How to use the camera Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S: a complete guide with tips

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, and its camera deserves special attention. Even with the model released in 2021, its 64-megapixel core module and advanced software allow you to take pictures that are not inferior to flagships. But to unlock the full potential of the camera, you need to understand its settings, modes and small tricks that are not written in the official instructions.

In this article, we will not just list the buttons in the camera app, but show you how to use each mode correctly, avoid typical errors and achieve professional quality of shots. You will learn how to adjust manual settings, work with night shooting, shoot 4K video and even use hidden MIUI features. And if you just bought the Redmi Note 10S or have been using it for a long time, but want to improve your photos, here you will find the answers to all the questions.

It's going to be useful for beginners and for advanced users alike, with the first learning the basics, and the second discovering undocumented camera capabilities, like shooting in RAW or manually adjusting white balance through the engineering menu, starting with the basic settings and gradually moving on to advanced techniques.

Basic camera settings: what to do immediately after purchase

Before you dive into the shooting modes, you should optimize the standard camera settings, and many users miss this step, and it is in vain that the right settings save time and improve the result.

Open the Camera app and tap the gear icon (⚙️) You'll find some key options in the upper right corner:

• 📸 Photo resolution: by default it costs 64 MP, but for everyday pictures will be enough and 16 MP (photos will weigh less, and the difference in quality is minimal).
• 🎥 Video resolution: if your smartphone supports 4K@30fps, Turn on this mode for maximum quality, but remember, these videos take up a lot of space.
• 🔄 Save settings: activate the option "Save camera settings" so as not to configure everything again after closing the application.
• 📁 Rescue folder: by default, photos are saved to DCIM/Camera, You can choose a microSD if you have it installed.

Also, look at the "Advanced" section, which contains useful features like serial photography (hold down the button for a quick series of shots) and voice control (say "Take photos" or "Write video"), which make the shooting process much easier.

The main modes of shooting: when and how to use them

The Redmi Note 10S camera app offers several modes, each optimized for specific conditions, and let’s figure out what mode is designed for and how to use it correctly.

The Night mode deserves special attention. Unlike many budget smartphones, the Redmi Note 10S is surprisingly good at handling night shots, provided you don't move your phone while shooting. If you have lights (lights, neon signs), turn on the "Improving Night Scenes" option in the mode settings.

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To quickly switch between modes, swipe left or right across the camera screen. This works even while recording video!

Secrets of professional mode: manual settings for the perfect frame

Professional Mode (or Pro Mode) is a powerful tool for anyone who wants to control every setting.

• ⏱️ Excerpt (from) 1/4000 before 32 seconds – affects the amount of light and blurring of movement.
• 🌡️ White balance (from) 2500K before 10000K) — Corrects color temperature (warm/cold tones).
• 📈 ISO (100 to 3200) — sensitivity of the matrix to light. The higher, the brighter the picture, but also noisier.
• 🎯 Focus (manual focus) – useful for macro photography or when autofocus does not see an object.

How does it work in practice? Let's say you're shooting a sunset. In automatic mode, the camera can make the picture too dark or overlit. In Pro Mode, you can:

1. Set ISO 100-200 for minimal noise.
2. Select shutter speeds 1/100–1/200 to avoid re-lighting the sky.
3. Adjust the white balance to warmer tones (about 5000K).
4. Focus on the clouds or horizon by touching the screen.

For moving objects (such as children or animals), use short shutter speeds (1/500 or less) and high ISO (up to 800). If you are photographing static objects in the dark (such as stars), try long shutter speeds (4-8 seconds) and a minimum ISO.

Night shooting: how to take bright photos in the dark without a tripod

One of the big trump cards of the Redmi Note 10S is the night mode, which is able to pull out details even in minimal light. However, many users complain that night photos are blurry or noisy.

