Why do I keep having problems with the iPhone 5 camera?
February 12, 2013 4:16 PM Subscribe
I'm on my third iPhone 5 since November, due to blobby specks appearing in my pictures. Am I the only one having this problem? Is this a known defect? And if it persists, will Apple just keep replacing the phone?
With my first iPhone 5, after about 3 weeks a purple blob - sharp-edged and looking like an amoeba under a microscope - appeared on every picture I took with the camera. I took it into the Apple store and it was replaced right away. I'd had that replacement about 2 months when first some dust appeared in the camera, which at first I hoped might just dislodge itself, and then, just as I'd decided this was no good one of the same purple blobs appeared. I took it into the store and again it was replaced. So I've had that replacement about 2 weeks now and as of a couple of days ago, another little blob has appeared. You can see what I mean on this pic from Saturday.
I guess this is probably due to some liability with the sapphire material in the lens, but although it's happened to me 3 times now the issue doesn't seem to be widely reported, unlike the 'purple flaring' issue which actually hasn't bothered me.
I never had any complaints with the camera in the iPhone 4, which I treated in much the same way as I have the 5: no case, kept in pant pocket, but treated carefully and not tossed around.
1. Has anybody else had this problem?
2. Assuming it is widespread, is Apple doing anything about it?
3. If this keeps happening, how long are Apple going to keep replacing the phone? Apple's customer service is probably the best I've ever had, but I don't want to have to keep going back with problems; I want a phone with a camera that'll take great pictures but that I don't have to keep stressing out over.
With my first iPhone 5, after about 3 weeks a purple blob - sharp-edged and looking like an amoeba under a microscope - appeared on every picture I took with the camera. I took it into the Apple store and it was replaced right away. I'd had that replacement about 2 months when first some dust appeared in the camera, which at first I hoped might just dislodge itself, and then, just as I'd decided this was no good one of the same purple blobs appeared. I took it into the store and again it was replaced. So I've had that replacement about 2 weeks now and as of a couple of days ago, another little blob has appeared. You can see what I mean on this pic from Saturday.
I guess this is probably due to some liability with the sapphire material in the lens, but although it's happened to me 3 times now the issue doesn't seem to be widely reported, unlike the 'purple flaring' issue which actually hasn't bothered me.
I never had any complaints with the camera in the iPhone 4, which I treated in much the same way as I have the 5: no case, kept in pant pocket, but treated carefully and not tossed around.
1. Has anybody else had this problem?
2. Assuming it is widespread, is Apple doing anything about it?
3. If this keeps happening, how long are Apple going to keep replacing the phone? Apple's customer service is probably the best I've ever had, but I don't want to have to keep going back with problems; I want a phone with a camera that'll take great pictures but that I don't have to keep stressing out over.
Or to the right of the tree?
posted by sciencegeek at 4:37 PM on February 12, 2013
posted by sciencegeek at 4:37 PM on February 12, 2013
Response by poster: Oh, it's on the right hand side about halfway up - a round blob. It's actually smaller (and easier to crop out) than the others have been, but it's still very apparent (and annoying), especially on a blank background like the sky.
posted by Flashman at 4:39 PM on February 12, 2013
posted by Flashman at 4:39 PM on February 12, 2013
There is a blob in the trees on the right side of the photo that looks out-of-place. Can you link more photos so that we can get a sense of the blob?
Have you tried using other camera apps besides the Apple Camera app?
Do you use a case on the phone?
(I have an iPhone 5 and I have not had this problem. So not all of the phones do this.)
posted by aabbbiee at 4:39 PM on February 12, 2013
Have you tried using other camera apps besides the Apple Camera app?
Do you use a case on the phone?
(I have an iPhone 5 and I have not had this problem. So not all of the phones do this.)
posted by aabbbiee at 4:39 PM on February 12, 2013
It would also be helpful to see raw, non-Instagramed photos. I haven't seen this on my iPhone 5, which I've had since launch day, nor have I heard any of my photography-obsessed friends mention it.
posted by primethyme at 4:43 PM on February 12, 2013
posted by primethyme at 4:43 PM on February 12, 2013
It looks like a piece of something on the sensor. This guy has the same thing.
I bet they're little bits of aluminum that somehow didn't get cleaned out after machining and wound up on the sensor. It's pretty certainly something on the sensor anyway. Keep getting replacements until you get one that doesn't do this.
posted by aubilenon at 4:47 PM on February 12, 2013
I bet they're little bits of aluminum that somehow didn't get cleaned out after machining and wound up on the sensor. It's pretty certainly something on the sensor anyway. Keep getting replacements until you get one that doesn't do this.
posted by aubilenon at 4:47 PM on February 12, 2013
Response by poster: Here's a detail of a picture from this morning. Another, full size.
posted by Flashman at 4:59 PM on February 12, 2013
posted by Flashman at 4:59 PM on February 12, 2013
I've had an iPhone 5 since day 1, have taken lots of pictures, and keep up pretty well on iPhone news. I've never experienced this nor have I heard about until now. I don't think it is common.
posted by alms at 4:59 PM on February 12, 2013
posted by alms at 4:59 PM on February 12, 2013
Hmm. That doesn't look like aluminum, but whatever it is it does look like it's directly on the sensor.
posted by aubilenon at 5:22 PM on February 12, 2013
posted by aubilenon at 5:22 PM on February 12, 2013
I have huge problems with my camera. It's rubbish to the point of unusable, and it stems from me replacing the back of the iphone when the glass shattered, and doing so in a non-sterile environment.
So: have you got either a refurbed phone, or is there any possibility that the back cover has been taken off post-manufacture?
posted by MuffinMan at 2:34 AM on February 13, 2013
So: have you got either a refurbed phone, or is there any possibility that the back cover has been taken off post-manufacture?
posted by MuffinMan at 2:34 AM on February 13, 2013
Ever since I read your question, I've been noticing these in more and more pictures online. Here is one example. I wonder if there isn't more noise about this online because most people only look at their photos on small screens.
posted by Brody's chum at 4:55 PM on February 15, 2013
posted by Brody's chum at 4:55 PM on February 15, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by two lights above the sea at 4:34 PM on February 12, 2013