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iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera problems: Blue smudges, lines, etc. [MERGED]

I also face this”problem”, and I have noticed that the problem is worse with lower ISO.

First picture is 30s ISO 8000
Second picture is 30s ISO 6400

IMG_1007.jpeg
IMG_1006.jpeg
 
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I watched a video on YT that shows a 30s exposure being a stack of 3*10s. The YT'er managed to show an airplane path with 3 distinct straight lines which did not connect properly, hence the conclusion.

This leads me to wonder if there is indeed a software bug here because most of the 10s exposures I took are pretty dark. Not completely, but 90-99% dark.

Anyway a 30s exposure with varying auto iso's and internal stacking algorithms will inevitably result in all sorts of blue if one's camera is affected. I don't find much to discuss there.
 
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lee82gx said:
I watched a video on YT that shows a 30s exposure being a stack of 3*10s. The YT'er managed to show an airplane path with 3 distinct straight lines which did not connect properly, hence the conclusion.

This leads me to wonder if there is indeed a software bug here because most of the 10s exposures I took are pretty dark. Not completely, but 90-99% dark.

Anyway a 30s exposure with varying auto iso's and internal stacking algorithms will inevitably result in all sorts of blue if one's camera is affected. I don't find much to discuss there.
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It the variation between units running the same software, it has to be hardware related, I’ve had 4 now and only one has displayed true black.
 
dantay said:
It the variation between units running the same software, it has to be hardware related, I’ve had 4 now and only one has displayed true black.
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You had to go through 4 units to get a good one? Gosh.

But anecdotally I’ve seen 4 units of 16 pros and coincidentally also, only 1 unit is not affected currently.

Today i sent my unit to get repaired I couldn’t stand it. I can only pray they fix it properly.
 
lee82gx said:
You had to go through 4 units to get a good one? Gosh.

But anecdotally I’ve seen 4 units of 16 pros and coincidentally also, only 1 unit is not affected currently.

Today i sent my unit to get repaired I couldn’t stand it. I can only pray they fix it properly.
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Good luck with that, I wouldn’t accept a repair and would want replacement.
 
16 Pro Max, no issues with the camera, this unit has black crush and off axis tint on the screen.
 

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dantay said:
16 Pro Max, no issues with the camera, this unit has black crush and off axis tint on the screen.
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Where I live consumer protection is nil. So at the mercy of the dealer who stands between me and Apple themselves, all I have is a prayer.
 
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lee82gx said:
You had to go through 4 units to get a good one? Gosh.

But anecdotally I’ve seen 4 units of 16 pros and coincidentally also, only 1 unit is not affected currently.

Today i sent my unit to get repaired I couldn’t stand it. I can only pray they fix it properly.
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Hi, how long you be without your phone? Do share the outcome of repair here.
 
gaia34 said:
Hi, how long you be without your phone? Do share the outcome of repair here.
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Expecting to be without phone for 3 weeks at least. But actually the branch provided me with an iPhone 12 mini. Immediately back to my previous 13 mini form factor! Love it.

It is a bit showing its age in terms of processor speed though
 
If it is software issue, and ios 18.2 solve/improve it, i hope it wont result in a downgrade of the night/astrophotos as someone previously referred.
 
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My wife's 16 Pro can shoot perfectly black images whereas my 16 Pro Max has the problem. My images are contaminated with the blue lines and dots. We have put our phones side by side with the exact same camera settings and the results are "night and day". Same IOS version 18.1 - her images are acceptable and mine are pure trash. The blue issue is visible on many night photos - not just on the "table test". I have sent my phone to Apple for repair this Wednesday. Tracking the progress on the support website,it says the repair was finished and the phone will be sent back next week. It only spent 4 hours at the repair centre - I am not sure they even did a repair - I assume they could not reproduce the issue if they did no proper long exposure for at least 15 seconds - better 30sec... I will see what they return next week and if they did anything at all... First picture is from my 16 Pro Max, second is my wife's 16 Pro and last one is mine again ( I touched the tripod too early that's why there is motion blur on the car picture.)
IMG_0572.jpg

My 16 Pro Max
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My wife's 16 Pro
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my 16 Pro Max
IMG_0555.jpg
another one from my 16 Pro Max - lower iso
 
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Just to updated, seems like mine gotten worse again… Got no clue whats going on.. Yesterday post 18.2 update it was like 90% good, and now its back like before 18.2 update.
 
