How to shoot a starry sky on a Xiaomi smartphone: a complete guide for beginner astrophotographers

Starry sky has always fascinated humanity, and the ability to capture it on a smartphone makes this miracle accessible to everyone. 11/12/13, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and POCO F4 — They're equipped with cameras that can capture the light of distant stars when you're setting them up, but shooting the night sky requires not only technical training, but also astronomical nuances, from location to lunar phase.

In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step process of shooting the starry sky on Xiaomi – from equipment preparation to post-processing of images. You’ll learn which models do better with astrophotography, how to set up the Pro Mode camera’s manual mode, and why even the brand’s budget smartphones can deliver impressive results with the right approach. And for those who want to go beyond the standard features, we will reveal the secrets of using third-party applications like Camera. FV-5 or NightCap.

It's important to understand that shooting stars on a smartphone is a compromise between the capabilities of technology and the laws of physics. Even the top Xiaomi will not replace a professional DSLR, but if you meet all the conditions, you will get pictures that you can be proud of. Are you ready to go on a night adventure with your smartphone?

📊 What kind of Xiaomi smartphone do you have?

Mi 11/12/13

Redmi Note 10/11 Pro

POCO F3/F4

Another flagship

Budget model

1.What Xiaomi models are suitable for shooting the starry sky?

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally good at astrophotography. Key factors are the size of the matrix, the aperture of the lens (aperture value). f/) And there's a manual mode with long exposure, and here's the rating of the models for decreasing suitability for shooting stars:

🌌 Xiaomi 13 Ultra - flagship with 1-Sony-inch IMX989, diaphragm f/1.9-f/4.0 and support for exposure to 30 Best choice for astrophotography among smartphones.
🌠 Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a similar matrix, but with slightly less advanced processing. Supports shooting in format RAW.
⭐ Redmi Note 12 Pro+ — budgetary option 200-MP camera and diaphragm f/1.69. It requires manual adjustment, but can surprise.
💫 POCO F4 GT — 64-MP main camera with f/1.65 It's good for post-processing of the Milky Way.
🌑 Xiaomi 11T Pro — 108-MP sensor, but weak aperture (f/1.75). Suitable for beginners.

Models that are not recommended: all smartphones with aperture are weaker f/2.0 (Like Redmi. 9A or POCO M3), And also, you can avoid models with small matrices (less than manual camera mode). 1/1.5").

⚠️ Attention: Even on top Xiaomi models, shooting stars without a tripod is impossible - trembling hands with prolonged exposure will make the picture blurry. Use a mini-station or improvised support.

Model	Matrix size	Diaphragm	Max. Excerpt from Pro Mode	Support for RAW
Xiaomi 13 Ultra	1"	f/1.9–f/4.0	30	Yes.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+	1/1.28"	f/1.69	30	Yes.
POCO F4 GT	1/1.7"	f/1.65	32	No.
Xiaomi 11 Lite NE	1/1.52"	f/1.75	10.	No.

Preparation for shooting: the choice of time, place and equipment

Successful shooting of the sky is 80% dependent on preparation, and here are the key factors to consider:

🌍 Location: Ideally, out of town, away from light pollution. Use the Light Pollution Map to search for dark areas (grey/black areas).
🌕 Moon phase: Plan to shoot on the new moon or when the moon is below the horizon.
⏱️ Time: Best period is 23:00 to 4:00, when the atmosphere is most stable.In summer, the Milky Way is visible from midnight to 3:00.
🌡️ Weather: Cloudless skies and low humidity.check the forecast on Clear Outside.

Equipment:

📱 Xiaomi Smartphone (see section above).
🎥 Tripod (even a miniature one, for example, Xiaomi Mi Pocket Tripod).
🔋 Powerbank – Cold and long shooting quickly plant the battery.
🔦 Red flashlight (does not disrupt the eye's adaptation to the dark).
📱 Remote or Delay Descent (to avoid shaking when pressed on screen).

