Lens Smudges and Scratches

Question

Level 1

6 points

Lens Smudges and Scratches

I was wondering if anyone has experience with the camera lens getting smudged or scratched? I believe this is from setting it, camera lens down, on desks, night-stands, kitchen tables, etc. My 4GB original iPhone has never been dropped or damaged and it has AppleCare.

Does anyone know of a way to buff it out or clean it? Or is this something I will have to have replaced? It is effecting my photos with a blurry haze depending on the lighting.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my post and I look forward to hearing your incites.

4GB iPhone, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Macbook Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0

Posted on Jun 24, 2008 10:47 AM

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Answer 1

Ed L

Level 1

20 points

Jul 17, 2008 9:39 AM in response to dcircle

This is alittle after the post but for anyone else who's getting fuzzy/hazy images, you can "polish" the lens gently with a little toothpaste and a damp (_not wet_) old toothbrush. Don't rub too hard and keep a soft, dry tissue handy. You might have to repeat a couple of times. Apparantly the coating goes bad and once removed, the image will be decent again.

sample here - http://anothered.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/eds-iphone-lens-composite-blog.gif

Hope this helps someone!

Message was edited by: Ed L

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Answer 2

dcircle Author

Level 1

6 points

Jun 24, 2008 11:31 AM in response to Jennifer_B

Thanks Jen, I found a cloth that is used for cleaning slr lenses and that seemed to clean it a bit, but I fear it's more scratch than smudge. Any particular cloth or cleaning kit you can recommend?

if it's scratches do you think Apple will fix it since I have AppleCare?

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Answer 3

Ansuz82

Level 6

8,285 points

Jun 24, 2008 11:34 AM in response to dcircle

dcircle wrote:
Thanks Jen, I found a cloth that is used for cleaning slr lenses and that seemed to clean it a bit, but I fear it's more scratch than smudge. Any particular cloth or cleaning kit you can recommend?

Any lint free cloth will remove smudges just fine

if it's scratches do you think Apple will fix it since I have AppleCare?

Doubtful, as scratches fall under the "damage" category and are not covered.

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Answer 4

Tbo6652

Level 4

1,087 points

Jun 24, 2008 12:13 PM in response to dcircle

the care definitely wont cover the scratches, the only thing to do is get a replacement at a charge of course, but at this point, you might as well, wait for the new phone since it will cost just as much as it would to replace your current phone with another current version phone

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Answer 5

Efird

Level 1

0 points

Aug 5, 2008 2:43 PM in response to dcircle

Regular cleaning with a damp cloth did nothing for me. So I used toothpaste on the end of a q-tip and pushed the end of the q-tip into the lens firmly. Then I rotated the iphone in a circle, 8-10 times, on the lens,on the finger and q-tip. my lens had a haze that showed up on every photo before, but it is back to perfect now.

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Answer 6

Gary K.

Level 1

104 points

Aug 5, 2008 3:05 PM in response to Ed L

I have had success in removing scratches from plastic eyeglass lenses using an auto care product. It is made by Mequires and called ScratchX. Basically, it appears to be a very fine jeweler's rouge in a paste. *Disclaimer: YMMV*--I have NOT tried this on an iPhone lens, but it has worked on expensive eyeglasses, an acrylic fish tank and on a small plastic car model windshield.

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Answer 7

Jennifer_B

Level 4

1,760 points

Jun 24, 2008 11:02 AM in response to dcircle

dcircle,

If the camera lens is just smudged, you should be able to clean it by using the cleaning cloth that came with the iPhone.

Hope this helps,
Jennifer B.

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Answer 8

dcircle Author

Level 1

6 points

Jun 24, 2008 11:48 AM in response to Ansuz82

That's what I'm afraid of. I guess maybe I can use as an excuse to get the new phone.

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Answer 9

dcircle Author

Level 1

6 points

Jun 24, 2008 12:58 PM in response to Tbo6652

Very true. Thanks everyone for posting your advice.

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