Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro at one time became a real hit of sales, largely thanks to the main camera with a resolution of 64 MP. However, even such a powerful sensor Sony IMX686 over time can disappoint the owner with mediocre images in low light or unnatural color reproduction. Many users mistakenly believe that the quality of photos depends solely on hardware, forgetting about the software processing algorithms.
In this article, we'll take a comprehensive approach to improving the photo capabilities of your device, not just listing the settings, but addressing the physical purity of optics, the right selection of third-party software and fine calibration of a standard application. Software optimization can work wonders even with a device released a few years ago.
Before you go into the complex settings, make sure that the basic conditions for shooting are met. Often the problem is not the hardware, but the basic neglect of the gadget care. Let's start with the simplest, but critical, step that 80 percent of users forget.
Basic optics hygiene and physical care
The first thing to do to improve the quality of the images is to clean up the optics itself. The protective glass of the main camera Redmi Note 8 Pro is prone to accumulating fatty fingerprints from the fingers, which create the effect of soapy pictures and glare from light sources. Regular microfiber wipes back the images necessary sharpness and contrast.
Don't use aggressive chemicals or abrasive materials to clean, dry lintless fabric is enough, if there are micro-scratches on the glass, they can scatter light, creating a fog effect on the final image, in which case careful polishing with special pastes for displays helps, but this should be done with extreme caution.
⚠️ Warning: Never use alcohol-containing solutions directly on the lens without first applying to the fabric.Aggressive liquid can damage the oleophobic coating and leak into the camera module, causing corrosion of contacts.
It's also worth checking the condition of the protective case. Some accessories have too high sides around the camera module, which can get into the frame when shooting at a wide angle or macro. Mechanical obstacles often cause black spots on the edges of the photo.
For owners of a 128GB model, although this does not impair the quality of the optics, delays in file saving can cause the frame to lubricate if you try to take a photo immediately after the previous one.
Deep customization of the standard MIUI Camera application
The MIUI camera's regular application has a wide range of features that are often hidden from the eyes of the average user. To get the most out of a 64-megapixel sensor, you need to manually adjust exposure and focus settings. Automation often fails in difficult light conditions.
Go to the camera settings and find "Save the original photo" or "64 MP." In standard mode, the camera uses pixel binning technology, combining 4 pixels into one for better light-sensitive result (16 MP). Enabling the 64 MP mode only makes sense in perfect daylight.
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Turn on the grid frame in the settings of the viewfinder – it will help to align the horizon and build the composition according to the rule of thirds, which will immediately make your photos visually more professional.
Note the HDR settings. There are three options on the menu: off, auto, and on. For static landscapes, it's better to force HDR to keep details in shadows and lights. However, for dynamic scenes, HDR mode is better off to avoid motion artifacts.
- 📸 Mode "Pro": allows you to manually display ISO, White Balance and Exposure for Creative Photography.
- 🎨 Color style: In the settings, you can choose “Saturated” for bright photos or “Standard” for more natural tones.
- ⏱ Timer and beeps: Turning off shutter sound sometimes helps in street photography to keep you from attracting attention.
It's also important to experiment with aspect ratio. 4:3 uses the entire matrix area, whereas 16:9 or Full just crop the image programmatically. Always choose 4:3 for maximum detail and crop the photo after you shoot.
Install Google Camera (GCam) for Redmi Note 8 Pro
The most effective way to dramatically change the quality of a photo is to install a ported version of Google Camera. Google’s image processing algorithms are considered industry benchmarks, especially in terms of night shooting and dynamic range. There are special mods for the MediaTek Helio G90T processor, which is installed in the Redmi Note 8 Pro.
The installation process requires downloading APK-a file of a particular version compatible with your version of Android. Once installed, the application may not work smoothly without the correct configuration file. XML-Configs are settings files that adapt the work of GCam to a specific matrix of a smartphone.
☑️ Installation of GCam
There are several popular builds, for example, from the developer BigKaka or Arnova8G2. For the Redmi Note 8 Pro (codename begonia) version with support for API2 is best suited. After installation, be sure to go to the GCam settings and in the "Auxiliary cameras" section, activate the use of the telephoto lens and wide-angle if they are not determined automatically.