Critical nuance: air temperature is lower +10°C can cause the camera to automatically shut down on some Xiaomi models (especially budget ones).If the smartphone stops responding, warm it in your pocket for 5-10 minutes.

Make sure the battery is charged >70%|

Disable autofocus and auto exposure|

Install your smartphone on a tripod|

Check the cloud forecast|

Energize the "Do not disturb" mode"-->

3. Xiaomi camera settings for shooting stars

Moving on to the most important thing, the camera setup is done in manual Pro Mode (some models call it Manual or Expert). If it's not in the standard app, install Google Camera with Astrophotography Mode support (for example, the version from the Google Camera). BSG Wichaya).

The best parameters for shooting stars:

📸 Format: RAW (if supported) or JPEG maximum-resolution.
⏱️ Shutter speed: 20-30 seconds (maximum, which allows the smartphone without noise).
🔍 ISO: 1600–3200 (on Xiaomi 13 Ultra, you can raise to 6400).
🎯 Focus: Manual focus on "infinity" (move the slider to the stop to the right).
🌐 White balance: 4,000–5000K (or "Filament lamp" mode").

Step-by-step:

Open the Camera app → Go to Pro Mode.
Install. ISO 3200, 30 seconds exposure.
Turn it off. HDR and AI-Improvements (they ruin astroscopic images).
Point the camera at a patch of sky with the Milky Way (use the Star Walk 2 app for navigation).
Touch the screen to focus, then turn the focus into manual mode and move the slider to the end to the right.
Use a timer or remote to release the shutter (to avoid shaking).

If your model does not support shutter speeds of more than 10 seconds, try to take a series of images with a shutter speed of 8-10 seconds and then “fold” them in the Sequator or StarStaX program (for this, see the section on processing).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI During long exposure, the camera can automatically lower ISO To avoid this, install alternative camera software (such as Open Camera) or run Google Camera.

💡

If green/purple artifacts appear in the pictures, lower ISO It's 1600, and you can maximize shutter speed, which is a sign of overheating.

4. Photography of the Milky Way: technique and frame layout

The Milky Way is the main target of most astrophotographers, and to capture it, you need to know where and when it's visible. In the northern hemisphere, the best time is March to October, and you have to do this.

🌌 Spring (March-May) - visible before dawn.
🌠 Summer (June-August) - visible all night.
⭐ Autumn (September–October) – visible immediately after sunset.

How to find the Milky Way in the sky:

Use the PhotoPills or Stellarium app to determine its position.
Orient yourself to the constellation Sagittarius (summer) or Cygnus (autumn) – there is the brightest part of the Milky Way.
Point the camera south (in the northern hemisphere) at an angle. ~45° horizonward.

Composition: Don't just limit yourself to the sky!

🌲 Silhouettes of trees or mountains.
🏠 Buildings or other facilities for scale.
🚗 Light of the headlights of a passing car (for dynamics).

So if you put the Milky Way diagonally, you add a dark forest or a lake to the bottom, and you give it depth.

How to shoot star tracks on Xiaomi?

To shoot stellar tracks (traces from the rotation of the Earth), you need to take a series of images with a shutter speed of 20-30 seconds and an interval of 1-2 seconds between frames (use the Intervalometer application), and then combine them into StarStaX. The minimum number of frames is 50, the optimal is 200.+.

5. Image processing: from RAW before-photo

Raw images of the sky usually look dull and noisy. Processing is a must! Here's a step-by-step process for beginners:

Basic processing in Lightroom Mobile:

Import. RAW-file (if it was taken in this format).
Increase the exposure to +1.5–2.5 EV.
Raise the Contrast to +30 and Brightness of Shadows to +50.
Reduce the temperature to 3,500–4000K yellow-cut.
Add clarity (+20) and Noise reduction (fluorescent on the +30).
Use the Tone Curve to enhance the contrast between the stars and the sky.

