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Apple support says iPhone 5 purple camera haze is 'normal behavior'

Discussion in 'TechSpot News and Comments' started by Shawn Knight, Oct 2, 2012.

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  1. Shawn Knight TechSpot Staff Posts: 1,674

    Reports of a flaw in the iPhone 5's camera surfaced shortly after the handset launched just over a week ago. Users described seeing a purple haze or flare when snapping photos containing brightly lit objects like a lamp or the...

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  2. m4a4 TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 273   +50

    And people support this half-a$$ed phone?
  3. mattfrompa TechSpot Maniac Posts: 470

    "Purple Haze was in my brain,
    lately things don't seem the same,
    actin' funny but I don't know why
    'scuse me while I kiss the sky."-JH
    Littleczr and gamoniac like this.
  4. It is 100% without a doubt chromatic aberration. this affects all camera lenses to some degree, but is more noticeable in cheaper and/or more compact lenses. Most lens manufacturers will use exotic glass (Fluorite) and aspheric lens elements in an attempt to produce better color/contrast and eliminate chromatic aberration. Why do you think pro camera lenses cost $1k+ and way up, while consumer lenses cost $100-200? bigger heaver and better glass in the lens improves contrast, color and sharpness immensely. However, In recent years many camera utilize software to correct for this and other lens limitations "in camera" which makes the lens seem better than it really is. I would imagine that at some point Apple will be able to roll out a software fix that will reduce or eliminate this. However, you can't magically restore missing detail to an image. The most software can do here is make the purple fringe white.
    prismatics and p51d007 like this.
  5. Jim$ter Newcomer, in training Posts: 68   +9

    So is "White Eyes" apparently.
  6. I can see the world is more purple-ish with iPhone..
     
  7. p51d007 TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 160   +15

    I wish more people would understand, that a "lens" that is less than 10mm in diameter isn't going to achieve the same quality as the $1,000.00+ lens on my dSLR. Between the purple fringing, poor S/N ratio, unless you have ideal conditions, you are not going to be happy with
    a "camera phone". Those that have this purple haze, try this. If you have a good pair of GLASS polarizing sunglasses, hold them over the lens and snap a photo, then rotate the sunglasses approximately 90 degrees and snap another photo. Look to see if the purple haze is reduced. If it does, then you have your answer. The "UV" end of the light spectrum is messing with the sapphire coating or whatever they call it, on the iPhone.
  8. Well This is pretty stupid. Why don't we follow simple rules? Even with $3000 lenses shooting in the or toward the sun is suicidal. So why do it with a camera phone just to prove a point? I want to see shots with the sun behind one. If those are ok. Well what expectations should you have for a camera phone. I don't have much. But its good to have lower and lower price for people bit chin.
  9. 9Nails TechSpot Paladin Posts: 624   +19

    I like Apple's answer to angle it away from a bright light. Basically saying, "Don't do that."

    A good alternative answer could be, "Because.", or "So?" or "New feature!".
  10. grvalderrama TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 188

    This is why I love my Carl Zeiss lens in my old N97 Mini!
  11. tehbanz TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 164

    Remember that old internet joke revolving around the PSP "It's not a feature"? It kind of reminds me of that.

    Basically the game release lever was right near where your index finger would rest, while getting intense into a game some players would bump it and the game disc would shoot out.

    It went as far as people making Half life 2 models replacing the grenade launcher with the PSP where gordon would shoot UMD's at enemies. pretty funny stuff...
  12. slh28 TechSpot Paladin Posts: 1,674   +99

    Erm no... lots of photographers shoot into the sun for effect.
    ReederOnTheRun likes this.
  13. spydercanopus TechSpot Guru Posts: 690   +59

    "Just angle it different" = "Just hold it different"
  14. ReederOnTheRun TechSpot Booster Posts: 235   +36

    All I gotta say is that with all of its flaws and modest gains, I'd be pretty upset right now if I had bought an iphone 5.
  15. 3DCGMODELER TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 294   +11

    Flawed Camera... yep yep... its a bad camera setup.. yep yep...
  16. Alvaro Newcomer, in training Posts: 41   +8

    I don't know the EXIF data on those images, but assuming all the parameters were the same, I'd say it's a mixture of both, chromatic aberration and a bad chip. Contrast is way higher on the 5, meaning lots of blown out areas. Also, there's quite some lens flare, and this can be either a good or bad thing.

    At any rate, even though I believe this is an issue that needs to be fixed (and Apple and its followers sorely need a reality check), serious photographers shooting with an iPhone 5 will just adapt and get creative with what they have. Any camera is good enough if you know how to use it.
  17. Adhmuz TechSpot Paladin Posts: 675   +25

    Another reason not to use you phone as a camera for anything important, have people just been brainwashed into thinking anything apple is so amazing that a flaw that ALL Cheap cameras suffer from makes them complain. Last I checked it was called the iPhone not the iCamera and until Apple comes out with a real camera they're phone solution will always be piss poor in comparison to even a midrange point and shoot, there isn't even a point in comparing it to a digital SLR. Look at the bill of materials, the two cameras together are valued at less than $20. Now realize why it does what it does?
  18. j05hh Newcomer, in training Posts: 66

    Quality Assurance = fail
  19. There is no amount of slick marketing, "cool and hip" factor, or "style" that can change the realities of physics. To properly gather enough high quality light on a sensor, the larger and better optics and sensors win every time by a huge margin. The race to the bottom with cell phone cameras is interesting to watch. It is basically how small and cheap they can make the lens and sensor to "get by" with passable images. The opposite is happening with dedicated cameras, where they are fiercely competing to increase image quality. If you only want some low quality facebook upload, ok stick with your phone. I've never be able to tell and plan ahead when a photo opportunity will result in just some snapshots or in something great, that I want on my wall forever. To me, relying on a phone camera for a "on my wall forever" photo opportunity would just make me sick.
  20. VitalyT TechSpot Addict Posts: 581   +115

    "I've been so many places, I've seen so many faces, but nothing compares to these blue and yellow, purple pills". (D12 & Eminem)

    Q: How're u doing kids? Do you like violence?
    A: Yeah, yeah!

    Q: Wanna see me shove iPhone 5 up and see how reception is?
    A: Yeah, yeah!