How to set shutter speed on Xiaomi phone: from shooting stars to pictures

Shutter speed is one of the key parameters of photography, which determines how long light hits the camera matrix.On Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi line, POCO and Mi) this setting can be configured both automatically and manually for creative shots, shooting in difficult lighting conditions or creating effects like light painting or motion blur. However, not all users know where to look for these settings and how to use them correctly.

In this article, we will understand how to set the shutter speed on Xiaomi through the standard camera app and third-party programs, discuss the nuances for different models (from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14), and give practical tips for choosing optimal values.

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, 1/1000s 2") It's responsible for the amount of light that hits the camera sensor, and the longer the shutter is open, the more light is captured, but it also increases the risk of hair (washing from the tremors of the hands) and light (too bright areas in the picture).

On Xiaomi smartphones, shutter speed is automatically selected by AI algorithms in Photo mode, but manual setting opens up new possibilities:

• 🌃 Night photography: long exposure (1" to 32") allows you to capture stars, glowing neon signs or car lights on the road.
• 💨 Dynamic scenes: short exposure (1/1000(c) “Freezes” traffic, ideal for sport or flying birds.
• 🎨 Creative effects: blurring water in a waterfall, light painting ("drawing" with light) or imitating movement in a frame.

It is important to understand that on Xiaomi shutter speed is closely related to other exposure parameters: aperture (fixed on most smartphones), ISO (And you can see that when you're shooting at night, you can have a long exposure, and you can have a lower white balance. ISO, to avoid digital noise.

Where is the shutter speed setting in the standard Xiaomi camera

In most of the Xiaomi models (starting with the MIUI 12 and later, manual shutter speed settings are available in Pro (or Manual) mode to find it:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Scroll through the shooting modes left/right and select Pro (on some models – M or Manual).
3. At the bottom of the screen, a panel with parameters will appear. The shutter icon is usually indicated as S (from the word Shutter).
4. Tap the S icon and use a slider or list to select the desired value (for example, 1/50s, 1", 10").

On some devices (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi) K60) In Pro mode, you can also access Night Shooting with extended shutter speeds up to 32. To activate it, switch to the corresponding tab in manual mode.

Attention, on smartphones with MIUI The camera interface may be different on version 12, for example, Xiaomi Mi 9 or Redmi Note 8 Pro to access shutter speed:

1. Go to Camera Settings → Additionally.
2. Activate the option Manual settings.
3. Return to shooting mode and select M (manual).

Step-by-step: how to set the shutter speed on Xiaomi

Let’s look at the process on the example of Xiaomi 12T Pro MIUI 14.A similar action will be appropriate for most modern brand models.

Make sure the battery is charged (long exposure consumes a lot of energy)

Fix your smartphone on a tripod or stable surface

Clean the lens of prints and dust

Turn off digital zoom (it degrades quality in long exposure)

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Step 1: Selection of mode

Open the camera and switch to Pro mode. If it's not on the home screen, tap three dots (⋮) Add the mode to the Quick Access Panel.

Step 2. Set up shutter speed

Click on the S icon (suspension) and select a value from the list or move the slider. The available range depends on the model:

Step 3: Fixing other parameters

To avoid lighting or noise, set:

• 📸 ISO: 100-400 for daytime, 800-1600 for nighttime (but not higher than 3200, otherwise there will be noise).
• 🔍 Focus: Use it MF (manual focus) for static objects or AF (autofocus) for dynamic.
• 🎯 White balance: select Auto or manually select the value for the light source (for example, incandescent lamp for warm light).

Step 4: Shooting and saving

Press the down button. At long shutter speeds (from 1) hold your smartphone still or use a tripod. On some models (such as Xiaomi). 13T) Delayed Descent (2 or 10 seconds) is available to avoid shaking when pressed.

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If the exposure is longer 1/30c, enable the camera settings option Electronic shutter (if any) to help avoid the effect of "rolling shutter" (distortion of moving objects).

Features of shutter speed settings on different Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally good at manual shutter speed settings.

Flagship models (Xiaomi 13/14, Mix Fold)

• 📱 The presence of a double ISO (for example, ISO 50/500), which improves dynamic range.

Mid-size segment (Redmi Note 12, POCO F5):

• ⏱ Maximum exposure - up to 10".
• 🔄 Automatic exposure correction can reset manual settings when lighting changes.
• 📸 Lack of support RAW manually (except for POCO F5 Pro).

