Starry sky is fascinating for its beauty, but capturing it on a smartphone is not an easy task. - Owners of Xiaomi Redmi (especially Note 12 Pro models)+, K60 Ultra or Redmi 13C With better cameras, you have a good chance of getting spectacular images of the Milky Way, meteors or constellations, and the key is to know the nuances of camera setup, find the right app, and take into account the shooting conditions.
In this article you will find step-by-step instructions taking into account the features of the firmware MIUI, Time and place tips, and post-processing secrets that will turn your nightly photos into masterpieces. We tested the techniques on different Redmi models, from budget to flagship, and highlighted key differences in approaches. 10A You can shoot stars if you are properly prepared!
What Xiaomi Redmi models are suitable for astrophotography?
Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally good at night photography, key factors include size of the matrix, lens aperture and manual mode support, and the model ratings for suitability for shooting the sky:
- 🥇 Best pick: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G (200 MPP, f/1.65), Redmi K60 Ultra (50 MPP, f/1.79 s OIS) — Perfect for detailed images of the Milky Way.
- 🥈 The Redmi Note 11 Pro is a good option.+, Redmi K50 — 108 MP night mode, but require stabilization.
- 🥉 Budget models: Redmi 13C, Redmi 12 — 50 MP, but weak aperture (f/1.8) limiting detail.
- ⚠️ Not recommended: Redmi 10A, Redmi 9A — Small matrices (13-8 MP) and no manual settings.
Important: Even the flagship models of Redmi lose Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro is because of the smaller pixel size, but with the right settings and post-processing, the difference is reduced to 30 to 40 percent. Redmi's main advantage is its accessibility and ease of use.
Preparation of the smartphone: settings and applications
Before shooting, you need to optimize the settings of Xiaomi Redmi and install specialized applications. MIUI There are limitations, so we recommend alternatives.
1. System settings
- 🔋 Turn off energy saving: go to Settings → Battery → Power saving mode and select High Performance, which will prevent the camera from automatically shutting down during long shutter speeds.
- 📱 Activate Developer Mode: C Settings → About the phone tap 7 times on the version MIUI, then in Settings → Additionally. → For developers, turn on Do not turn off the screen while charging.
- 🚫 Block notifications: in Settings → Disable all applications except the camera to avoid accidental positives.
2. Astrophotography applications
| Annex | Advantages | Deficiencies | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera FV-5 | Manual setting ISO, extraction, RAW | Paid version (290)₽) | Google Play |
| NightCap Camera | Star mode, automatic processing | No support. RAW on some models | Google Play |
| AstroCamera | A specialised algorithm for the Milky Way | A complex interface for beginners | Google Play |
| Stock MIUI Camera | Free, optimized for iron | Limited settings (max. shutter speed 32c) | Pre-installed |
Critical detail: apps like Camera FV-5 Requires access to the camera through ADB-setprop persist.vendor.camera.HAL3.enabled 1 on some Redmi models (like the Note 10 Pro.
Power saving mode is off|Manual shooting application installed|Developer mode activated|Battery charge > 70%|Cleared memory (minimum 2 GB free)-->
Choosing time and place to shoot
Even with the Xiaomi Redmi camera’s perfect settings, you won’t get a good shot of the starry sky in the city or at the full moon.
1. Lunar calendar and weather
- 🌑 Lunar phase: optimally new moon or 1-3 days before/after. Use PhotoPills or Stellarium app for tracking.
- 🌥️ Cloud: Check Out on Clear Dark Sky – Even 20% of Clouds Will Ruin Your Frame.
- 💨 Wind: at speed > 5 m / s avoid long shutter speeds - the shaking of the phone on a tripod will be noticeable.
Geographical coordinates
For the image of the Milky Way in the Northern Hemisphere:
- 📍 Latitude: the farther south (closer to the equator), the higher above the horizon will be the center of the Galaxy.°, Sochi, 30.°.
- 🧭 Azimuth: Spring/summer, the Milky Way is visible in the south, fall/winter, southwest. Use a compass or AR-mode.
- 🏙️ Lighting: Remove from cities for at least 50 km. Check the map of light pollution on the Light Pollution Map.
Lifehack: If you can't go far, shoot the star tracks, which are less sensitive to light, and you need a shutter speed of 30 to 60 seconds and a Star Trail Camera app.
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Use the Sun Surveyor (Android) app to plan your shooting ahead of time: it shows the Milky Way’s trajectory for your location for any given day.
Camera settings for shooting stars on Xiaomi Redmi
Moving on to the most important thing, which is the camera setup, the settings depend on the model of the smartphone and the conditions, but there are universal guidelines.
