Strange camera bug/defect (with examples)

[waltermitty]

I noticed today while using my camera that there is a dark "smudge" in the corner of every normal picture I take. It does not show up in video because video is zoomed in past the defect. Has anyone else encountered this? I have attached some images showing... Also, I have never touched the camera area on the back of the phone and noticed this problem before removing the plastic... It is not on the external lens.

Edit:

So I used the microscope at work just now and noticed that there are two transparent layers past the external case, and BOTH of them have artifacts, including what appears to be a rather "large" lines of perhaps glue, it is textured like something that has dried. It's very difficult to take a microscope picture with a DSLR, but I attached it anyway. It shows the middle layer. The blue is light glare, of course. They should be making these parts in clean rooms...

 

[macjram]

sorry, I don't have that problem =\

wait did you say you removed the plastic? if you didn't, maybe it would help to remove it

 

[waltermitty]

Yes, I removed the plastic after I noticed the defect and it remained the same. The above photos were taken without the plastic.

 

[dojoman]

Did you check if there are any fingerprints on the lens? Nice watch.

 

[noobinator]

looks like dust on your lens

 

[waltermitty]

Externally it is completely clean.

 

[Etnies419]

It's probably something under the glass, on the lens. I have the same thing on my 3G, but larger and less pronounced. You'll probably have to take it in to an Apple Store and have it looked at.

 

[waltermitty]

Edit: Moved this to the original post...