Budget models (Redmi A2, POCO C55)

• ⚠️ Shutter speed is limited to 4, night mode is simplified.
• 📉 A lot of noise ISO 800.
• 🔧 No manual focusing in Pro mode.

Xiaomi. 12S Ultra and newer in Pro mode available option Long shutter speed with AI, It automatically compensates for the tremors of the hands with stabilization algorithms, but it only works when you're shooting static objects.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes have problems setting up shutter speeds, and here are the most common errors and ways to solve them:

1. Blurred photographs

⚠️ Attention, if the shutter speed is longer 1/60c, and hold your smartphone, and you're going to shake. Use a tripod or a stop (e.g., put your phone on a stack of books (OIS) You can try to shoot with exposure to 1/15c without a tripod, but the quality will be worse.

2. Overlight or underlight

• ☀️ Too light: reduce exposure or ISO. If the picture is still overshadowed, activate HDR camera-setting.
• 🌑 Too dark: Increase shutter speed or ISO, remember: ISO 3200 will add noise, and the alternative is to use an external light source.

3. The rolling shutter effect

When you're shooting fast-moving objects (like a rotating fan) with an electronic shutter, you can get distortions.

• 🔄 Switch to mechanical shutter (available on Xiaomi 13 Ultra and similar flagships).
• ⚡ Use a shorter shutter speed (1/500c and shorter).

4. Incorrect color reproduction

If you run long exposures, the white balance can get lost.

• 🎨 Manually set the white balance under the light source (for example, daylight for the sun or fluorescent lamp for office lighting).
• 📲 Take it down. RAW and adjust the colors later in Lightroom or Snapseed.

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On Xiaomi with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (such as Xiaomi 13) feature available AI Noise Reduction, which reduces noise when exposed to long exposures, activate it in the camera settings for better results.

Third-party applications for extended exposure control

If Xiaomi’s standard camera isn’t comfortable with restrictions, try alternatives that support manual shutter speed even on budget models and offer additional features like shooting in the camera. RAW or bracketing exposure.

1. Open Camera (Free, Google Play)

• ✅ Support for shutter speeds up to 60" (depending on model).
• ✅ Shooting in RAW (DNG).
• ✅ Manual control of focus and white balance.
• ❌ The interface is less intuitive than a standard camera.

2. Manual Camera (Google Play)

• ✅ Histogram visualization for accurate exposure setting.
• ✅ Support for focus peaking (lighting areas in focus).
• ✅ Ability to save user presets.
• ❌ Some Xiaomi models may not work at night.

3. ProCam X (paid, Google Play)

• ✅ Light Painting Mode for Light Painting.
• ✅ Support for shooting in ProRAW format (on supported devices).
• ✅ Built-in editor with curves and levels.
• ❌ It takes up a lot of space (about 100 MB).

Before installing third-party apps, check their compatibility with your Xiaomi model. 9A Open Camera may not support shutter speeds longer than 2′′ POCO F4 GT — work without restriction.

Practical examples: what excerpt to choose for different scenes

The theory is good, but how do you put it into practice? Here are some real-world scenarios and recommended settings for Xiaomi:

1. Starry sky shooting.

• 🌌 Extract: 15-30” (on tripod!).
• 📸 ISO: 1600-3200 (but not higher, otherwise the stars will drown in noise).
• 🔍 Focus: manual, infinity (∞).
• 💡 Tip: Use a remote or descent delay to avoid shaking.

Light painting (painting with light)

• 🖌️ Excerpt: 5-10".
• 📸 ISO: 100–200 (to avoid overlighting from the light source).
• 🎨 Mode: Night shooting or Pro.
• 💡 Tip: Draw light in a dark room using a flashlight or LED stick.

Water blur (waterfalls, rivers)

• 💦 Excerpt: 1/4–2" (velocity).
• 📸 ISO: 100 (minimum value).
• 🌅 Time of day: cloudy day or dusk (too bright light will require short exposure, and the blur effect will be weak).

4. Fireworks shooting

• 🎆 Excerpt: 2-8".
• 📸 ISO: 200–400.
• 🔍 Focus: manual, infinity (∞).
• 💡 Advice: shoot in format RAW, To adjust the exposure later.

5. Traffic freeze (sports, animals)

• 🏃 Excerpt: 1/500s–1/2000s.
• 📸 ISO: 400-800 (automatically or manually).
• 🔄 Mode: Sport or Pro with short shutter speed priority.

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Use 10-20 shutter speed and sound trigger (available in some third-party applications, such as Camera) to shoot lightning. FV-5).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions