Iphone 11 Pro Extreme lens flare

That’s the problem, I could see the “flare” on my screen as I was composing the photos in front of a lit Christmas tree—the end result looked like the lady in front of the tree. I tried moving around the subject and they would appear everywhere. The only thing I didn’t try was shooting at a higher elevation than straight on. Personally, I don’t think taking a photo should be that hard.

For example, right now I can direct my camera towards a ceiling light and capture the blue reflection from the light. The only way to remove it is to tilt the camera lens perpendicular with the ceiling light. If I don’t, I have a light blue “ufo” floating around in my composition. I assume it’s the same thing happening with Christmas lights but multiplied by the number of lights in the focal plane. Also, I believe that they are an upside mirror image as far as position.

Hi rbrylawski.

I do hope you've also been reading my positive comments about "smart phone" cameras and even the advanced 11Pro. (I've owned four of them now) And I'm amazed every day about how important & versatile a tool – for business, art & life – these multi-function camera phones are.

What's wrong here is what you just stated: "Your hope that Apple admits anything about a normally occurring artifact will most assuredly go unfulfilled." That doesn't cut it, doesn't address or correct the problems. They are not "normal" to me. First photo I took was with a Brownie. Then I built a pin-hole camera. I've slung a camera over my shoulder for decades now. I'm a freelance photojournalist, ad agency owner & struggling artist. I shoot good pictures and bad pictures.

I'll agree with you – to a degree – that "it's not the camera, it's the photographer." But the gear most definitely makes a difference, provides options, opportunities, advantages. Heck, isn't that why you and I and everyone else here bought an iPhone 11Pro? Not because that automatically makes us a better shooter. I think it's because it helps us "see" better – up close, pulled-back, zoomed-in. And it let's us share these visions more readily, more universally.

Not to say my "pinhole" camera wasn't a bitchin' thingy.

I feel your pain "SomeBruh."

What shocks me is Apple's seemingly adopted policy now to dumb-down this issue by digging-in and stating that this is simply a universally known and accepted limitation of all cameras, and nothing more than a minor lens flare issue.

I'll state it again: Step up to the plate Apple. Be honest with your legions of users and loyal fans who have been sold phones with a camera system that is both brilliant and broken. Let us know that you are more than sympathetic: Let us know you are working on fixing the iPhone 11 Pro's "Lens Flare & Floating Artifacts" issues.

Do the right thing.

Please.

Hi "rbrylawski".

I appreciate your comment and posting the link. I'll follow your advice.

However, I think it's also important to get unfiltered "user" experiences and feedback here – and why I will continue to read these comments and chime-in when I think I can add something of value – even if that's just saying that I understand someones frustration with this issue.

My intentions here are not to bash Apple. I've been a loyalist since purchasing my Apple IIci in '89. I've never left the fold, never questioned Apple's policies or actions – until now.

BTW, are you a moderator or rep of Apple in this community forum?

Best is for every people who have issues to post on Apple products feedback link. But even then I wonder if Apple would do anything as since Steve Jobs departure they are fairly reluctant in admitting errors.

Now, I wonder if Apple would embark on any corrective measures without any “legal push”. How are most, non safety related, recalls triggered ? I believe the issue must first become statistically significant then some complainers may regroup and appoint someone to represent them to discuss it with Apple.

Yesterday I went to an Apple store, they were keen to test my iPhone but I declined as they are all suffering from the same flare & ghosting issue. The outcome would have been in vain as it is a design issue.

This is not about replacing the phone with a new one but more about correcting a design issue which is clearly abnormal otherwise people, including image capture / making professionals, would not be complaining about it on this forum in the first place.

Pjphilippe wrote:

Are you a sub-contractor to Apple ? I mean Apple is surely sub-contracting these moderating services so they almost certainly pay you for your work here but indirectly.

Again, NO. I am not compensated for any of the time over the last decade I have volunteered my time to help other users. I don't hang out on just this thread. I actually spend my time on this forum helping people with questions about how to use their phones. In return, if my answer solved their problem, they mark my answer and I get points, which only shows the level I have achieved as a volunteer member of the forum. I am currently level 9 out of 10 levels. And all for absolutely nothing more than my willingness to help fellow users and most certainly not for any compensation of ANY kind.

Thanks and you don't need to award me any points. I honestly don't do this for the points. There's a core group of us who have been on this forum for years and we are truly motivated to help users. We of course on occasion upset users, when don't necessary agree with their angst :-)

Take care

I have the same issue. This is worse than it has ever been on in the other iPhones I’ve had. I took it to the Apple Store to have them check it out and they said it was normal for this camera. I also tested some of the cameras in the Apple store and they appear to have the same issue. So this must just be a design flaw in the new camera lenses.

Hallo from Germany. I also have this Problem and a certified Dealer replaces the Camera. It does not solve the Problem.

My IPhone 11 is from October 2019. A Kollege of me gets his IPhone Pro in February 2020 and its the same Problem.

So I think it´s a constructive Problem.

It should be a rather simple optics technical solution combining these:

1) Anti-reflective coating on the inside face of the lens covers as a minimum. Since these coatings are fragile; reason why camera lenses are always capped, it may be debatable wether this should be applied on both faces if the lenses are left uncapped when not used.

2) Matt or satin finish surfaces rather than mirror finish to avoid parasitic reflections. This includes the lens covers black masks inner faces.

3) Optimised reflective index materials combination for the lens covers & camera lenses.

4) Sensor surface anti-glare coating.

The solutions are simple and well known however these must be optimally combined which can be more complex although these solutions are usually simulated prior prototypes are made and tested.

Hi JimP_Solvang,

I wrote some feedback on two occasions but never got any response so I imagine that since Steve Jobs has left, feedback was progressively pushed into a dark hole simply because it may be too costly to read... So I believe that a respond would be extraordinary, even to sound stuff... Even some people who highlighted significant security flaws were usually left without response...

One says « Life is hope and hope is life... » though.

Apple doesn't respond to feedback provided via the feedback link. They NEVER did when Steve Jobs was at the helm either. People who provide feedback can be assured by the notification in the link they sign into that feedback is read, but not responded to. It has ALWAYS been this way.

You must not have read this statement right at the top of the feedback page you used:

Use the form below to send us your comments. We read all feedback carefully, but we are unable to respond to each submission individually.

I went Apple Store today, the guy from Genius Bar said that’s normal. I showed this discussion and he said any random guys can write everything they want on the Internet and he rejected the fact that it’s hardware defection. And my phone didn’t get any service or repair. What should I do? My location is Brisbane, Australia.

Your argument is quite inaccurate.

Apple has never stated that the flares do not exist, but rather that they are normal for those situations.

Every camera and lens faces limitations in optics and physics.

What you are seeing is a limitation common to almost all top of the line smart phones.

Leica has apparently done some work to minimize this but we don’t know what the side effects of that correction are; if coatings eliminated flare but made low light performance worse, I’m not sure customers would want to make that trade-off.