IPhone 12 Pro Max Lens flare

I read people repeating themselves that good photographers know a work around. I agree if it involves blatant light sources or the sun. but come on, look at these. that's some serious ufo's originated by street lights.

I have at home a Huawei P20 Pro, iPhone 7, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone XR and an iPhone 12 Pro Max. The latter is the only one that makes terrifying flares, like no other. One thing is flares and another that the whole photo is full of spots. I am a professional photographer, I have Nikon and Sony cameras, lenses of all kinds and no, a photograph of streetlights does not show spots like the iPhone 12 Pro Max does. The photographs that I have seen of Huawei, Xiaomi or Samsung are not as exaggerated as those generated by the iPhone. They certainly have a serious problem with the lenses. Some say here that a professional photographer would know how to avoid them. No, those flares on a mirrorless or DSRL camera don't appear. A photograph of streetlights, as some people have shown, does not make those spots.

One thing are flares and others are stains. For those who speak of professional photography, indeed, professional lenses solve this by adding internal layers that avoid these problems.

miguelfeal wrote:

Another problem are the spots and reflections that appear at certain times and that do not appear on other mobiles. I keep sending photos and videos to Apple with these cases and it seems like a difficult problem to solve, because it is a design flaw: the problem is in the protective glass. It is the one that creates the reflections. But it cannot be solved unless they are replaced.

You keep saying this, yet a simple search of this thread, let alone the Internet will turn up multiple photos taken from a wide variety of smartphones showing the exact same issue.

I've done Samsung and Huawei phones, so let's do the Google Pixel 3XL this time:

Ghosting:

Perhaps reflections of street lights:

Just for you. I took these two photos moments ago. You say I don't show many flares. We put up lights on our deck this afternoon.

In both photos, I did not move my location. I DID move the camera angle relative to the lights. In the first photo, the green dots are easily seen before I took the photo. I took it anyway. In the second photo, I simply angled the camera differently and you can see the results.

Is my phone defective? Of course not. Do I understand how to minimize or eliminate the lens flares. Yes.

I would take the time to edit out the tip of the chair you see in the bottom of the frame, but this was just to show you how easy it was for me to get rid of the flares by simply angling the camera to remove them.

Learn how to use your camera system in your phone. You just might find out it's pretty terrific.

jtcannonball wrote:

I think the issue is you keep mentioning and showcasing 1-3 spots on a photo and claim it’s the same as others who have literally 20-30 clusters of dots.

How's this?

Google Pixel 4.

I can't remember if I showed these two photos here in this thread or in another one on this topic.

Here's a picture I took with flare. I could easily see the flare on my iPhone 12 Pro Max screen before I took the photo, which you could have seen if you were holding my phone as well:

Is my phone defective? No, of course not.

Without moving my position at all, I moved the angle of the camera relative to the scene and took this photo seconds later. Notice anything different? The flares are gone.

_leefy wrote:

Provide a link showing a Huawei producing the same 'flare' as the cluster of green dots on the wooden post reflected from the water. That's just obscene.

The more points of bright light in a photo, the more "dots."

Here are three bright points of light and three resulting dot flares courtesy of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro:

Completely agree. Started using my new Max pro this week with some awful results. Been on twice to support without any answers. Sadly its not good enough. If you look at the photos you can see that I failed to take a number of shots without a mark or flare appear. The ones in the mist are actually at night with only a quarter moon, so not really that bright. Are apple saying that you can only use this camera during daylight because that is how it seems. Any feedback from anyone who has resolved this would be greatly appreciated.

This image might help on the annoying issue. You can see the reflection of Aloha reversed and upside down in the black above the letters. My girlfriend has a iPhone 8, took same photo, and no reflections like this. Serious Apple design fail and very frustrating

I find it annoying as well. Spoiled a really awesome shot. Had to crop out. Still visible at the lower left. We didn’t buy a camera, now, you dickens. You bought a phone. That is what Apple would say. They don’t give a crap as long as people are buying their stuff. Jus’ Sayin’

honestly it’s so bad that I have to contact Apple because there’s no way this is the way the camera supposed to perform. More photos from tonight and this is not about just altering your shot. I’ve never seen this on any camera that I’ve owned in my life

Perhaps you should let Samsung know that something they document the Note 20 as doing is incorrect.

You may also want to let those on other forums who told the poster of this photo taken with a Note 20 Ultra that the flare was normal and expected for Samsung phones they were wrong.

Hi guys, got the same problem with the iPhone 12 pro and it’s annoying as is a £1000 phone and they shouldn’t have these issues at this price.

is their fault and they should resolve this ASAP

not everybody is a professional photographer that’s why some people bought the phone to have a device which shot decent pictures or videos .

I know that you can trick the flares adjusting the position of the camera but is too much struggle and you can’t always do this as for example you want to take a pic to a Christmas tree,you won’t be able .

here a test done last night and is a massive dot full of dots 😂

i am wondering if a lens protector will stop the flares? Or a UV lens protector?

And they break. The only drop this phone had was off a nightstand onto a wood floor on day 2 of ownership. But never inspected phone after drop. Discovered break day 4 into ownership. My phone does never go in pants pocket with keys and metal objects. This iPhone pro max in the Apple recommended clear MagSafe case and Belkin screen protector. Thought I was bullet proof. Thanks Apple Care + and $99 more.

Pretty sad when you can't even take a simple picture of a Christmas tree. No, this neither normal nor is it "easily avoided using basic photographic techniques." Raw amateurs take photos of Christmas trees all of the time without any lens flares. But not with this camera. Changing angle does not help.

This was a test shot, using a DJI Osmo 4. Nice unit, works well with the iPhone Pro Max. I found no trouble mounting the phone with its Apple leather case. But the flares are still there.