How to turn on fish eyes on Xiaomi Mi 9

Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 9 feature advanced camera modules that allow you to take professional-level shots without the use of bulky equipment. One of the most impressive features is the ability to shoot with an ultra-wide-angle lens, often referred to as a fish-eye mode or Ultra Wide. This tool opens up new horizons for the photographer, allowing you to capture vast landscapes, architecture or large companies of people in one frame.

However, many users have difficulty trying to activate this mode, as the interface of a standard camera application may not be obvious.In some cases, the function is hidden in additional settings, and in others, it requires switching between lenses manually. Understanding how to properly control the optics of your device is critical to unlocking its full potential in mobile photography.

In this guide, we will go into detail all the ways to activate wide-angle shooting, adjust image parameters, and eliminate common errors. You will learn not only to turn on the camera, but also to do it effectively using all the features of the Sony IMX481 sensor installed in your device.

Hardware capabilities of the main camera Mi 9

Before you get to software settings, you need to understand what hardware you're working with. Xiaomi Mi 9 has a triple main camera, where each module performs its unique function. The main sensor is responsible for detail, the telephoto lens provides optical zoom, and the third module provides the same wide angle of view that we will activate.

The ultra-angle camera has a 16mm focal length and an f/2.2 aperture, which allows you to capture significantly more space than a standard lens. It's not just digital zoom or frame trimming, but real work with a physical lens, which guarantees high image quality at the edges of the frame, and this module is used to create a panorama effect in a static frame.

Importantly, the MIUI software on the device takes on the difficult job of correcting distortion. Although the lens physically creates a characteristic bulge, the AI algorithms align straight lines, making the shot more natural to the human eye if you want it to.

• 📸 Basic module: 48 MP for maximum detail in standard mode.
• 🔭 Telephoto: 12 MP with two-fold optical zoom for portraits.
• 🌐 Ultra-wide-angle module: 16 MP with a viewing angle of 117 degrees.

Activation of wide-angle mode in the standard application

The easiest and fastest way to switch to fisheye mode is to use the built-in Camera app. MIUI is designed to keep access to basic features at hand, but sometimes users overlook key controls on the viewfinder screen.

To start, run the app and make sure you're in Photo mode. At the bottom of the screen, just above the shutter button, you'll see a series of icons denoting available lenses. You'll need to find an icon that looks like a tree or a mountain, or just a 0.6x sign. Pressing on this element instantly switches the system to an ultra-wide-angle matrix.

If the 0.6x icon is missing, you may have a portrait or video mode activated with certain limitations. Make sure you are in basic photography mode. It's also worth checking if macro mode is enabled, which can block access to other lenses in some firmware versions.

Once you switch, you'll notice that the image in the viewfinder will expand, and you can now assemble the frame using the entire width of the available space, which is the perfect moment to take interiors or group photos, where you want to put as many objects as possible in the frame.

Setting parameters and proportions of the frame

Once the ultra-wide-angle lens is activated, it is important to adjust the shooting settings correctly to avoid excessive distortion at the edges.The standard aspect ratio in the app is often set at 4:3, allowing for the full area of the matrix to be used, but for social media, 16:9 or 19.5:9 is better suited.

At the top of the viewfinder screen is a button that controls the aspect ratio. By pressing it, you can cycle between the available formats. For Fish Eye mode, it is recommended to use Full or 19.5:9, as it better compensates for the length of the frame and removes excess space from above and below, focusing on the center of the composition.

⚠️ Note: When using an ultra-wide-angle lens, the edges of the frame may look stretched.Try not to place people's faces or important architectural elements (vertical lines) too close to the frame boundaries to avoid comical distortions of proportions.

Additionally, in the camera settings (the menu button in the upper right corner), you can find the "Linear correction" or "Distorsion correction" function. If this option is active, the software will automatically align straight lines, sacrificing some of the useful image at the edges. Disabling this feature will return you to the full viewing angle, but with a characteristic bulge.

• 📐 4:3 format – maximum resolution and detail.
• 🎥 16:9 format – optimized for viewing on TVs and monitors.
• 📱 Full format is perfect for Stories on Instagram and TikTok.

Using the Panorama mode as an alternative

Sometimes a static wide-angle frame is not enough, and you need to capture a really huge panorama, and in this case, Panorama mode comes to the rescue, which also uses an ultra-wide-angle sensor, but glues several frames into one long shot, which is not quite a fisheye in its pure form, but gives a similar effect of space coverage.

To activate this mode, swipe your finger down the bottom line of the camera mode menu left or right until you find the Panorama option. When you click on it, you'll see the instructions on the screen. The principle of operation is simple: you need to slowly move the phone in the direction of the specified arrow, holding the device as smoothly as possible.

Unlike a standard wide-angle image, panoramas can produce ultra-high-resolution images because they are made up of multiple frames, but steadiness is critical here, and any sudden movement or tremor can cause seams or blurred areas to appear in the final image.

💡

To get the perfect panorama, rotate your body around your axis, not just move your arms. Your legs should stay in place, turn your whole body after the guide line on the screen.

Hidden functions and professional settings

For those who want to have full control of the shooting process, the Camera app has a Pro mode, where you can manually control parameters that are automatically hidden from the user, which is especially useful when shooting at ultra-wide angles in difficult lighting conditions.

In Pro mode, you can manually set the ISO and shutter speed. Since the aperture of the ultra-wide-angle camera (f/2.2) is already fixed and not as luminous as the main module, you may need to increase the shutter speed in the evening, but remember that long exposure requires perfect camera immobility, otherwise the lubrication is guaranteed.

Manual focusing is also available in professional mode. Although ultra-wide-angle lenses have greater depth of field and focus on almost infinity, in macro or near shooting, manual focus setting can help highlight a particular object in the foreground, leaving the background in a light but pleasant outfocus.

Third-party applications for enhanced capabilities

If standard functionality isn't enough, the Android ecosystem offers many alternatives, apps like Open Camera or ProCam X that allow you to access the camera's API at a deeper level, and they can support RAW shooting, which provides a huge opportunity for later processing.

Using third-party software is especially relevant if you want to completely disable the distortion correction software that MIUI imposes.In some cases, this allows you to get a more "honest" fish eye with a strong bulge at the edges, which can be an artistic technique.

⚠️ Note: Third-party apps may not have access to all camera modules or may not work smoothly due to Xiaomi driver limitations.Be sure the app is compatible with your Android version and Snapdragon 855 processor before installing.

To install such programs you will need to download APK-file from a reliable source or use the Google Play store. After installation, do not forget to provide the application with all the necessary permissions in the system settings menu, otherwise access to the camera will be blocked.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

The main secret of high-quality images on Xiaomi Mi 9 is understanding the limitations of the 0.6x sensor and correct compositional frame construction, avoiding placing key objects near the image boundaries.