Xiaomi smartphone owners often notice an icon called “Lens” or “Lens” on their desktop or pre-installed software. Many users mistakenly believe it’s just a duplicate of the main camera and remove it, depriving themselves of access to powerful computational photography tools.
The developers of MIUI and the new HyperOS shell have integrated algorithms that were previously only available in expensive SLR cameras, which is responsible for optical effects simulation, focal length and real-time post-processing, and understanding the logic of how the software works will allow you to take studio-quality pictures without the need for additional equipment.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the architecture of the application, its connection with the hardware of the smartphone and hidden settings, which are not known to all experts, you will learn how to properly use background blur, adjust the focus and what advantages the use of this module gives compared to the standard mode “Photo”.
Main purpose of the annex Objective
The main task of the application is to program a low-depth simulation. Unlike a standard camera, which aims to sharpen the entire frame, the Lens module artificially highlights the subject, blurring the background and foreground, this is achieved through the complex interaction of the camera, the main sensor and neural network algorithms.
The app uses deep map data from additional sensors or software-based data, which allows for bokeh effects, which are typically found in high-light optics, and algorithmic processing is instantaneous, allowing you to see the results before you even descent the viewfinder.
⚠️ Attention: For the correct function of blur functions, it is necessary that the subject of the survey is at a distance of at least 0.5-1 meters from the camera.
The app also provides advanced manual settings that are often hidden in the basic interface, where exposure, white balance and ISO sensitivity can be more flexibly managed, which is critical for creative shooting in challenging light conditions.
💡
The lens application is a bridge between the hardware capabilities of the matrix and the software algorithms for creating a professional bokeh.
Key functions and capabilities of the regime
The app's functionality goes far beyond just blurring the background, with a wide range of tools available to users to control the visual perception of a shot, and the choice of a virtual aperture is worth mentioning first.
You can change the blur force after the photo is taken, as long as the image is saved in a depth-enabled format, which provides a unique opportunity to correct the focusing error after the fact, and various lighting effects that mimic studio lighting are also available.
- 📸 Portrait mode: Automatic recognition of faces and silhouettes of people, pets and even food with subsequent qualitative separation from the background.
- 🎨 Light effects: Imitation of studio light, counter-lighting and monochrome black and white portrait.
- 🔍 Zoom and Crop: Using a telephoto lens for optical approximation without loss of detail, which is especially important for portrait photography.
The camera analyzes the lighting on the face of the object and artificially adds highlights or shadows to highlight the relief, thanks to the power of the image processing (ISP) built into Snapdragon or MediaTek chipsets.
Technical requirements and compatibility
The lens application requires hardware resources to function properly. Not all Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones support full functionality equally. The key is the presence of a telephoto lens or depth sensor.
Budget models lacking a separate camera module can use digital zoom and software blur, but quality will be inferior to flagship devices.Algorithms require significant computing power, so processing can take longer on older processors.
| Smartphone category | Availability of telephoto lens | Bokeh quality | Processing speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagships (Xiaomi 13/14 Pro) | Aye (optical zoom) | Professional | Instant. |
| Middle class (Redmi Note) | Often absent | Good (programmatical) | Tall. |
| Budget segment | No. | Basic | Medium |
| Older models (until 2019) | No. | Low/Not present | Low. |
It's important to understand that the software is constantly updated. Features that are not available at the time of purchase of the smartphone may appear after updating the MIUI shell or HyperOS. However, the physical absence of the second or third camera module will not limit the potential of the application.
Setup of shooting parameters
The interface is designed to be intuitive, but hidden settings can change the outcome, often requiring you to switch to advanced mode or click on the settings icon in the corner of the screen.
The first thing you need to do is adjust the blur level. The slider is usually denoted by the letter f and a numerical value. The smaller the number (for example, f/1.8), the more blurred the background. For group portraits, it is better to choose the values f/4.0 or f/5.6, so that all faces remain in focus.
☑️ Checklist of the perfect portrait
Also worth paying attention to the HDR settings. In the Lens app, HDR works aggressively, aligning shadows and light. In some cases, for example, when shooting against a bright window, it is better to turn it off manually to preserve the natural contrasts.
And remember, framing grids, and turning on 3x3 grids will help you position your subject according to the rule of thirds, which will make the composition of the frame more harmonious, and this is especially true for vertical portraits.
Comparison with the main camera mode
Many users are asking themselves, why do you need a separate app when you have similar features in Photo mode? The difference lies in processing priorities. The standard mode focuses on versatility and speed, trying to keep details in all parts of the frame.
The Lens mode is designed to be artistically expressive, and it sacrifices background detail to highlight the main object, and the algorithms are more aggressive, creating a more pronounced boundary between the object and the background.
Hidden opportunities of neural networks
In addition, the app often stores the original depth data, allowing you to edit the focal length after shooting in the gallery. In normal mode, the photo is immediately “stitched” into a flat image, and you can not change the focus after the fact.
Tips for getting better results
To make your shots look really professional, it's not enough to just turn on the mode, you have to take into account the lighting, the distance and the contrast of the background, the ideal conditions are good natural light and background, located at a distance from the object.
Avoid shooting in the dark without stabilization. Blurr algorithms can fail when there is not enough light, creating artifacts along the contour of the object. If you shoot indoors, try to turn the object face to the light source.
- 💡 Contrast: The object must contrast with the background in color or brightness, which will help the algorithm to better separate it from the background.
- 🚶 Static: During the portrait mode, try not to move, as the processing time of the frame may be slightly higher than usual.
- 👓 When shooting people wearing glasses, watch for glare, sometimes the algorithm can take the frame for part of the background and blur it.
⚠️ Note: Do not use digital zoom in Lens mode unless your smartphone has an optical telephoto lens, which will result in a severe loss of image quality and soapiness.
Experiment with angles. The smartphone camera has a wide-angle core module that can distort facial proportions when shooting up close. Use a telephoto lens (2x) for more natural portraits if it's available on your device.
💡
Secret trick: To create the effect of a “fresh” portrait, slightly undeexpose the frame (lower the brightness slider down), this will make the colors richer, and the skin smoother.