Basic parameters (for all models)
- 📸 Format: RAW (if supported) or JPEG maximum-resolution.
- ⏱️ Excerpt: 15–30 Seconds on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ before 60On budget models (Redmi) 10/11) limit — 10c due to overheating of the matrix.
- 🔆 ISO: 1600-3200 K60 Ultra can be 6400, but there will be noise).
- 🔍 Focus: manual focus on "infinity" (check for live stars in the viewfinder).
- 🌡️ White balance: 3,500–4000K (natural-colored stars).
2. Features for specific models
| Model | Optimum exposure | Max Max. ISO noiselessly | Recommended annex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G | 30.60s. | 6400 | Camera FV-5 (RAW) |
| Redmi K60 Ultra | 20-40s. | 5000 | Stock MIUI Camera (Pro Mode) |
| Redmi 13C | 8-15s | 2500 | NightCap Camera |
| Redmi Note 11 Pro+ | 10.25. | 3200 | AstroCamera |
⚠️ Attention: Redmi with Snapdragon processor 4xx (Like Redmi. 9A) length-shoot RAW This can cause overheating and emergency shutdown of the camera, in which case shoot in series of 5-10 frames with a pause of 1 minute.
Focus and composition
- 🎯 Focus test: point the camera at a bright star (like Vega or Sirius) and gradually twist the focus ring until it becomes a point.
- 🌲 Foreground: add the silhouette of a tree, a mountain or a building to scale. Use a red light flashlight to illuminate (white will give a light).
- 📐 Rule of thirds: Place the Milky Way diagonally or horizontally, avoid the center of the frame.
How to check a trick in the dark?
Equipment: tripods, triggers and accessories
Even the perfect camera settings won't save you if your phone shakes or discharges during the shooting process.
1.Standing
- 📷 Mini-Statution: Xiaomi Mi Mini Tripod (500)₽) — compact, but suitable only for short exposures (up to 10C).
- 🏔️ Full-size: Ulanzi MT-08 (1500₽) flexible-legged.
- 🔧 Adapter: if you use a photostay, buy a smartphone-holder with a mount 1/4" (For example, SmallRig. 2075).
Additional accessories
- ⚡ Power Bank: shooting in the RAW And long shutter speeds consume 30 to 50 percent faster. Take Xiaomi Power Bank 3. 20000mAh fast-charging.
- 🔘 Next Next post: Xiaomi Bluetooth Remote Shutter (300)₽) eliminates shaking when pressed on the screen.
- 🔦 Red flashlight: to set up equipment in the dark without lighting (e.g. Fenix) HM61R red-filtered).
⚠️ Attention: below temperature +5°Xiaomi Redmi battery loses up to 40% of capacity.Keep your phone in your pocket before shooting and use an external heated battery (e.g. Zendure SuperTank Pro).
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The stud must withstand the weight of the phone + Test stability before shooting: push the tripod slightly - if the phone moved, add load (e.g., hang up your backpack).
Filming and post-processing: from RAW before-photo
You've taken pictures, but they look dull? That's OK -- astrophotography is 70 percent post-processing. Here's a step-by-step plan.
1. Shooting in RAW
- 📁 Format: If your Redmi supports RAW (For example, the Note 12 Pro+), Take it in this format. It keeps more detail in the shadows.
- 🔄 Serial shooting: make 10-15 frames with the same settings for subsequent addition (stacking).
- 📏 Additional frames: Dark-frame: cover the lens with a lid and take a picture with the same settings (to remove noise). Flat-frame: take a photo of a uniformly lit surface (for example, the sky at dawn) to correct vignetting.
2.Telephone processing
For quick processing directly on Xiaomi Redmi, use:
- 🎨 Lightroom Mobile: Increase exposure to +1.5-2.5. Increase the contrast to +40 and Brightness of Shadows to +80. Reduce the temperature to 3500K Apply noise reduction (but not more than 30%, otherwise stars will be lost).
StarTrails (for tracks):
3. Advanced processing on PC
For maximum quality, move RAW-files on the computer and use:
- 🖥️ Sequator (free): for stacking multiple frames and removing noise.
- 🌠 StarNet++: AI tool to separate stars from background (useful for boosting the Milky Way).
- 📊 Photoshop: Layers, masks and curves for precise correction. Example of actions: 1. Open RAW In Camera Raw, raise Clarity to +30.2. Duplicate the layer, apply the filter "Reduce Noise."3. Add the mask to the sky and increase the contrast with Curves.
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Redmi with MediaTek Helio processor (e.g. Redmi) 10C) filming RAW You may have a "Camera is off" error, in which case, restart your phone and film it in the camera. JPEG shuttered.