How to shoot with long exposure on Xiaomi: the secrets of night and dynamic photography

Long exposure is a technique that transforms ordinary frames into works of art: glowing car tracks, blurred clouds or milky waterfalls. But how do you achieve this effect on Xiaomi smartphones if they do not have a physical shutter? It turns out that even the budget models of the Redmi series or the flagship Xiaomi 13/14 are capable of this – the main thing is to know the hidden settings and nuances.

In this article, we'll look at not only standard modes like Pro or Night, but also workarounds for devices without manual shutter speed settings, how to stabilize a frame without a tripod, what apps will help expand the camera's capabilities, and why it's sometimes better to shoot in RAW format. And also how to avoid the typical errors that cause images to get blurred or overlit.

Spoiler: Even if your Xiaomi doesn't support shutter speeds longer than 32 seconds, there are life hacks to get around that limit.

Which Xiaomi models support long exposure?

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally useful for long exposure shooting, depending on the MIUI firmware version, the camera hardware, and the availability of Pro mode (aka Manual).

• 📱 Flagships (Xiaomi) 12/13/14 Pro, Mix Fold: Supports shutter speed to 32 sec in Pro mode, there is manual focusing and tuning ISO.
• 📱 Mid-size segment (Redmi Note) 11/12 Pro+, POCO F4/F5): limiting 10–16 Sec, but there are workarounds through third-party apps.
• 📱 Budget models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M5): No Pro mode, but you can use Night Mode with a simulated long shutter speed.
• 📱 Outdated devices (up to) MIUI 11: Exposure is only available through Google Camera (GCam) with modified configs.

To check for support on your device, open the Camera app, go to More and look for Pro or Manual. If you don't have it, don't despair: we'll show you how to get around this restriction.

Camera settings for long exposure shooting

Even if your Xiaomi supports manual settings, just selecting the maximum shutter speed is not enough. Here are the key settings to set before shooting:

1. Focus: Put it into MF mode (manual) and focus on the main object. Autofocus will be lost when you run long shutter speeds.
2. ISO: Set 100-400 to minimize noise. It is not recommended to raise above 800.
3. White Balance: Choose Daylight (5500K) or adjust manually to avoid color shifts from artificial lighting.
4. File format: If possible, shoot in RAW – this will give more room for post-processing.

Important: When you're over 2 seconds, the smartphone will warm up and the matrix will make noise. To reduce heat, close the background apps and lower the brightness of the screen. If the camera overheats, it will automatically limit maximum shutter speed.

Install the smartphone on a tripod or stable surface|Disable autofocus and set up MF|Choose. ISO 100–400|Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)|Close the background applications-->

How to shoot without a tripod: life hacks for stabilization

The main enemy of long exposure is hand shaking, and even microscopic motions cause blurry, and if you don't have a tripod, use these methods:

• 🧱 Improvised Stand: Use a stack of books, a bridge parapet or even press your smartphone against a scotch tree (carefully!).
• 🎧 Headphones with a button: connect wired headphones and use the volume button as a trigger - so the vibrations from touching the screen will not be transmitted to the body.
• ⏱️ Timer or voice control: In the camera settings, turn on the delay (3-10 seconds) or use the command “OK, Google, take a photo».
• 🧲 Magnetic mounts: if there are metal elements on the back of the smartphone (for example, the back of the smartphone is POCO M3 Pro), fix it on a metal surface with a neodymium magnet.

Critical nuance: on smartphones Xiaomi with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Pro) long exposures may cause a “flicker effect” due to automatic brightness adjustments, and to avoid this, set a fixed brightness of 30-50% before shooting.

⚠️ Note: If you are shooting in the cold (below) +5°C), the smartphone battery will go down faster, and the matrix can begin to “noise” even at low levels. ISO. In winter, it is better to use an external battery or a heating pad for hands.

Photography of light trails and night landscapes

Long exposure is most often used for two scenarios: lighting (car tracks, star tracks) and nightscapes (blurred water, clouds).

For shooting the starry sky on Xiaomi, you can use the Astrophotography mode that some models have (for example, the Mi 11 Ultra). If you don't have it, use 20-30 seconds shutter speed with ISO 3200 and manual focus on infinity. But remember: without a tripod and in urban lighting, quality shots are almost impossible to get.

Applications for extended shooting with long exposure

If Xiaomi’s standard camera doesn’t like the restrictions, try third-party apps that allow you to set shutter speeds up to 60 seconds, shoot in RAW, and even create long exposure timelapses.

• 📸 Google Camera (GCam): Best choice for Xiaomi thanks to its Night Sight mode with long shutter speed imitation. Camera2 API (The application is controlled by Manual Camera Compatibility).
• 🌌 NightCap Camera: specializes in night photography, there is a Star Trails mode for creating tracks of stars.
• ⏱️ Slow Shutter Cam: allows you to adjust shutter speed up to 60 seconds, there are Light Trail and Motion Blur modes.
• 🎥 ProCam X: Supports shooting in RAW, manually adjust all parameters and even create HDR-long-exposure.

Before installing GCam, make sure your Xiaomi model is supported – some devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A) not compatible due to manufacturer restrictions. 4PDA or XDA Developers.

⚠️ Warning: When shooting through third-party apps, turn off battery optimization for them in settings MIUI (section → Permits → Otherwise, the camera may suddenly close during long exposure.

Post-photo processing

Raw, long exposure shots almost always require rework, and here is the minimum set of actions to improve the images:

1. Pruning and alignment: Use the Crop tool in Lightroom or Snapseed to remove unnecessary items at the edges.
2. Exposure correction: Raise the Shadows and lower the Lights to work out the details in the dark and bright areas.
3. Noise suppression: In Lightroom, use Luminance and Color sliders, but don’t overdo it – the image will become “plastic”.
4. Color correction: Add Contrast and a bit of Saturation, but avoid over-processing - night shots should look natural.

If you've been shooting in RAW, try the free Darktable or RawTherapee software, which is better at handling noise than mobile editors. Adobe Lightroom Mobile or VSCO is good for quick edits on your smartphone.

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To remove the “hot pixels” (bright spots in long exposure shots), use the Spot Removal feature in Lightroom or the Healing tool in Snapseed.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced photographers sometimes make mistakes when shooting with long exposure, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:

• 🌑 Relight: occurs if the shutter speed is too long for current lighting. Solution - use ND-filter (you can buy a sticker on the lens) or lower ISO.
• 🌀 Wind blur: even a light wind can move a smartphone on a makeshift stand. Solution - use a weight (for example, hang a bag on a tripod).
• 🔋 Battery discharge: long exposure severely drains the battery. Solution - connect Xiaomi to powerbank after shooting starts (not at the time to avoid vibrations).
• 📱 Camera overheating: When you shoot a series of frames, the matrix heats up and the quality drops. So, take 2-3 minutes between shots.

Another common problem is the wrong white balance. In automatic mode, Xiaomi’s camera often miscalculates the color temperature of night frames. To avoid a greenish or blue hue, adjust the white balance manually to 4000-5000K.

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The most common mistake of beginners is to try to shoot with a long shutter speed without a tripod. Even at 1/10 sec, the tremors of the hands will be noticeable!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions