iPhone 15 Pro Max Can a tiny dust speck "move" into camera lens?

[Apollo85]

Hey all,

I've had my iPhone 15 Pro Max since launch, and it's been awesome. When I received it, I did all the proper inspections for any issues, and I found nothing, especially with the camera lenses.

The other day I was cleaning the lenses in direct light and I noticed a super tiny, basically microscopic speck of dust in the lower left lens. I did a bunch of camera tests and all of my pictures continue to look great. It was not there when I first received the phone. You can only really see the speck in sunlight/direct light.

I made an appointment at the Apple Store and the Genius who I liked trusted and explained that most likely the speck got caught in there during assembly and has "moved" into focus while using the phone as normal. He explained that this can happen, and unless the camera is causing any issues with photo/video, there's nothing that can be done, which I understand.

I've researched the heck out of this "issue" and read some people even tapped their photo gently against a hard surface to move the dust, and it worked.

Has anyone else ran into this situation? Thank you in advance!

 

[BenGoren]

Don’t worry about it.

A speck on the lens or inside the lens assembly is as close to invisible as invisibility gets. You would be shocked at how much dust is inside those big thousands-of-dollars lenses used by professional sports photographers.

A speck on the sensor, on the other hand, can well be problematic. But that’s only of a concern with removable-lens cameras, like an SLR or mirrorless camera; on other cameras, the sensor is impervious to dust short of catastrophic damage.

In case you’re wondering, it’s a geometry thing, basically. You can find photos online taken by cameras whose front elements have scary-bad spiderweb cracks with chips, and the photos don’t at all look bad, considering — a slight loss of sharpness and some unexpected flare highlights when the Sun is shining on the lens.

Do keep the lenses generally clean; a thumbprint smudge is plenty big enough to make it look like you’re aiming for that classic vaseline-covered lens dreamy-glamorous look. But, in general … in normal use, the camera is going to perform … well … normally. And “normal use” includes the usual collection of dust, pocket lint, stray hair, and the like. Plus, even, a certain amount of dust inside the lens itself.

b&

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I really don't understand why people obsess over looking for issues with their new phone. If the dust doesn't effect the photos and can only be seen under direct light and is barely noticeable why bother?
You can:
1. Take it to Apple and have them open the device and blow the dust out of the lens.
2. Have them replace the device with a refurbished unit
3. Live with it.
Number one could introduce more dust or possibly ruin the water resistance of the device. Number two can give you a device with more noticeable issues than your current phone. Number three, move on with your life and enjoy your new phone..

 

[Fat_Guy]

Yes they can move into the lens area - but - they can also move back out in time.



Just saying…

 

[Apollo85]

Yes they can move into the lens area - but - they can also move back out in time.

Got it, thanks. Have you experienced this before?

 

[Apollo85]

Don’t worry about it.

A speck on the lens or inside the lens assembly is as close to invisible as invisibility gets. You would be shocked at how much dust is inside those big thousands-of-dollars lenses used by professional sports photographers.

A speck on the sensor, on the other hand, can well be problematic. But that’s only of a concern with removable-lens cameras, like an SLR or mirrorless camera; on other cameras, the sensor is impervious to dust short of catastrophic damage.

In case you’re wondering, it’s a geometry thing, basically. You can find photos online taken by cameras whose front elements have scary-bad spiderweb cracks with chips, and the photos don’t at all look bad, considering — a slight loss of sharpness and some unexpected flare highlights when the Sun is shining on the lens.

Do keep the lenses generally clean; a thumbprint smudge is plenty big enough to make it look like you’re aiming for that classic vaseline-covered lens dreamy-glamorous look. But, in general … in normal use, the camera is going to perform … well … normally. And “normal use” includes the usual collection of dust, pocket lint, stray hair, and the like. Plus, even, a certain amount of dust inside the lens itself.

b&

Thank you for this!

 

[Jackbequickly]

Dust on the lens is better than dust on the sensor so I would leave it alone!