How to improve the camera on Xiaomi Redmi 7: from settings to firmware GCam

Xiaomi Redmi 7 is a budget smartphone with a 12 MP camera that, when properly set up, can deliver images at the level of flagships of 2018-2019. However, out of the box photos often come noisy, with poor detail in the dark or overlit in bright light. The problem is not in hardware, but in software processing – the standard application of the MIUI Camera aggressively compresses pictures and uses not always successful noise reduction algorithms.

In this article, 12 proven ways to improve the quality of photos and videos on Redmi 7, from basic settings to installing alternative firmware. We tested each method in practice and put together a scorecard. Importantly, some solutions require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, but most methods are available without risk for warranty.

1. Optimization of standard camera settings

Before you use third-party apps, check your native camera settings. Even small adjustments can increase your detail by 15-20%. Open the Camera app, tap the gear in the upper right corner, and notice the following:

• 📸 Photo resolution: Choose 12 MP (4:3) instead of 9 MP (16:9) – so the pictures will be less cropped and save more detail.
• 🌓 Regime. HDR: Turn on the car-HDR for scenes with contrast lighting (for example, against the sun), but turn it off indoors - otherwise the photos will be "soapy».
• 🔍 Focus: Switch from Auto to Continuous Autofocus (CAF) dynamically.
• 🎞️ Video Stabilization: Activate EIS (Electronic stabilization, but remember that it cuts the edges of the frame.

Pay special attention to the Save Originals option in HDR settings. If you turn it on, the camera will save two files: a processed and a raw shot, the latter useful for manual editing in Lightroom or Snapseed.

⚠️ Note: Redmi 7 is in the format HEIF (instead JPEG) You can get artifacts when you're viewing on a PC. If you plan to transfer the photo to a computer, choose the following. JPEG (High quality).

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Before an important shot, restart your phone – this will reset the camera cache and reduce the likelihood of “hangs” when processing the pictures.

2. Cleaning the lens and sensors

A trivial but critical detail: up to 30 percent of the blurredness of the Redmi 7 is due to contamination of the lens or infrared sensor, and dust, fingerprints, or remnants of the protective film scatter light, causing the photos to lose sharpness.

1. Turn off the phone and take off the case.
2. Use a microfiber wipe (for example, for glasses) and wipe the lens glass in circular motions.
3. For persistent contaminants, moisten the napkin with isopropyl alcohol (70%) or a special liquid for optics.
4. Blow the flash hole and infrared sensor (near the main camera) with compressed air (such as a keyboard canister).

Check the quality of the before and after cleaning in Macro mode (if available through third-party apps), the difference is especially noticeable when shooting small objects at close range.

3.Using GCam (Google Camera) for Redmi 7

The most effective way to improve the camera is to install a modified version of Google Camera (GCam), which uses processing algorithms from Google Pixel that better cope with noise reduction and dynamic range.

After installation of the GCam:

1. Open the application and give all the necessary permissions.
2. Go to Settings → Camera Model and select Pixel 3 XL (optimum for Redmi 7).
3. Turn on HDR+ Enhanced and turn off the Zoom HDR+ (it doesn’t work on this device).
4. For night shooting, use Night Sight mode with a shutter speed of 3-5 seconds.

⚠️ Warning: Some versions of GCam may not save photos to the gallery. DCIM/Camera via file manager.

4. Manual settings of shooting parameters

The native MIUI camera app hides manual settings, but they can be activated via Pro Mode. This is useful for shooting in challenging environments (e.g. concerts or sunsets).

• 📏 Excerpt: For night scenes exhibit 1/10–1/4 (use a tripod!) Daytime is enough. 1/500–1/1000 c to freeze movement.
• 🎯 ISO: Keep it within 100 to 400 to minimize noise. ISO will give strong graininess.
• 🔄 White balance: in rooms with incandescent lamps choose 3200K, daylight — 5500K.
• 📊 Focus: Manually adjust the focal length (e.g. 5.0 for portraits).

To save settings between sessions, use Save Custom Settings (available in some versions of MIUI 12+). If this is not available, take a picture of the screen with settings for quick setup next time.

Install ISO 100|Excerpt. 1/200 s|White balance 5000K|Focus on infinity|Shut down. HDR-->

5. Improve video quality: resolution and bitrate

The standard camera app on Redmi 7 limits the bitrate of the video, which makes the render soapy, especially when moving.

1. Install the Open Camera app from Google Play.
2. Go to Settings → Video settings.
3. Select a resolution of 1920×1080 (Full HD) and set the bitrate to a maximum of 20 Mbps.
4. Activate Video Stabilization (if shooting with hands).

To shoot in 4K, you will need a modified firmware (like LineageOS), but on Redmi 7 this will lead to overheating of the processor. The optimal compromise is Full HD @ 60 FPS with a bitrate of 15-20 Mbps.

If the video still turns out to be "ragged," try disabling Hardware Codec Acceleration in the Open Camera settings, which will reduce performance, but eliminate artifacts.

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For smooth video on Redmi 7, the optimal combination of Full HD + 30 FPS + bitrate 15 Mbps. 60 FPS gives more “shaking” due to weak stabilization.

6. Alternative applications for shooting and processing

If GCam doesn’t work, try other apps with advanced settings:

• 📷 Open Camera: open source, support for manual settings, shooting in RAW.
• 🎥 Footage: specializes in video, allows you to record bitrate and frame rate.
• 🖼️ Adobe Lightroom: for post-processing (color correction, noise reduction, sharpness).
• 🌌 Night Camera: Optimized for shooting in the dark (alternative to Night Sight).

For the format. RAW (raw data from the matrix is suitable Open Camera or Manual Camera. RAW-file ~20 MB each, but you can pull out the details when you edit, for example, in Lightroom you can restore overlit areas or shadows without losing quality.

Example of workflow for maximum quality:

1. You can shoot in RAW + JPEG through Open Camera.
2. Import RAW to Lightroom, adjust exposure and color.
3. Export to JPEG with 100% quality.

7. Hardware improvements: external lenses and lighting

Software methods have limits, so for serious shooting, consider hardware accessories:

• 🔍 Macro-lens (e.g. Xenvo Pro Lens): zooms in small objects without loss of quality.
• 🌄 Wide-angle lens: extends the viewing angle to 120° (landscape-friendly).
• 💡 Ring lamp: removes shadows in portraiture. Connects through USB-C.
• 🎤 External microphone (e.g., Boya) BY-M1): improves sound in video (connects through 3.5 mm connector).

Redmi 7 is a clip-on mount lenses, avoid cheap nozzles without optical glass, they will only worsen the quality. Optimal budget for a lens: 1,500-3,000 ₽.

⚠️ Warning: When using external lenses, turn off digital zoom in the camera settings. It conflicts with the optical nozzle system and creates double distortion.

8. Camera firmware and system modification

For advanced users, replacing standard camera firmware with a modified one (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) can increase detail by 25-40%.

1. Unlock the bootloader (fastboot oem unlock).
2. Custom Recovery (TWRP) installations.
3. Firmware alternatives (e.g. Havoc OS with Camera2API support)

Advantages of custom firmware:

• Support for RAW in a standard camera.
• Improved HDR processing.
• No restrictions on bitrate video.

Risks:

• Loss of warranty.
• Possible bugs (such as a broken flash).
• The difficulty of rolling back on standard firmware.

If you decide on firmware, use proven assemblies from the forum XDA Developers (e.g., onclite for Redmi 7).Before the procedure, backup through TWRP!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 7 camera improvements