⚠️ Note: When installing GCam from unverified sources, there is a risk of malware infection of the device. 4PDA or XDA Developers, and check the hash sums of files.
The advantage of GCam is Night Sight mode, which makes night shots brighter and cleaner than the standard MIUI Night Mode. Also improves the portrait mode, where the contour of the object is better defined and the background is blurred more naturally.
Use of Pro mode and manual settings
For those who want to have full control over the image creation process, Pro mode in a standard camera or third-party applications like Open Camera provides the tools you need, and here you control the exposure directly, without AI interference.
The key parameter is ISO. In low light conditions, the Redmi Note 8 Pro algorithms are often bullied ISO It's up to 1600 and up, which causes digital noise. ISO at a minimum value (usually 100 or 50), compensating for the lack of light by increasing shutter speed.
| Parameter | Recommended value (Day) | Recommended value (Night/Stativ) | Influence on photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO | 50 - 100 | 100 - 400 | Sensor sensitivity, noise level |
| Excerpt (S) | 1/1000 - 1/500 | 1/10 - 2 sec | Light, motion lubrication |
| White balance (WB) | Car or 5500K | 3000K - 4000K | Color temperature, heat of the frame |
| Focus (MF) | Infinity | Manual setting | Sharpness of subject |
Using MF manual focus is particularly useful when shooting macro or glass. Autofocus can walk and focus on the specks on the glass instead of the object behind it. Switching to the manual, you fix the focal length.
The secret to shooting stars
Remember the save format. Pro mode often has a RAW (DNG) save option, which contains raw data from the matrix, takes up more space and looks paler than JPEG, but provides tremendous post-processing capabilities in Lightroom or Snapseed.
The secrets of macro photography and wide-angle
The macro shooting module in the Redmi Note 8 Pro is only 2 MP, which is often controversial. However, knowing the features of its work, you can get acceptable results. The main rule is good lighting. The matrix is small and the aperture is low, so if you don't have enough light, the photos will be porridge.
The wide-angle camera (8 MP) suffers from lower resolution and lack of autofocus. To improve the quality of your shots on the "width" try not to use digital zoom inside this mode. Go closer to the subject or use the crop of the finished shot.
- 🔍 Distance: For macro, bring the phone to a distance 2-4 See, but watch the shadow from the machine itself.
- 🌄 Landscapes: The wide angle distorts the edges of the frame, so do not place people's faces around the edges of the frame when group photos.
- 💡 Stabilization: On a wide angle, shaking hands is less noticeable, but for macro stabilization critical.
Electronic stabilization is available for wide-angle video, but it only works at 1080p. When shooting in 4K, stabilization is turned off, and the picture can be jigged. For blogs or dynamic scenes, it is better to use the main camera with stabilization enabled.
Experiment with angles of inclination. Wide-angle optics creates an interesting perspective distortion that can be used creatively, by shooting architecture from the bottom up or emphasizing the scale of the landscape.
Post-working: the final touch
Even the perfect camera requires post-processing to post on social media. The built-in MIUI editor is quite powerful, but third-party apps give more control. Snapseed and Adobe Lightroom Mobile are great for quick color and light correction.
The first thing to do is adjust exposure and contrast. Often, Redmi Note 8 Pro shots lack the pop-powdering that can be added to slightly improve saturation and clarity. The Structure tool in Snapseed is good at revealing detail in textures.
Critical: Avoid excessive Sharpening when processing photos, and MIUI algorithms are already so sharpy, and the additional amplification will result in white halos around objects and increased digital noise.
Use curves to work with color. If you lift a blue dot in the shadows, you can add a cinematic cold tint to the photo, and shifting the red dot in the lights will add warmth, which turns a normal shot into an author's work.
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The best photo is obtained at the junction of the correct initial frame and minimal, but competent post-processing. Don't try to correct a completely blurred or overexposed photo - it is better to reshoot the scene with new settings.