Ceerbeeruz said:
Mine seems to be alot better after installing the 18.2 beta. Look at my previous post for comparison. I dont know that to think anymore.. Maybe it is software related and some sensors are more sensitive than others.
View attachment 2448973
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The only way to test a sensor is to use a manual camera app where you can shoot in Unprocessed RAW and set ISO/shutter speed manually.

It is very likely that Apple will "fix" the problem in a software update by simply hiding the issue with post processing. This is by no means a solution as the sensor will still have the same issues at high ISO and the difference in detail and clarity will still be there.

It is like applying bandaid instead of finding out why it is bleeding.

I am 100% sure that the blue issue is a hardware fault. I have had two 16 Pro, one with the issue and one without and had plenty of time to inspect them. The one without the issue not only had less noise but also a lot more detail in images shot at high ISO.
 
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jajo.j said:
The only way to test a sensor is to use a manual camera app where you can shoot in Unprocessed RAW and set ISO/shutter speed manually.

It is very likely that Apple will "fix" the problem in a software update by simply hiding the issue with post processing. This is by no means a solution as the sensor will still have the same issues at high ISO and the difference in detail and clarity will still be there.

It is like applying bandaid instead of finding out why it is bleeding.

I am 100% sure that the blue issue is a hardware fault. I have had two 16 Pro, one with the issue and one without and had plenty of time to inspect them. The one without the issue not only had less noise but also a lot more detail in images shot at high ISO.
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However, I have a 1-2s shot on manual, raw, ISO 12800 and it comes out all black. But when going to 30s on the built in camera app it goes nuts blue.

Next, I have also taken many many 10s dark mode on the built in camera app and most of it are completely black.

I will say it is a combination of hardware AND software.
 
jajo.j said:
The only way to test a sensor is to use a manual camera app where you can shoot in Unprocessed RAW and set ISO/shutter speed manually.

It is very likely that Apple will "fix" the problem in a software update by simply hiding the issue with post processing. This is by no means a solution as the sensor will still have the same issues at high ISO and the difference in detail and clarity will still be there.

It is like applying bandaid instead of finding out why it is bleeding.

I am 100% sure that the blue issue is a hardware fault. I have had two 16 Pro, one with the issue and one without and had plenty of time to inspect them. The one without the issue not only had less noise but also a lot more detail in images shot at high ISO.
Click to expand...
Did the good pro also have some blue hot pixels?
 
I am not sure if this is relevant, but if you go to “photo stackexchange” and search there for the question “what causes vertical lines on digital photos taken in low light?” you will find rather comprehensive explanation. Sorry for not putting a link here, I don’t want to get banned.

I am not a professional photographer, but it seems like a software+hardware issue to me. They explain there it should be corrected by software, but in our cases it is not doing it. Btw my device is affected too.
 
dongding said:
Did the good pro also have some blue hot pixels?
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All phones have hot pixels (more or less of them of course but they are rarely a problem in real life shooting). Post processing in stock camera will remove most of them automatically.
 
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Nodens said:
New video from Shayne
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There is one good comment in there. Waiting more to test.
I did send you a message about this a few weeks ago.. I found a fix for this issue on my two Pro 16 phones. If you shoot a 5X or 0.5X image first and THEN shoot a 1X image I am not seeing the issue. But after I shoot 1X photo my 2nd photo at 1X will see the issue again. But if I shoot a 0.5X or 5X photo again and switch back the 1X I don't see the issue. I think it is a build up of energy in the backlight sensor.
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