How to set up shutter speed on Xiaomi: from photo to timelapse

Shutter speed is one of the key parameters of photography, which determines how long light hits the camera matrix. On Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi models, POCO and flagship series), shutter speed settings are available both in the standard camera app and through third-party programs. However, not everyone knows where to look for this option and how to use it correctly for shooting in different conditions, from night scenes to dynamic scenes.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to install shutter speed on Xiaomi devices: from manual mode in the stock camera to professional applications like GCam or ProCam X. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances for different models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra vs Redmi Note 12), and also tell you how to circumvent the limitations of MIUI if the standard settings do not allow you to set the desired value. For clarity, we will give a table of supported modes and give recommendations for choosing a shutter speed for specific scenes.

What is shutter speed and why set it up on Xiaomi

Shutter speed (or exposure time) is measured in seconds or fractions of a second (e.g. 1/1000c or 30) and directly affects the brightness and sharpness of the image:

• 🌃 Long shutter speed (1" to 30" or more) – used for shooting in the dark, creating the effect of "lubricated" movement (for example, water or the starry sky.
• ⚡ Short exposure (e.g, 1/2000(c) Freezes fast objects (sports, animals, water drops) in the stock camera, Xiaomi automatically selects in Sport mode.
• ⏱️ Timelapse is a series of fixed shutter speed shots collected in video. Xiaomi implemented through a separate Timelapse mode with interval setting.

Without manual shutter speed settings, Xiaomi’s camera selects settings automatically, often resulting in over-lit (too bright) or under-lit (dark) shots. For example, when shooting a night city on a machine, a smartphone can overstate the ISO (matrix sensitivity), which will cause noise, instead of increasing the shutter speed for smooth light.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi budget models (e.g. Redmi) 10A or POCO M4) manual shutter speed setting in the stock camera may be limited by range 1/4000s – 2". To expand the capabilities will need to install third-party software.

Methods of installing shutter speed in a standard Xiaomi camera

The MIUI stock camera app offers two main ways to control shutter speed: through professional mode and Night mode. Let's look at both options in detail.

1. Professional Mode (Pro Mode)

This mode is available on most Xiaomi smartphones, starting with the Redmi Note 8 Pro and older.

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Scroll down the shooting modes to the left to the Professional (or Pro) item.
3. At the bottom of the screen will appear a panel with settings, where the icon ⏱️ hold-up.
4. Tap the icon and use the slider to select the value from 1/4000c to 30" (on some models maximum - 8").

On flagship devices (such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro or Mix Fold 3), ISO, white balance and focus are also available in professional mode, allowing you to more accurately control the final result. However, be careful: when shuttered longer than 1/30s, the picture can be blurred due to hand shakes - use a tripod or a stable surface.

Install your smartphone on a tripod or a hard surface|Turn off stabilization (if you have an option)|Use a timer or remote to release the shutter|Check the battery power (long exposure consumes energy faster)-->

2 Night Mode (Night Mode)

Night mode automatically increases shutter speed for low-light shooting, but in some models Xiaomi (for example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra) allows manual adjustment:

1. Select Night mode in the camera app.
2. Press the badge. ⚙️ (settings AI, to disable automatic optimization.
3. If an exposure time slider is available, move it to the right to increase the exposure (usually up to 4-6).
4. Press the down button and hold the smartphone still until the end of the shoot.

In Night mode, Xiaomi can also automatically take multiple shots and combine them into one (Multi-frame Noise Reduction technology).This helps reduce noise, but requires more processing time. On budget models (such as the Redmi 9C), manual shutter speed settings in this mode may not be available.

Automatic (Night mode")|Manual (Professional regime)|Annex side (GCam, ProCam)|I'm not setting the shutter speed.-->

Advanced shutter speed settings via GCam and other applications

The MIUI stock camera doesn’t always offer flexible settings, especially on budget devices, and third-party apps like:

• 📱 Google Camera (GCam) – Ported version of the camera from Google Pixel with support for manual shutter speeds up to 30′′ and improved processing HDR. Suitable for most Xiaomi smartphones (you need to look for a version for a specific model).
• 🎥 ProCam X – a paid application with advanced settings (suspension up to 60), support RAW, histogram).
• 🌌 NightCap Camera – specializes in long exposure and timelapse night photography.

