Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones today are equipped with matrices that can perform miracles in low light conditions. Many users do not even suspect that their device can capture the Milky Way or star tracks without using expensive mirror equipment. The key to success lies not only in the hardware, but also in the correct understanding of the physical processes of shooting.
In this article, we will explore all the nuances of creating high-quality images of the starry sky using built-in camera capabilities and third-party software. You will learn why a tripod is a must-have attribute, how to avoid digital noise, and what shutter speed and ISO settings will be optimal for your phone model. Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of mobile astrophotography.
Preparation of equipment and choice of location
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that the device is stable. Anybody, even microscopic hand tremors, will turn stars into blurry spots, because the exposure time for night photography is 10 to 30 seconds. The ideal solution is to use a heavy tripod, but if you don't have one, you can point your phone against a rock, a tree or a sandbag, and lock your position with a timer.
The second critical factor is light pollution, and it's almost useless to shoot stars in the middle of a metropolis: lights and advertising will eat all the faint objects in the sky, and you need to go out of town, into a field, into a mountain or a desert, where the sky is dark even after sunset.
⚠️ Warning: When shooting in the cold season, lithium-ion batteries of smartphones discharge faster. Be sure to bring an external battery (Power Bank) and keep the phone warm until the moment of shooting.
Also, remember to wipe the camera optics before you start, and the fat spots from your fingers, when you run long exposures, turn into huge glare that you can't remove in post-processing, and use a soft microfiber to clean your lenses.
Use of built-in mode "Night" and "Profi"
The standard MIUI Camera or HyperOS Camera app has two main ways to capture stars: the first is the Night Mode, which often has a special sub-item called Star Sky or Astrophotography, and the second is the Manual Pro mode, which gives you full control over exposure parameters.
Automation is convenient because AI algorithms can pick up white balance and noise reduction levels themselves, but it can overcook bright stars or lose parts in the Milky Way. Pro mode requires knowledge, but it can produce a more natural and detailed result.
To switch to manual mode, select the camera menu option "Enter → Pro" and you will have to set the three main parameters: shutter speed (S), sensitivity (ISO) and focal length (MF), and errors in setting any of them will lead to a failure of the frame.
Configuring exposure parameters in manual mode
The most important parameter is shutter speed. For fixed stars, the rule is that exposure should not exceed the value at which stars will start to turn into devils due to the rotation of the Earth. For wide-angle lens smartphones, the safe limit is 15 to 25 seconds.
Sensitivity matrix (ISO) should be selected experimentally, focusing on histogram and noise level. if a high ISO value (for example, 3200 and higher on older models) will add “grain” and color noise. The optimal range for modern sensors Sony or Samsung used in Xiaomi, is in the range of 800-1,600 units.
- 🌟 Shutter speed (S): Set the value in the range of 15-30 seconds. Start with 20 seconds and look at the result.
- 📷 ISO: Try to keep the value between 800 and 1600. If the frame is too dark, raise it. ISO gradually.
- 🔍 Focus (MF): Switch the focus to manual mode and move the slider to the end in the direction of the icon “mountain” (infinity), then slightly back.
- 🎨 White balance (WB): Set a value of about 4000-4500 Kelvin for the natural color of the night sky, avoiding blue or yellow shades.
Once you set the parameters, take a test shot, and if the stars look like dots, the shutter speed is right, and if they turn into short lines, reduce the exposure time.
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Use a 3 or 5-second delay timer instead of a trigger button, which will eliminate the shaking of your smartphone when you touch the screen and increase the sharpness of the frame.
Focusing and White Balance settings
Autofocus in the dark is extremely inefficient, often "striking" and finding no contrasting boundaries, which is why switching to manual focus mode (MF) is a must-see step. A slider will appear on the smartphone screen when you click on the focus icon.
You need to move this slider to the extreme right, to the infinity symbol. However, on some phone models, the mechanical emphasis may not coincide with optical infinity. The best way to find the perfect point is to turn on the magnifier mode (if available), or to take a test shot of a bright star and zoom in by twisting the focus until the star is the minimum point.
⚠️ Warning: After setting the focus, try not to touch the lens area with your fingers. Changing the lens temperature from the heat of the hand can knock the focal length (thermal expansion).
White balance (WB) is responsible for the color temperature of the frame. The night sky should not be completely black or bright blue. Setting a value around 4,000 Kelvin will preserve the natural hues of the Milky Way, which often have reddish or greenish tones in regions of gas nebulae.
Third-party applications for advanced shooting
The Xiaomi camera app is functional but sometimes limits the user’s exposure length (often no more than 30 seconds) or aggressively applies noise cancellation. To fully unlock the camera’s potential, it is recommended to use third-party software that supports RAW format and manual control.
One of the best solutions is the Open Camera app or the paid ProCam X. They allow you to unlock access to the full range of shutter speeds if it supports the camera driver (Camera2 API), and these applications are able to save pictures in DNG format (RAW), which stores all the information from the matrix without compression and processing by phone algorithms.
Why do you need a RAW format?
Use of the RAW-The format is especially relevant for owners of flagship models Xiaomi 13 Pro, Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note of the latest series, where the size of the matrix allows you to capture more light.
Table of recommended settings for different conditions
To organize knowledge, we will give a summary table of parameters, remember that these values are the starting point ("base"), which you need to start depending on the specific light situation and model of your smartphone.
| Filming conditions | Excerpt (sec) | ISO | White balance (K) | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear sky, no moon. | 20–25 | 1000–1200 | 4000 | RAW (DNG) |
| Full moon (bright night) | 10–15 | 400–600 | 4500 | JPEG / RAW |
| Sunset/Twilight | 5–10 | 200–400 | 5000 | JPEG |
| Star Trek (movement) | 120+ (series) | 800 | 4000 | RAW |
These settings will help you navigate quickly, and if the sky seems too dark, increase your ISO, but watch for "colored noise" (red and green dots).
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The main secret of high-quality astrophotography on a smartphone is not the maximum ISO settings, but the correct shutter speed and clean optics. Noise is easier to remove software than to return parts “swalled” in black due to short exposure.
Image processing and noise removal
Shooting is only half the way, and smartphone digital arrays, especially in high ISO environments, create noise, and professionals use stacking (overlaying multiple frames) to eliminate it, but basic processing in the editor is enough to start with.
Upload the photo to Lightroom or Snapseed. First, work with Light and Color. Raise the contrast and clarity a little to highlight the structure of the Milky Way. Then go to the noise reduction section. → Noise Reduction, gently increasing the parameter until the graininess becomes less noticeable, but the stars do not turn into "plastic».
- 🎨 Saturation: Add Vibrance carefully to highlight the color of the gas clouds.
Don't overdo it with filters. The processing is to improve what the camera captures, not create a new reality. The naturalness of the night sky is valued more than the screaming, unnatural colors.