Apple Publicly Responds to Complaints of Purple Lens Flare on iPhone 5 Photos

[k995]

What causes this purple effect? Yep, Lens flare.

IF all camera's have this then how coma as the exampes show other phones dont suffer from the same in simular pictures?

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The picture isn't framed the same, nice try.

Barely any difference, certainly not on the side of the light.

This story is about the camera not the antenna. Lens flare is an issue with every camera in the world, give the angle of the light hitting the lens. That is why lens have hoods.... to reduce the amount of light that hits the lens at angles that cause flare.

Again then why in the picture above one phone has the issue and the other doesnt.

 

[funkboy]

Purple fringing is easy to fix in software

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_fringing

Most modern photo editing software can detect and correct purple fringing (and other simple chromatic aberrations) with an "auto-correct" button. e.g. http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/2012/04/new-color-fringe-correction-controls.html

This should be easily resolvable with an update to the camera software in that thing, especially given the processing power available in the beastie.

 

[dfinecy]

HTC phones (just for instance) do the SAME damn thing. Tempest, meet teapot.
But to the Apple haters it's now known as PurpleGate. Tired of the "gate" reference and it's getting old. Time to think of some other witty and mostly useless remark. (That';s my rant for the week. Hope you loved/despised it. Carry on)

ugh couldn't agree more! lets put an end to all the "gate" references...its unoriginal and as you said, useless.

 

[linuxcooldude]

IF all camera's have this then how coma as the exampes show other phones dont suffer from the same in simular pictures

ALL cameras are effected by lens flare. Only some are effected by the purple effect, if the conditions are just right. Just look at link I provided that shows a CCTV camera purple camera flare, as well as other posters examples. But the base cause of this purple is, yep, lens flare.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CCTV_Lens_flare.jpg

 

[kaidomac]

Really??

You get Lens Flare and Chromatic Aberrations when you point your camera at the sun??

DUH!!!

This happens with ANY camera!! I have made my living behind the lens for the past 27 years and this happens with every lens!!

Y

Really? Because I shoot into the sun all the time and don't have this problem.

Exhibit A: iPhone 4S lens flare video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQZSC-d0oSc

Exhibit B: iPhone 5 lens flare video

http://www.telly.com/D0XOM

There is no color correction in the first video and there is no purple haze, despite multiple sun flare shots. There is a big purple spot issue in the second video. The purple flare issue was a big enough problem for me that I went back to the 4S.

The problem isn't as simple as "no other phone or camera has purple flare issues"; the issue is that the iPhone 5 has a tendency to have far more severe purple than other camera phones. This also isn't a chromatic aberration issue, which is a purple fringe that happens between light and dark objects, especially on cheap camera lenses. I don't know what is causing the problem, whether it's a missing UV coat in the production process, the thinner camera structure, the Sapphire Crystal cover, or a software issue - all I know is that my iPhone 5 had it bad...bad enough that I downgraded to the 4S.

I also had other issues with the iPhone 5's camera. First, it had a tendency to take blurry pictures when any hand movement was involved (my 4S is still better at handheld). Second, the viewfinder showed a crop of the actual image - it would chop off the top and bottom when you were taking the picture, and then add those pixels in the final image, not giving you an accurate preview of the actual image that was captured. Third, the more vivid display was very over-saturated compared to my IPS computer monitors, so I didn't get a good idea of previews after editing them in photo apps like Camera+ - I had to over-saturate the photos on the iPhone 5's screen before uploading them online if I wanted the image I had in mind. There is also a barrel distortion issue, although that didn't bother me. Life in Lo-fi had a good review of the camera:

http://lifeinlofi.com/2012/09/23/the-iphone-5-an-iphoneographers-hands-on-review/

I did like the better sharpness and vastly improved ultra-low-light capabilities of the 5, but for me, the purple flare killed it. I also didn't care for the same slow saving speed of edited images on the 5. But enough whining...I'm back on the 4S and I'm happy with that, and hopefully looking forward to the iPhone 5S

 

[Hyper-X]

Apple: The problem is you, as always. It can never be our product's fault.

AppleSheep: You're right Apple, our bad.

 

[JHankwitz]

Yes everyone takes a a picture directly AT THE SUN

Anyone that points a camera at the sun is a fool! Did you ever do the magnifying glass - ant bit? Every lens is a magnifying lens, and your image sensor is the ant. The focused sun will burn and destroy your sensor, not to mention what it will do to your photos.

Before digital cameras, pointing a camera at the sun would burn holes in your cameras focal-plane shutter. All real photographers knew this. Now we have millions of amateurs that don't have a clue, and complain that the laws of physics apply to them too.

