Possible iPhone 6 Plus Camera Issue

[tgi]

The reason I say possible is because it doesn't happen all the time. I don't know if I'm just not focusing correctly (which I doubt) or if something is going on with the lighting causing the photo to not be sharp. I've tried wiping the camera lens, turning HDR on, problem still persists.

Do you think this is a hardware issue? I'm still within my 14 day return period, would I able to easily swap at the Apple store? Obviously I won't be able to replicate the problem I'm having, since it doesn't happen all the time. I need some insight MacRumors!

I've included a link next to each photo number for the full-res photo.

Some observations for each photo.
1. No detail at all in all green areas, overall hazy/blurry image.
2. The waves and island aren't sharp, overall hazy/blurry image.
3. No detail in the leaves in the foreground, overall hazy/blurry image.
4. Great detail overall - chain link fence, leaves, railing all look great.
5. Sign looks good even when zoomed, but the detail in the cement is off.
6. Better detail overall when compared to photos 1 & 3, especially in the leaves and grass.

1. http://i.imgur.com/0ZItnpI.jpg

2. http://i.imgur.com/nGV2Ej0.jpg

3. http://i.imgur.com/vXDhp1R.jpg

4. http://i.imgur.com/oUa9n5M.jpg

5. http://i.imgur.com/GWp8mfE.jpg

6. http://i.imgur.com/udiUnwk.jpg

 

[pjstrrns]

I have seen then on my iPhone 6 also. Kinda of like a "matte" or "oil paint" effect in areas of high texture. Noticed it happens more under low light. Maybe the noise reduction?

I did have to swap out my phone for a loose screen and this was happening on both phones. However, I have seen others photos at night that dont appear to have this effect. So they are either doing something different or aren't truly using an iPhone.

Some input on what settings or tweak we can do to get sharp images would be great.

 

[tgi]

I have seen then on my iPhone 6 also. Kinda of like a "matte" or "oil paint" effect in areas of high texture. Noticed it happens more under low light. Maybe the noise reduction?

I did have to swap out my phone for a loose screen and this was happening on both phones. However, I have seen others photos at night that dont appear to have this effect. So they are either doing something different or aren't truly using an iPhone.

Some input on what settings or tweak we can do to get sharp images would be great.

Wow, sucks to hear that a swap didn't fix the issue. Maybe Apple designed the camera to function this way. See this thread below.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1790221/

 

[LostMyiPhone]

I have seen then on my iPhone 6 also. Kinda of like a "matte" or "oil paint" effect in areas of high texture. Noticed it happens more under low light. Maybe the noise reduction?

I did have to swap out my phone for a loose screen and this was happening on both phones. However, I have seen others photos at night that dont appear to have this effect. So they are either doing something different or aren't truly using an iPhone.

Some input on what settings or tweak we can do to get sharp images would be great.

Sorry to go off topic -- I can't PM you. Did your replacement fix your loose screen issue?

 

[pjstrrns]

Wow, sucks to hear that a swap didn't fix the issue. Maybe Apple designed the camera to function this way. See this thread below.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1790221/

Most people blame the zoom. I definitely do see it when zoomed but I have seen it not zoomed also.

One note I did see was to look at the EXIF data on pictures that have the blur and ones that do not have the blur. Check the settings to see if one is much higher than the other. The guess was that the ISO setting was high and caused the picture to be grainy, then the noise reduction kicked in causing the oil paint effect.

I will check this out when I get home on my photos.

 

[pjstrrns]

Sorry to go off topic -- I can't PM you. Did your replacement fix your loose screen issue?

Yep no play in the screen anymore. Took it into an apple store for replacement.

 

[tgi]

Most people blame the zoom. I definitely do see it when zoomed but I have seen it not zoomed also.

One note I did see was to look at the EXIF data on pictures that have the blur and ones that do not have the blur. Check the settings to see if one is much higher than the other. The guess was that the ISO setting was high and caused the picture to be grainy, then the noise reduction kicked in causing the oil paint effect.

I will check this out when I get home on my photos.

I posted my exif data below for all the photos in my OP.
Top row = Blurry photos
Bottom row = Sharp photos

Some observations: ISO setting seems to be the same throughout, photos 1 & 3 had fast shutter speeds and still came out fuzzy, in photo 6 I used exposure control and it had no effect on sharpness.

All photos are straight out of camera, uncropped, and not zoomed.

http://i.imgur.com/p7c4DxE.jpg

Can anyone shed some insight on the exif data?

Side note, does Apple do have a no questions asked exchange within the 14 day return period? Will they have exchange units set aside for returns or is there a chance I'll have to wait for stock to come in in order to fulfill an exchange.

 

[LostMyiPhone]

Yep no play in the screen anymore. Took it into an apple store for replacement.

congrats. Did yours click in the corners or something? I just got a replacement for my clicking screen (lower-left corner) and within 8 hours the new one clicked once or twice.

As for the pictures issue... I'm going to go outside here as soon as I get a long enough break from work and take some pics with the new phone to see what kind of pics I get. I took enough pics with the boxed up phone (that's going back) to know that those were fine.

EDIT: Didn't have to go outside. Duplicated the "monet-like" thing in my office. Note that my office is VERY poorly lit. I'm going to try to get the other phone back to where I can access the camera so I can check the same stuff.

 

[pjstrrns]

I posted my exif data below for all the photos in my OP.
Top row = Blurry photos
Bottom row = Sharp photos

Some observations: ISO setting seems to be the same throughout, photos 1 & 3 had fast shutter speeds and still came out fuzzy, in photo 6 I used exposure control and it had no effect on sharpness.

All photos are straight out of camera, uncropped, and not zoomed.

http://i.imgur.com/p7c4DxE.jpg

Image

Can anyone shed some insight on the exif data?

Side note, does Apple do have a no questions asked exchange within the 14 day return period? Will they have exchange units set aside for returns or is there a chance I'll have to wait for stock to come in in order to fulfill an exchange.

Not sure where my reply went, guess Ill try again.
I would be interested in seeing the pictures that go with that data. Your examples dont seem to consistent enough to support that theory though. The ISO seems to jump both on the blurry and non blurry.

I am surprised I haven't read more about this. I was starting to feel like I was doing something wrong or missing a setting. I am not a "skilled" photographer by any means. Most of my photos are point and shoot quick to capture the kids. However my iPhone4 under the same conditions took sharper images. It really feels like it is software because of the way it gets distorted. Hopefully it can be fixed in an update.

It would be great to hear a skilled photographers opinion on this.

 

[tgi]

Not sure where my reply went, guess Ill try again.
I would be interested in seeing the pictures that go with that data. Your examples dont seem to consistent enough to support that theory though. The ISO seems to jump both on the blurry and non blurry.

I am surprised I haven't read more about this. I was starting to feel like I was doing something wrong or missing a setting. I am not a "skilled" photographer by any means. Most of my photos are point and shoot quick to capture the kids. However my iPhone4 under the same conditions took sharper images. It really feels like it is software because of the way it gets distorted. Hopefully it can be fixed in an update.

It would be great to hear a skilled photographers opinion on this.

This thread was pointed out to me. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1790221/ Might be worth a read.

It seems to be software related (Apple's noise reduction). If it's true, I hope it can be disable with a software update or perhaps a jailbreak tweak.