Advanced processing in Photoshop (for PC):

⭐ Noise: Apply Reduce Noise to dark areas only (use a mask).

To “glue” multiple images into one (for example, for star tracks or noise reduction) use:

Sequator (Windows, free) - for adding astroscopic images.
StarStaX (Mac/Windows) — for creating star trails.
AstroPixel Processor (paid but powerful)

The important thing is, when processing, don't overdo it with increased exposure, it will make noise, and it's better to take a few pictures and fold them up than try to pull out one frame.

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Shooting in RAW It gives 30-50% more detail in the processing compared to the JPEG, It takes up 3-5 times more space on the memory card.

6 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced photographers sometimes make mistakes when shooting the stars, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to correct them:

Mistake.	Reason.	Decision
Blurred stars	Camera shake or too long exposure	Use a tripod and shutter speed of no more than 30 seconds (or calculate by the rule of 500:500 / focal length)
Green/purple	Light pollution or high pollution ISO	Take it off. RAW And fix the white balance in the editor
The sky is too dark.	Insufficient exposure	Increase. ISO or exposure (but not higher than 3200 and 30 seconds, respectively)
Noises in the form of colored dots	High. ISO matrix	Take a series of shots and fold them into Sequator

7. Alternative methods: applications and accessories

If the standard Xiaomi camera doesn’t do the job, try specialized apps and accessories:

Astrophotography applications:

📱 Google Camera (GCam) – versions with Astrophotography module (e.g., from the BSG It automatically adjusts the settings for shooting stars.
🌌 NightCap Camera (iOS/Android) — Stars Mode with automatic addition.
🔭 DSLR Camera – emulates manual settings of a professional camera.

Accessories for quality improvement:

🔍 Lens nozzles: Wide-angle lenses (like Xiaomi Lens Attachment) will help capture more of the sky.
🔋 External battery: 20,000 mAh models (e.g. Xiaomi Power Bank 3 Pro) will allow you to shoot all night long.
📡 Bluetooth remote: Xiaomi Bluetooth Remote for remote shutter descent.
🌡️ Heating case: For shooting in the cold (for example, Zhiyun-Tech Hand Warmer).

Firmware and Mods: For advanced users, there is an option to flash the camera with a modified LibPatch (for example, for the Xiaomi 12 Pro), which allows you to increase the shutter speed to 60 seconds.

💡

If you’re shooting on Xiaomi 13 Ultra, try HyperNight mode in a standard camera – it automatically folds several frames to reduce noise.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Is it possible to shoot a starry sky on a budget Xiaomi (for example, Redmi) 9A)?

Technically, but the result will be modest. Budget models have small matrices (1/2.8" and less) and a weak aperture (diaphragm) f/2.2 The maximum you get is bright stars and the moon. The Milky Way will need at least a Redmi Note. 10 Pro or higher.

Why do the stars appear in pictures not in dots, but in dashes?

This is a consequence of the Earth's rotation. To keep stars dots, use a rule. 500: Max. excerpt (c) = 500 / focal length (mm) for example, for a smartphone with focal length 24 mm: 500 / 24 ≈ 20 seconds.

How to shoot a starfall on Xiaomi?

Starfalls are unpredictable, so you need a series of shots at intervals. Set the camera to shutter speeds of 15 to 20 seconds, ISO 3200 and take pictures in a row at intervals of 1-2 seconds (use Intervalometer.

Which app is better for shooting stars: a standard camera or a GCam?

Depends on the model. for Xiaomi 13 Ultra or 12S The Ultra standard camera often gives better results thanks to the optimization for iron. For other models, the GCam (with Astrophotography module) is usually preferred due to better noise processing.

Can you shoot stars through a telescope by attaching Xiaomi to it?

Yes, but you'll need a smartphone adapter (like the Celestron NexYZ) and a telescope with a focuser. Set up the camera's manual mode, turn off autofocus and shoot at 5-10 seconds shutter speed (to avoid blurring from Earth's rotation).