 

[tbrinkma]

I'd bet dollars to donuts that I have far more knowledge of photography than you.

If that's the case, why do you keep making assertions that are unsupported, and even directly contradicted by, the available evidence. Even the evidence posted in this thread alone has disproved each of your assertions so far. One of your assertions was disproved by the photos at the top of the article that *started* this thread.

Oh, and be careful of 'argument from authority'. It's a logical fallacy, and it's even worse when you're the one claiming 'authority', on the internet, with no evidence to support the claim that you're actually an authority. I prefer to argue a case based on the evidence. Unfortunately, the evidence doesn't support your claims, so I guess you just have to work with whatever happens to be left.

 

[tbrinkma]

IF all camera's have this then how coma as the exampes show other phones dont suffer from the same in simular pictures?

As shown, time and again, in this very thread, even DSLRs, with their much larger, much more expensive lenses can suffer from this same purple flair phenomena. It's less common with them because wide angle lenses (such as those used in camera phones) are more prone to it, larger lenses are less prone to it, and larger lens assemblies have more room for mitigation features such as internal baffles.

Barely any difference, certainly not on the side of the light.

Wait. 'Barely any difference'? You can't see an obvious difference in the framing when shown the *full* images in question? No obvious difference such as a change in angle significant enough that one picture shows the entire (whatever that thing is), but the other cuts part of it off? Or how one picture is zoomed in further? (Of course, it could be a 'creative' cropping job, but then it's impossible to judge this effect when starting from doctored photos.)

Again then why in the picture above one phone has the issue and the other doesnt.

Because, as the poster you were responding to pointed out, the pictures were framed significantly differently. A few degrees of angle change (as seen in the photos from that article) are sufficient to completely remove the effect on the iPhone 5.

 

[k995]

ALL cameras are effected by lens flare. Only some are effected by the purple effect,

And the iphone 5 is afected by this, others are not. yet most here seem to post "every camera has lense flare you idiots"

 

[ZipZap]

Again that purple flare is indicative of Sapphire Crystals. And since this is the first iPhone to use them....problem identified.

 

[sclawis300]

My iPhone Camera doesnt operate like a 500$ Digital SLR, it is all Apples Fault!

What garbage slr are you using if it is only $500?

 

[Lark.Landon]

"I'm sorry, try back later when we develop a camera technology that will allow even stupid people, to take pictures. "

 

[Rocko1]

Really? Because I shoot into the sun all the time and don't have this problem.

Exhibit A: iPhone 4S lens flare video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQZSC-d0oSc

Exhibit B: iPhone 5 lens flare video

http://www.telly.com/D0XOM

There is no color correction in the first video and there is no purple haze, despite multiple sun flare shots. There is a big purple spot issue in the second video. The purple flare issue was a big enough problem for me that I went back to the 4S.

The problem isn't as simple as "no other phone or camera has purple flare issues"; the issue is that the iPhone 5 has a tendency to have far more severe purple than other camera phones. This also isn't a chromatic aberration issue, which is a purple fringe that happens between light and dark objects, especially on cheap camera lenses. I don't know what is causing the problem, whether it's a missing UV coat in the production process, the thinner camera structure, the Sapphire Crystal cover, or a software issue - all I know is that my iPhone 5 had it bad...bad enough that I downgraded to the 4S.

I also had other issues with the iPhone 5's camera. First, it had a tendency to take blurry pictures when any hand movement was involved (my 4S is still better at handheld). Second, the viewfinder showed a crop of the actual image - it would chop off the top and bottom when you were taking the picture, and then add those pixels in the final image, not giving you an accurate preview of the actual image that was captured. Third, the more vivid display was very over-saturated compared to my IPS computer monitors, so I didn't get a good idea of previews after editing them in photo apps like Camera+ - I had to over-saturate the photos on the iPhone 5's screen before uploading them online if I wanted the image I had in mind. There is also a barrel distortion issue, although that didn't bother me. Life in Lo-fi had a good review of the camera:

http://lifeinlofi.com/2012/09/23/the-iphone-5-an-iphoneographers-hands-on-review/

I did like the better sharpness and vastly improved ultra-low-light capabilities of the 5, but for me, the purple flare killed it. I also didn't care for the same slow saving speed of edited images on the 5. But enough whining...I'm back on the 4S and I'm happy with that, and hopefully looking forward to the iPhone 5S

It's clear the 5 has a high propensity for lens flare. The design of the lens-sapphire crystal(purple crystal) and their spacing causes it to be purple vs a more natural yellow or whitish light, which is more acceptable. As some lens flare is normal, the amount of and color of flare on the 5 makes it troublesome.

