Photographing the moon on a smartphone is a task that seems easy only at first glance.Even the powerful Xiaomi Redmi cameras (be it the Redmi Note 12 Pro)+, Redmi 10 or POCO X5) They require the right settings to capture the moon without blurring or noise, and the problem is that automatic modes often burn the moon, turning it into a white spot, or, conversely, make the images too dark. In this article, weβll break down the step-by-step instructions for shooting the moon on Redmi, including timing, manual camera settings, and post-processing.
You might be surprised to learn that a good shot doesn't always require a professional technique, but it's important to understand three key factors: focus on infinity, proper exposure, and frame stabilization. 9A or Redmi A2) And we can do it by following our recommendations. K60 Pro will be able to achieve photos that are not inferior to mirrors.
Before you start practicing, remember: The moon moves across the sky at speed. ~0.5Β° That means you only have 2-3 seconds per frame before it shifts and the shot loses its sharpness.
1. Preparation for shooting: time, weather and location
The first thing to consider is the phase of the moon. The full moon seems like the most obvious choice, but it's actually the worst option for a detailed shot. The bright disc "over-lights" the camera, hiding craters and texture.
- π First/last quarter β shadows emphasize relief and lighting is softer.
- π Supermoon (when the Moon is closer to Earth) β the size of the image will increase by 10-15%.
- π Full Moon at Twilight β If You Want to Capture the Moon at Sunset.
Weather is critical, and even a little haze or cloudy light scatters the light, making the image cloudy. Use services like Time and Date or AccuWeather to track:
- π‘οΈ Humidity below 60% (high humidity creates a fog effect).
- π¨ Wind up to 5 m / s (otherwise the phone on a tripod will tremble).
- π Lack of smog (in cities it is better to shoot outside the line or on a hill).
β οΈ Warning: Don't take pictures of the moon through window glass, it distorts light and adds glare. Even if it's cold outside, go out onto the balcony or outdoors.
The location should be as dark as possible. The city lights (lights, advertising) make the Redmi camera automatically raise the camera. ISO, Adding noise. Perfect places:
- π‘ Country areas or parks away from roads.
- ποΈ Highlands (roofs, hills) β less atmospheric distortion.
- π Lake/Sea Coast β Reflection of the Moon in Water Will Add Artistic Effect.
2. Equipment required: what will help to improve the staff
Although Xiaomi Redmi is able to take the moon out of the box, a few inexpensive accessories will significantly improve the result:
| Accessory | Model/example | The effect | Price (β) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A tripod | Xiaomi Mi Portable Tripod or Ulanzi MT-08 | Eliminates hand tremors, allows you to use long exposure | 800β1500 β½ |
| Telephone adapter for the lens | Xiaomi Lens Attachment (2x Telephoto) | Increases scale without loss of quality | 1200β2000 β½ |
| Smartphone remote control | BlitzWolf BW-BRC5 | Remote shutter release (avoids shivers when pressed on the screen) | 300β600 β½ |
| Light filter ND8/ND16 | K&F Concept ND | Reduces the brightness of the moon, preserving details | 500β1200 β½ |
If the budget is limited, only a tripod is required, and the rest can be replaced by available means:
- π¦ Book tripod: fold a stack of books and put your phone on the edge of the table.
- π Enlargement: Use binoculars (press the phone lens against the eyepiece).
- π§ Remote Descent: Turn on a shooting timer in 3-10 seconds.
β οΈ Warning: Don't use digital zoom on Redmi, it only degrades quality, take a shot with minimal zoom and then crop in the editor.
For supported models RAW (For example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ or POCO F4) We recommend you to shoot in this format. RAW-files retain more detail in shadows and light areas, which is critical for post-processing.
Set the phone on a tripod|Disable stabilization in camera settings|Connect the remote control (or turn on the timer)|Check the purity of the lens|Charge your phone at least 50 times%-->
3. Xiaomi Redmi camera settings for shooting the moon
Now, to the most important thing, which is the camera setup (AI You'll need the manual mode (Pro) that's in all Redmi since the Redmi Note 8.
Open the Camera app, swipe left to Pro mode (or M on some models).
- πΈ Focus: Translate to MF (hand focus) and set the slider to infinity (β).
- β±οΈ Extremely enough for the moon 1/200β1/500 (Secondly, faster during the day, slower at night).
- π‘ ISO: minimum value (100-200). ISO rattle.
- π Exposition (EV): reduce by -1.0 or -1.5, so that the moon doesn't overglow.
- π― White Balance: Set Daylight (5500β6000K).
