: error analysis
To better understand what works and what doesn’t, let’s take a look at some examples of the moon taken on the Redmi Note 9 and see why some work well and others don’t.
| Example | Problem/Dignity | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Picture 1: The moon is sharp but too small | Insufficient zoom, a lot of "empty" sky | Cut the photo in the editor or use a telescope/binoculars to zoom in |
| Picture 2: The moon is blurred, with rainbow glare | Dirty lens or trembling of hands | Clean the lens, use a tripod and a shooting timer |
| Picture 3: The moon is overlit, with no details | Too long exposure or too high exposure ISO | Reduce exposure to 1–2 step, use the shutter speed 1/400 sack |
| Picture 4: Clear Moon with visible craters | Right settings: ISO 100, exposure 1/250, manual focusing | Repeat these settings in your filming |
Note that even in the "bad" images, there is something to improve in post-processing, for example, the over-lit moon can be partially restored by reducing exposure and increasing contrast in Lightroom, but it is better to shoot immediately with the right settings, this will save time.
If your pictures are constantly getting blurred, try the following trick: turn on your smartphone mode Video 4K, Point the camera to the moon and make a short video, and then extract the clearest shot from the video using the Video to Photo app or VLC. This method sometimes gives better results than a photo, especially if you don’t have a tripod.