----------

Again that purple flare is indicative of Sapphire Crystals. And since this is the first iPhone to use them....problem identified.

When you make a lens out of this

Do we need to talk about why the lens flare is purple?

 

[69650]

It would have been far better if they had issued this statement in the first place. Apple's response to these things always seems to be to initially deny there are any problems, then someone sends out a curt email to say it's normal before they are dragged kicking and screaming to admit that there is an issue but here's the full facts. Why do this? It just makes them look devious liars.

If there is an issue just come and say we're investigating and we'll have a statement for you in a few hours/days. This hoopla just blows things up into maybe something more than they are. I don't know if this is normal or not. I'm not a photographer, but if I'd just dropped 700 quid on the iPhone 5 and was having this issue I'd at least want to know why and if the problem was me, the phone or whatever.

Apple's PR department needs a good kick up the arse. You can't be the biggest company in the world selling millions of iPhones and get away with saying nothing when these issues arise. Ok when they were small and Steve was there maybe people just accepted it but not now.

 

[krravi]

The 'haze' is caused by a bright light source just *outside* the frame. It's the same issue, but with the camera angled at the opposite end of the narrow 'wedge' where this effect happens.

The saphire 'glass' is artificially created. As a result, it doesn't have the impurities which give naturally occurring sapphire it's color. Therefore it is clear. There are *many* lenses which have a sapphire outer element to reduce scratching. It's nothing new in camera optics. (It may be relatively new, or at least unusual, for cameras this size, though.)

Care to elaborate which *lenses* have sapphire outer element?

I am going through my collection of Nikon lenses that costs from $200.00 to $3000.00 and they all are all made of *glass*. I put a protective filter on each of them and they are made by Hoya and they are pure *glass* as well.

Of course every lens manufacturer has its own secret recipe in terms of what they mix with the glass to give it certain optical qualities.

So they just burnt through billions of dollars and decades of lens making experience to perfect the glass and figure out its reflective and refractive properties, only to stick a cheap sapphire glass on the front that negates the entire jewel of a lens inside?

Sure.

 

[kdarling]

When you make a lens out of this (rock crystal image removed) Do we need to talk about why the lens flare is purple?

They don't use purple rocks.

Lenses are synthetic sapphire. Made of aluminum oxide.

Comes out transparent. Very tough, very strong.

Top wristwatches have used it for years. Almost nothing will scratch it.

 

[AppleScruff1]

If that's the case, why do you keep making assertions that are unsupported, and even directly contradicted by, the available evidence. Even the evidence posted in this thread alone has disproved each of your assertions so far. One of your assertions was disproved by the photos at the top of the article that *started* this thread.

Oh, and be careful of 'argument from authority'. It's a logical fallacy, and it's even worse when you're the one claiming 'authority', on the internet, with no evidence to support the claim that you're actually an authority. I prefer to argue a case based on the evidence. Unfortunately, the evidence doesn't support your claims, so I guess you just have to work with whatever happens to be left.

I've claimed no authority at all. You're the one who made the snide remark about my knowledge, remember? I responded to that. You're the one who is posting claims that all cameras do this, etc, not me. I said that it was enough of an issue for Apple to address it. Ditto for the scratching issue.

So one picture disproves what I said? Interesting. There are also other pictures in this thread where the 4 S shows a non purple flair. Or don't those count?

 

[kaidomac]

They don't use purple rocks.

Lenses are synthetic sapphire. Made of aluminum oxide.

Comes out transparent. Very tough, very strong.

Top wristwatches have used it for years. Almost nothing will scratch it.

What I don't understand is, why did they feel the need to go with a scratch-proof lens cover? (aside from the obvious) I mean, I've never had an issue with scratching my iPhone camera lenses, and I've had iPhones since the first one came out. I've shattered screens and scratched the back glass, but no issues with the camera lens. I've never even heard of anyone scratching their iPhone camera lens (at least not IRL) - was it that big of an issue that they felt the need to change it?

 

[krravi]

What I don't understand is, why did they feel the need to go with a scratch-proof lens cover? (aside from the obvious) I mean, I've never had an issue with scratching my iPhone camera lenses, and I've had iPhones since the first one came out. I've shattered screens and scratched the back glass, but no issues with the camera lens. I've never even heard of anyone scratching their iPhone camera lens (at least not IRL) - was it that big of an issue that they felt the need to change it?

I think the point is, Apple decided to use sapphire/or whatever it is for the toughness and the fact that it is clear.

Completely overlooked the coating/refraction/reflection part of it. Might have been an expensive process for a camera phone.

They never imagined it would cause such an uproar. But if Apple holds us to a higher standard(by their pricing) then it's natural that the people expect the same from Apple.

But overall, how many people really use phone camera's as their main photographic equipment? We all have our cameras, small and big. Phone camera's are for capturing those out of the blue moments where resolution,size or other criteria doesn't matter.

I am glad I skip one generation of phones from Apple and it has worked out so far. Didn't get the first iPhone(edge network was a bummer) but got the 3GS. Didn't get the iPhone 4(antenna gate) but got the 4S. I will skip the iPhone 5 and wait for the next one. Well, my contract is such anyway.

That being said, the iPhone is still the best phone in the world. I say this not as a fanboi or anything, but the fact that its built so well. I removed the case on my iPhone 4S to clean it and looked at it and marveled at the solid feeling and perfect edges not to mention the software that goes into it.

This might irk some Android followers out there. But lets face it, Android's initial game was "We can play FLASH !!!". Yeah I tried that on my motorola DROID and it froze or ate up my battery. And now thats a moot point anyway, now that Adobe has stopped FLASH development.

Then came the "Oh.. we have quad core processors running at 1.2 Ghz". Yes you need that power to run Android and its still glitchy and not as smooth.

My first iPhone was a 600 Mhz processor. Never had issues with it. Then got the Droid to check it out. It was 600 Mhz as well. Glitchy and jerky. Had to download an app to overclock that thing. Then went the route of, wiping out the firmware and loading custom ROMS that are plenty on the net. After an initial excitement of "I am able to alter the phone as i want", my experience of using the device to do daily routine tasks was still not as smooth and seamless as the iPhone. So got rid of it.

Samsung might be putting out phones with impressive specs, but what use it is if the phone is built like a cheap toy(tried it in the store).

My only concern is when Steve Jobs was there, he used to take the prototypes with him to home and play with it, and come next day and say.."This feature sucks ! We need to make it better" etc etc..

Wonder who is doing that at Apple now. I doubt if Tim Cook is that person.

 

[theanimaster]

Wow. As technology gets smarter, consumers get mind-boggling more retarded.

"I get these purple lines when I point my camera at a bright light!!"

What next? People turning dark all the time when they're in front of a bright background??

 

[JHankwitz]

Every lens on every camera is susceptible to flare. This is why all professional photographers use lens hoods. If you don't use a lens hood, you need to be careful when pointing your cameras toward any bright light. This is so basic to taking a photo that only complete rank amateurs would not be aware of it. Complaining that Apple hasn't created a camera that defies the basic laws of physics, it crazy.

It's SOP use my free hand to cast a shadow across my iPhone lens when taking a photo with a light coming from anywhere close to the image area.

 

[Tinmania]

I had this issue going back to my Epson PhotoPC digital camera from 1997.

HOw anyone could ever think this is a new 'defect' is beyond me, unless it's your very first digital camera.

I had that same camera in 1996! Stolen at airport a few months later.

Think it cost twice what my latest iPhone cost lol.



Michael

 

[Rocko1]

Every lens on every camera is susceptible to flare. This is why all professional photographers use lens hoods. If you don't use a lens hood, you need to be careful when pointing your cameras toward any bright light. This is so basic to taking a photo that only complete rank amateurs would not be aware of it. Complaining that Apple hasn't created a camera that defies the basic laws of physics, it crazy.

It's SOP use my free hand to cast a shadow across my iPhone lens when taking a photo with a light coming from anywhere close to the image area.

Many don't expect the 5's lens to be flare free, but when it happens more than previous models and is purple-more obvious-you will get complaints. If the flare was more typical of full size cameras-white to yellowish-I doubt you would have the response that was generated from the purple flare.

 

[phpmaven]

I think the point is, Apple decided to use sapphire/or whatever it is for the toughness and the fact that it is clear.

Completely overlooked the coating/refraction/reflection part of it. Might have been an expensive process for a camera phone.

They never imagined it would cause such an uproar. But if Apple holds us to a higher standard(by their pricing) then it's natural that the people expect the same from Apple

Uproar? A few people complaining on a forum is not an uproar. It's always amusing to me how easy it is to forget what a microcosm of society this forum is. It doesn't reflect the opinions of the general populace. I guarantee that 99% of iPhone owners will not care about this.

I'm in kind of a unique position because I belong to an organization where I am friends with dozens of iPhone owners, plus I'm a long time computer tech and many will call me to ask me for help, and I'm sure if I lined up 100 of them and asked them how they feel about the lens flare issue, 99 of them would say "what's lens flare?"