Here is the algorithm for the perfect night shot:

Fix your smartphone on a stable surface or use a mini-station |

Turn off digital zoom, it degrades quality in the dark|

Turn on Night mode and wait until the camera prompts you to hold your phone still.|

If you’re filming people, ask them not to move for 3-5 seconds.|

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If there is no tripod at hand, use the timer (icon) ⏱️ Set the delay for 3 or 10 seconds — that's enough time to put the phone on a flat surface (like a bridge parapet or a bench) and remove your hands. You can also use voice control: say "Take a photo" and the camera will take a picture without pressing the screen.

⚠️ Warning: When shooting at night, avoid bright light sources (such as car headlights) in the frame. 10S It's prone to artifacts (lights) when there's a light drop, so if you have a flashlight in your frame, try to cover it with your finger for 1-2 seconds during exposure, and that helps balance the light.

To capture cityscapes at night, experiment with manual settings in professional mode:

• 🌃 Install. ISO 800-1600 (higher - too noisy).
• ⏳ Select shutter speed in range 1/2–4 seconds (the darker the longer).
• 🎨 White balance shift to the side 4000K natural-flower.

Video Shooting: How to Record in 4K and Avoid Soap Quality

The Redmi Note 10S can shoot video at 4K@30fps, but the default is often Full HD. To enable maximum quality, go to the camera settings (Settings → Video Resolution) and select 3840×2160 (4K). Note that such videos take about 400MB per minute, so save memory.

To prevent the video from being “soapy” (with compression artifacts), follow these tips:

• 📱 Stabilization: Turn on the video stabilization option in the settings. It reduces jitter, but slightly trims the edges of the frame.
• 🔊 Sound: Use an external microphone for clean sound (connects via a USB-C). The built-in microphone catches the wind noise well.
• 🌞 Lighting: Avoid shooting against the sun, the matrix loses detail, preferably in cloudy weather or with backlights.
• 🔄 Focus: Before recording, tap the screen to fix the focus on the main subject, otherwise the camera will constantly "breathe" (change focus).

To record slow motion, switch to Video mode and select 120 fps (Full HD) or 960 fps (HD). Note that at 960 fps, the video is limited to 10 seconds and the quality is significantly lower. This mode is only suitable for short dynamic scenes (for example, a bursting ball or a jump in the water).

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For smooth video, always shoot in horizontal orientation (album mode). Vertical videos lose some of the frame when viewed on most devices.

Hidden camera functions: what will not be told in the instructions

MIUI hides some useful things that few people know about, and here are the most interesting ones:

1. RAW: Professionally, you can save a photo in.dng format, which contains all the data from the matrix. This allows the later to edit the picture without loss of quality. To turn on RAW, tap the RAW icon in the top menu (will appear after activation of Pro Mode).
2. Double press volume button: In the camera settings (Settings → Quick Start), you can enable the option where double pressing the volume button instantly opens the camera, even if the phone is locked.
3. Hidden menu of engineering settings: if you enter the code ##4636## in the phone application, the service menu will open. Here in the "Camera Testing" section, you can manually calibrate autofocus or reset color reproduction settings (useful if the colors in the photo look unnatural).
4. Voice commands in Chinese: In addition to the standard "Take a photo" and "Take a video", the camera understands commands in Chinese, for example, "" (pāi zhào - "to take a picture") or "" (lù xiàng - "to record a video"). This can be useful if the voice control in Russian is unstable.

Another little-known possibility is long shutter speed shooting in Night mode, where if you hold the down button at night, the camera will take a series of different exposures and combine them into a single frame, which allows you to get detailed pictures of the starry sky or the glowing tracks of cars on the road.

⚠️ Note: When using the engineering menu (#4636###), don't change the settings unless you're sure they're intended. Incorrect settings can cause the camera to crash or distort the colors in all the photos.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with a good camera, you can get bad pictures if you don't follow the simple rules, and here are the most common mistakes Redmi Note 10S users make and how to fix them:

Another common problem is fogging of the lens when shooting in cold weather, so to avoid condensation, put your phone in a plastic bag for 10 to 15 minutes before you go outside, which will level the temperature and prevent droplets from forming on the glass.

If the camera starts to "glutch" (for example, does not focus or gives a green hue on the photo), try resetting its settings: go to Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear data. This will return all settings to factory without losing photos.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions