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BugeyeSTI

macrumors 604
Aug 19, 2017
7,211
9,067
Arizona/Illinois
Seems to be a random issue with 14, 15 and 16 Pro devices. I hope it's a software issue as I have have no issues with my 15PM except this. Be ashamed to have to get it replaced if it's hardware
 

Whoops2474

macrumors member
Sep 21, 2023
76
76
I have this problem on my base iPhone 15. Pattern every time is the same, ultra wide camera produces perfectly black photos with 30s night mode.



1729361972147.png
IMG_7740.jpeg
 

Hoolay88

macrumors newbie
Oct 19, 2024
2
3
Just managed to take a picture with both iPhone 16pro and my old 14pro ...the room is pitch black, I can't see anything through my eyes (even through the door that appears to be light, in real life it's also pitch black)

iPhone 14 pro max
IMG_9364.jpeg


iPhone 16 pro max
IMG_9363.jpeg
 

JasonHB

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 20, 2010
589
530
Warwickshire, UK
So nobody here opened a case with apple yet?
I went to the Apple Store today. They agreed it was an issue with the phone and changed it out for a new one.

It is way better than my old one, but the issue is still there

Picture 1 is my old phone

IMG_2570.jpeg

Picture 2 is the new phone. ISO and all other details identical

IMG_0002.jpeg
 

Pandyone

macrumors regular
Sep 30, 2021
241
321
So nobody here opened a case with apple yet?

Issue for my device is (as far as I have seen in photos and not just testing) only blue hot pixels as posted before and I have a case with Apple, they told me to reset phone while connected to Mac.
Took way to long to download reset image so haven’t had time to try but from my understanding that won’t make a difference.

Basically need to exchange/repair device to get it fixed.
 
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tal133

macrumors newbie
Oct 19, 2024
3
0
Has anyone with regular iPhone 16/plus tried to see if they have this problem?

I have an iPhone 16 Pro 1TB showing the issue also with default camera app, but when using the ProCam app I get none to only 1-2 blue dots. I assume it’s both hardware and software issue. I believe it’s a combination of a problematic sensor and Apple’s camera algorithms.

Probably the ProCam uses different algorithms. Still, it’s interesting if the issue is reproducible on regular iPhone 16.
 

PeteS1963

macrumors 6502
Sep 19, 2014
480
356
Has anyone with regular iPhone 16/plus tried to see if they have this problem?

I have an iPhone 16 Pro 1TB showing the issue also with default camera app, but when using the ProCam app I get none to only 1-2 blue dots. I assume it’s both hardware and software issue. I believe it’s a combination of a problematic sensor and Apple’s camera algorithms.

Probably the ProCam uses different algorithms. Still, it’s interesting if the issue is reproducible on regular iPhone 16.
The default camera apps Night Mode 30sec exposure is actually three 10sec exposures stacked together. This capability isn’t available to apps which are limited to 2-3 seconds.

These 10 second Night Mode exposures push the camera sensor far more than any app with just a few seconds. Which is why (apart from lunar/planetary) I can almost always get better astrophotography type images using Night Mode with the stock camera app.
 

Nodens

macrumors member
Jul 17, 2017
38
14
Oh crap, I wanted to update to iPhone 16 Pro Max, but after reading these posts I'm so hesitant :(

Can't someone from MacRumors post an article about this issue in order to gain more public attention?
 
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TonyC28

macrumors 68030
Aug 15, 2009
2,876
7,229
USA
Apple Intelligence better be awesome…
I’m really wishing I stuck with my 13 Pro.
 

BugeyeSTI

macrumors 604
Aug 19, 2017
7,211
9,067
Arizona/Illinois
Oh crap, I wanted to update to iPhone 16 Pro Max, but after reading these posts I'm so hesitant :(

Can't someone from MacRumors post an article about this issue in order to gain more public attention?
Agreed. Seems like enough forum members have the issue to at least look into it. Honestly I haven't taken any long exposure night pics so I may not of ever known about this without this thread..
 
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tal133

macrumors newbie
Oct 19, 2024
3
0
I personally think Apple had known about this issue for some time but since the majority of people don’t use long exposure shots they thought they could get away with it. I believe most Pro iPhones suffer this issue. I also theorize only Pros will have this issue since no one with regular iPhone 16 devices raised the issue as well.
 

Pandyone

macrumors regular
Sep 30, 2021
241
321
I also theorize only Pros will have this issue since no one with regular iPhone 16 devices raised the issue as well.

In a Swedish forum one user reported that their Google Pixel 7a had similar results when doing the ”complete dark test” getting blue photo. It could be hardware/sensors having issues on many phone models.

Yes, there is probably not enough users noticing.
The percentage of users even taking long exposure photos are low (basically requiring some sort of tripod/holder), and even lower are pixel peeping and noticing hot pixels or blue areas in the photos.
 

Ean Holdings

macrumors member
Jan 23, 2024
41
39
Here’s my 16 pro with a 30 second 6400 iso. My pro max had the blue smudges.
 

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PeteS1963

macrumors 6502
Sep 19, 2014
480
356
The Pros have a completely different sensor - f1.78 - compared to the regular iPhone’s f1.6 aperture. So no surprise that they might not have the problem.

If known about I can’t see how Apple could believe that they could get away with it. Images and videos that push the phones to the limit (Night Mode is one of these features) get all the media attention. Typical snaps like those of grandma and the kids don’t. Social media is full of reviews, some by experienced photographers, posting stuff that illustrate what the cameras are capable of. Search for “iPhone astrophotography” and there’s a ton of videos and examples. It took Shayne Mostyn about a week to highlight the issue.
 

PeteS1963

macrumors 6502
Sep 19, 2014
480
356
Yes, there is probably not enough users noticing.
The percentage of users even taking long exposure photos are low (basically requiring some sort of tripod/holder), and even lower are pixel peeping and noticing hot pixels or blue areas in the photos.

In a Swedish forum one user reported that their Google Pixel 7a had similar results when doing the ”complete dark test” getting blue photo. It could be hardware/sensors having issues on many phone models.

Yes, there is probably not enough users noticing.
The percentage of users even taking long exposure photos are low (basically requiring some sort of tripod/holder), and even lower are pixel peeping and noticing hot pixels or blue areas in the photos.
I think that the “complete dark test” is a bit shonky. Eg get a little light bleed and you might get some blue or coloured areas.

The real test is to see if there are blue lines, steaks, blobs etc on real life low light images. Shayne Mostyn suggests that in some cases blue streaks were coming through on handheld at night or twilight type landscape pictures and videos. If so then that’s much more of an issue.
 

Whoops2474

macrumors member
Sep 21, 2023
76
76
I have this problem on my base iPhone 15. Pattern every time is the same, ultra wide camera produces perfectly black photos with 30s night mode.



View attachment 2439433 View attachment 2439434
Okay, I’m back from Apple Service, they checked my regular iPhone 15, I showed them this issue and they said my camera needs to be replaced, however it’s going to take 3 days… Not sure if it worth the hassle of being 3 days without my main phone. 🙄
 

tal133

macrumors newbie
Oct 19, 2024
3
0
I think that the “complete dark test” is a bit shonky. Eg get a little light bleed and you might get some blue or coloured areas.

The real test is to see if there are blue lines, steaks, blobs etc on real life low light images. Shayne Mostyn suggests that in some cases blue streaks were coming through on handheld at night or twilight type landscape pictures and videos. If so then that’s much more of an issue.
How do I reproduce this? Which camera settings should I use?
 

rizmack

macrumors member
Sep 23, 2024
40
15
iPhone 16 Pro here, my test was for 10 seconds (that was the max I could set), ISO was 6400, and the screen was pitch black, perhaps with a couple of extremely faint blue dots.
 

PeteS1963

macrumors 6502
Sep 19, 2014
480
356
How do I reproduce this? Which camera settings should I use?
Do you mean a “real picture”? If you do then in a dark enough environment Night Mode comes on automatically and you don’t need any camera settings. Handheld Night Mode gives 1 to 10 second exposures automatically, depending on how dark it is. To get up to 30 secs you need a tripod.

But sticking to handheld… go outside at night, well after sunset and well before sunrise. My garden is dark enough to automatically get to 10 seconds, but with significant light pollution it might be less. Try and take a landscape picture of the horizon, ideally at least half sky and ideally a clear night so that there are some stars. You can have trees, water or buildings etc on your horizon.

If it’s nice and dark you should see the Night Mode icon (circled red) in the camera app. In my example it’s 3 sec but can be up to 10 sec. It depends on how dark. Then just press the shutter - done. See if you can see any odd blue patches.

IMG_6212.jpeg
 
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TonyC28

macrumors 68030
Aug 15, 2009
2,876
7,229
USA
I talked to an Apple Support engineer today who confirmed they know about the blue long exposure issue and that it’s software-related.
 

JasonHB

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 20, 2010
589
530
Warwickshire, UK
I talked to an Apple Support engineer today who confirmed they know about the blue long exposure issue and that it’s software-related.
I don’t see how that’s true, it’s happening on different versions of iOS.

Also, I’ve had my phone replaced, running the same OS version with exactly the same backup restored on to the new phone and the new one is miles better than the old one.

Also, in Apple Stores, they have multiple versions of the same phone running identical versions of iOS and some have the blue issue and some don’t. I’m convinced it’s hardware

Jason
 
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Husky22

macrumors newbie
Dec 19, 2020
17
83
After receiving a replacement phone that has the same issue as the original I’ve been in contact with apple support engineers about this issue and have uploaded pics, screen recordings of taking photos with the blue line and uploaded diagnostics. Hopefully they work out something soon. Apple engineer suspects software.
 
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