For models with a telephoto lens (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ 5G s 200MP camera):
- Switch to the telephoto lens (badge) 2x or 3x).
- Turn it off. HDR β He can add artifacts.
- Activate Super Moon Mode (if available in the firmware).
The critical rookie error is shooting the moon in Night Mode, which is designed for dark scenes with moving objects and automatically boosts the image. ISO/exposure, which leads to the blurring of the moon.
π‘
If your Redmi supports Astrophotography Mode (for example, POCO F3 GT), You can only use it to photograph the sky, and it's not suitable for the moon because of its long exposure.
4. Shooting technique: how to make the perfect shot
When the equipment is ready and the settings are set, we start shooting.
- Put your phone on a tripod and point the lens at the moon. Use the grid in the camera settings for centering.
- Scale up to the limit of optical zoom (not digital!) on the Redmi Note 10 Pro, it's 5x, on the Redmi K50 β 2x.
- Focus manually: touch the moon on the screen and hold your finger until the inscription appears AF Lock.
- Take a test shot and check the histogram (in Pro mode) the peak should be in the middle, without "cut" shadows or lights.
- Use a timer or remote to pull the shutter down, and even a slight touch of the screen can move the frame.
If the moon is too bright or dark, adjust it. EV (Expocorrection in 0.3. For creatives, try:
- π² Silluet: Place a tree or building in the foreground.
- π Reflection: Remove by the water (lake, river).
- π Motion: Make a series of frames at intervals of 1 sec. for timelapse.
β οΈ Warning: Don't take the moon through clouds -- they act like a diffuser, blurring out details.
For models with 48MP/64MP/200MP sensors (e.g. Redmi Note) 11S or Redmi K60) Turn on the full resolution shot, so you can cut the shot without losing quality.
How to make the moon and the city together?
5 Post-processing: how to improve the photo of the moon
Even the perfect shot needs some work, and free apps are available for this:
- π± Snapseed (Google) β for exposure and sharpness correction.
- πΌοΈ Lightroom Mobile - Advanced color correction.
- π StarTrails (for moon timelapses).
Basic processing steps:
- Pruning: Remove the extra elements by leaving the Moon in the center.
- Exposure: Reduce Highlights by 20 to 30 percent to return parts.
- Sharp: Use Unsharp Mask (radius 1.0, strength 50%).
- Noise suppression: Use Denoise in Lightroom (but donβt overdo it!).
For creative effects:
- π¨ Black and white filter: will emphasize the texture of craters.
- π΄ Sepia: will give a "vintage" look.
- π Local correction: Darken the background so that the moon "stands outΒ».
β οΈ Note: Do not increase the sharpness of RAW-You can add artifacts to the files in your phone. First, convert them to JPEG minimally compressed.
If you filmed in RAW, Import the file to Lightroom on your PC for more precise processing:
- Temperature (4000β5000K cold-colored).
- Clarity (+20β30 for crater contrast).
- Dehaze (+15 to remove atmospheric haze).
π‘
Take the moon down RAW + JPEG At the same time, if the phone supports). JPEG It is useful for a quick viewing, and RAW β deep-work.
6 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced photographers sometimes make mistakes when shooting the moon, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Moon blurred | Camera jitter or wrong focus | Use a tripod and manual focus on β |
| Moon over-lit (white spot) | Too long exposure or too high exposure ISO | Reduce. EV before -1.5 and lower ISO before 100 |
| Noise in the picture | High. ISO oral | Take it down. RAW Use noise reduction in Lightroom |
| The moon is too small. | Inadequate zoom or pruning | Use a telephoto lens or adapter to zoom in |
Another common problem is atmospheric dispersion (when the moon at the horizon appears flattened or colored), which involves the refraction of light in the atmosphere, to minimize the effect:
- Take pictures of the moon when it is above 30Β° above the horizon (use the Star Walk 2 app to track your progress).
- Use Dehaze in Lightroom to remove color distortions.
If you have a Redmi with a wide-angle camera (e.g. Redmi) 9T), Don't try to shoot the moon on it, because optical distortion will render the image useless.
7. Examples of photographs and inspiration
To see what you can do with Xiaomi Redmi, look at other photographersβ work.
- πΈ Redmi Note 11 Pro+: user @astro_mi The moon is being mapped with craters in detail using 50MP mode and manual settings.
You can also be inspired by official resources:
Don't be afraid to experiment.
- π Take the moon and the ISS in one shot. NASA Spot The Station.
- π To capture the eclipse: for this you will need ND-filter so as not to illuminate the sun.