To set the shutter speed in GCam:

1. Download and install a compatible version of GCam for your Xiaomi model (for example, BSG or Wichaya will do the POCO X3 Pro version).
2. Open the app and go to Night Sight or Pro Mode.
3. Find the badge. ⏱️ and select the desired shutter speed (in some versions of GCam, values up to 1/10000ultrashort).
4. For exposures longer than 1′′, use a timer or external descent (e.g., headphones with a volume button).

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11), the GCam may not save the shutter speed settings between sessions.

Timelapse and long exposure: features on Xiaomi

Xiaomi's Timelapse mode allows you to create accelerated videos from a series of fixed shutter speed photos, which is useful for taking sunset, cloud traffic, or city traffic, to set up the timelapse:

1. Select Timelapse mode in the camera app.
2. Press the badge. ⚙️ settings-access.
3. Select the interval between frames (for example, 1 frame/2(c) and exposure (if available).
4. On flagships (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) you can enable the option Night timelapse for shooting in the dark with long exposure.
5. Start recording and fix the smartphone (statutory is mandatory!).

To capture light tracks (such as from cars or stars), use a combination of timelapse and long exposure:

• 🚗 Set shutter speeds 10–30 in Professional mode.
• 🌠 Turn on the timer or use the remote to descent (to avoid shaking).
• 📹 Capture a series of frames and combine them into a video through apps like Lapse It or Adobe Premiere Rush.

💡

To capture the Milky Way on Xiaomi, use shutter speeds 20–25, ISO 3200–6400, and RAW format. Process the image in Lightroom or Snapseed to reduce noise.

Limitations and problems when setting up shutter speed on Xiaomi

Despite the flexibility of settings, Xiaomi users often face difficulties:

• 🔋 Overheating: Long shutter speeds (over 10) can cause the processor to heat up, especially on budget models, in which case the camera will automatically interrupt the shooting.
• 📵 Limitations MIUI: On some devices (for example, Redmi 9) maximum shutter speed in the stock camera is 2′′, which is not enough for night shooting.
• 🔄 GCam Stability: Ported versions may not save settings or give a Camera error API2 not supported".
• 🎯 Autofocus: Long exposure autofocus may be lost. It is recommended to use manual focus (if available).

Decisions:

• To combat overheating, lower the resolution of the image or use external cooling (for example, a radiator for a smartphone).
• If the stock camera limits shutter speed, install the ProCam X or Manual Camera – these bypass the MIUI limitations.
• For GCam, check your model compatibility on forums and use it. XML-Configurations from experienced users.

⚠️ Note: On devices with MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi Note) 11T) Some versions of the GCam may not support manual shutter speed due to the camera drivers, and in this case, the alternative is based on applications. Camera2 API, such as the Open Camera.

Practical examples: what excerpt to put in different scenes

The choice of shutter speed depends on the lighting, movement of objects and desired effect. Here are some typical scenarios for Xiaomi smartphones:

1. City nightscape

Use shutter speeds 4-8," ISO 800-1600, and a tripod. If you have moving objects (cars, people) in the frame, they will turn into light diversions. For the Xiaomi 13 Ultra with a large matrix, you can lower the ISO to 400 for less noise.

Falls and rivers (silk water effect)

Set shutter speeds of 1/4s to 2" depending on the speed of the current. The longer the shutter speed, the more blurred the water will be. Use a neutral filter (ND) if you shoot during the day, it will reduce the amount of light that hits the matrix.

3. Fireworks

Switch to Professional Mode, set shutter speeds 2-5, ISO 100-200 and manual focus to infinity. RAW shooting will allow Later color correction.

4.Sports and fast facilities

To "freeze" movement (for example, a ball in flight), choose the shutter speed of 1/1000c - 1/2000c. In the stock camera Xiaomi it can be done in the mode of Sport or Professional.

💡

To shoot the starry sky on Xiaomi, use the rule "500 / focal length." For example, at a focal length of 23 mm (equivalent to Xiaomi 12T Pro), the maximum shutter speed without lubricating stars is ~20" (500 / 23 ≈ 21.7).

FAQ: Frequent questions about exposure on Xiaomi