How to shoot the moon on a Xiaomi smartphone: a detailed guide with camera settings

Photographing the moon on a smartphone is a task that seems impossible without professional technology. However, modern Xiaomi (especially the flagship models of the 13/14 series or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) is able to take impressive pictures of the night star with the right settings. The main problem is that the automatic camera mode often burns the moon, turning it into a white spot, or, conversely, makes the shots too dark.

In this article, you will learn how to get around the limitations of a smartphone, from choosing the optimal shooting time to manually adjusting ISO, shutter speed and focus. We will also examine which Xiaomi models are best suited for astrophotography, and how to process post-shoot images to emphasize the texture of the lunar surface. Spoiler: even budget devices can give decent results if you follow a clear algorithm.

Which Xiaomi smartphones are better for shooting the moon

Not all Xiaomi devices are equally good at astrophotography, and key options to look out for are:

• 🔍 Telephoto lens with optical zoom (minimum 2)×, 5× 10×). Without it, the moon will look like a small dot.
• 📸 The size of the matrix is not less 1/1.5″ (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra has 1-Sony-inch matrix IMX989).
• 🌙 Mode "Lunar Algorithm"** (is in firmware) MIUI 14+ Automatically adjusts exposure for night objects.
• 🎛️ Manual settings (Pro Mode) with the ability to change ISO, white-balance.

The best models to photograph the moon in 2026:

Even with a telephoto lens, the moon will occupy everything. ~5-10% A close-up will require cropping or additional digital zoom, which will reduce the quality.

Optimal time and conditions for shooting

The moon is visible almost every night, but not all phases and conditions are equally good for photos.

• 🌕 Full Moon – the brightest, but the most “flat” lighting (no shadows, the texture of the surface is almost invisible).
• 🌗 The first/last quarter is ideal for shooting: shadows emphasize craters, and the brightness allows you to use short exposure.
• 🌑 New Moon – useless for photos (the moon is not visible or illuminated only by ash light).

Other critical factors:

• 🌆 Illumination from the city: shooting in the city limits worsens the contrast.
• 🌫️ Atmospheric haze: With high humidity or smog, the moon will be blurred.Check the forecast on Clear Dark Sky.
• 🕒 Time of day: The moon is visible during the day! 1-2 One hour before sunset/after sunrise gives interesting color effects.

⚠️ 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.

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Use apps like PhotoPills or Stellarium to find out the exact time of the moon’s rise/set and its trajectory in your region.

Step-by-step setting up Xiaomi camera for shooting the moon

So, the most important thing is the camera setup. Automotive doesn't work: it always overexposes the moon. You'll need Pro Mode (or Manual in some models).

Algorithm of action:

1. Open the Camera app → go to More → Pro.
2. Set the focus on ∞ (infinity). Some models require manually shifting the focus slider to the right.
3. Turn off the car.-ISO: set the range 100–400. The lower - the less noise, but the darker the frame.
4. Shutter speed: Start at 1/200–1/500 seconds. If the moon is too dark, zoom in to 1/100.
5. White balance: Choose Daylight (5500-6000K). Auto-BB will color the moon yellow.
6. Format: If possible, shoot in RAW for later processing.

Example settings for Xiaomi 13 Pro (full moon, clear sky):

Mode: Pro


Focus: ∞ (manual)




ISO: 200




Excerpt: 1/250




White balance: 5800K




Zoom: 5× (optical)




Format: RAW+JPEG

Install your smartphone on a tripod|Disable stabilization (if there is an option)|Put the focus in manual mode|Check the battery charge (shooting in the RAW squashing the battery faster)-->

How to Avoid Fluidity and Noise

Even with perfect settings, images of the moon are often blurry or noisy.

Problem 1: Camera jitter

• 🔇 Turn off digital stabilization in camera settings – it can artificially blur the image.

Problem 2: Noise at high ISO

• 🔄 Take it down. RAW and reduce noise in Lightroom or Snapseed (Noise Canceling Tool»).

Problem 3: Sloppy zoom

• 🔍 Use only optical zoom (e.g. 5).× on Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Digital zoom (10)×, 50×) It greatly degrades the detail.

⚠️ Note: If the moon is doubled or blurred at the edges, it is a chromatic aberration of the lens, which can only be corrected in the graphics editor (Elimination of chromatic aberrations tool in Lightroom).

Image processing: how to make the moon clearer

Raw pictures of the moon from a smartphone almost always require improvement.

1. Trimming (crop) and alignment

• ✂️ Cut the frame so that the moon occupies ~30-50% It'll highlight the details.
• 📐 Level the horizon (if it hits the frame) with the “Pruning” tool → Straightening».

2. Exposure and contrast correction

• 🌓 Reduce exposure by 0.3–0.7 feet to return texture.
• 🔄 Increase contrast by 10-20% and clarity by 20-30%.
• 🎨 Adjust Curves in Lightroom: Raise dark tones and keep the light tones in check.

3. Elimination of noise and artifacts

• 🛠️ Apply noise cancellation (but don’t overdo it – the moon will become plastic»).
• 🔍 Use a field mask (Unsharp Mask) with a radius of 1.0-1.5 px and a force of 50-80%.

Example of processing in Snapseed:

1. The “Pruning” tool → cut out the excess


2. "Imagine setting" → Exposure -0.5, Contrast +15




3. "Details" → Sharp +30, Structure +20




4. "Selective correction" → darken the background of the sky

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced photographers make mistakes when shooting the moon on a smartphone.

Error 1: Shooting in automatic mode

Xiaomi's Auto or Night Mode camera always overstates the exposure, trying to illuminate the dark sky, and the result is an overlit moon with no details. Solution: only use Pro Mode.

Mistake 2: Unaccounted for Moon Motion

The Earth rotates, and the Moon shifts by ~0.5° per minute. When shuttered longer than 1/100 of a second, this leads to blurring. Solution: use short shutter speeds or special trackers (like Star Adventurer for astrophotography).

Mistake 3: Shooting through a dirty lens

Dust, fingerprints or drops of water on the lens create glare and reduce clarity. Solution: wipe the lens with a microfiber before shooting. Use a blender for a telephoto lens (if included).

Mistake 4: Ignoring RAW

JPEG-The images are compressed and have limited dynamic range. Solution: always shoot in RAW (If your model supports it, it will allow you to recover the parts in the shadows and lights during processing.

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The most common reason for failed images is incorrect exposure, and the moon must be slightly under-lit on the smartphone screen (0.3–0.7 EV) so that the processing can be “pulled” details.

Additional equipment for the best pictures

While Xiaomi’s smartphone can be used “as is”, additional accessories will significantly improve the result:

Budget life hack: if you don't have a telephoto lens, you can shoot the moon through binoculars or a spyglass by putting your smartphone against your eyepiece. ~1 000 ₽). The quality will be worse than direct shooting, but it is an output for models without zoom (e.g. Redmi 10).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions