5S Low light video

Question

Level 1

14 points

5S Low light video

Even after the 7.1 update, the video camera on the iPhone 5S is still way too dark.

The photo camera is very good in low light, but video recording in low light is almost impossible it's so dark.

I also have a iPhone 5C for work, & although the camera is not as good as the 5S, for video recording in low light the 5C actually does a better job than the 5S.

So something is radically wrong with the 5S video recorder for capturing light. If you're not in a well lit room, it's almost impossible to record any video at all. (Ie, a night time or indoor concert is impossible.)

I have seen other people complaining about this online as well, so I don't think it's isolated to my device. I really hope it's not a hardware problem, but since Apple didn't fix it with the 7.1 update, I'm worried

iPhone 5s, iOS 7.1

Posted on Mar 10, 2014 1:44 PM

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Answer 1

CarlAVII

Community Specialist

Mar 12, 2014 8:05 AM in response to sdeetz

Hello sdeetz,

The following article provides some useful troubleshooting steps that may help resolve image quality issues with your iPhone's camera.

Camera isn't functioning or has undesired image quality

If the screen shows a closed lens or black image, force quit the Camera app.

If you do not see the Camera app on the Home screen, try searching for it in Spotlight. If the camera does not show up in the search, check to make sure that Restrictions are not turned on by tappingSettings > General > Restrictions.

Ensure the camera lens is clean and free from any obstructions. Use a microfiber polishing cloth to clean the lens.

Cases can interfere with the camera and the flash. Try gently cleaning the lens with a clean dry cloth or removing the case if you see image or color-quality issues with photos.

Try turning iPhone off and then back on.

Tap to focus the camera on the subject. The image may pulse or briefly go in and out of focus as it adjusts.

Try to remain steady while focusing:

Still images: Remain steady while taking the picture. If you move too far in any direction, the camera automatically refocuses to the center.
Note: If you take a picture with iPhone turned sideways, it is automatically saved in landscape orientation.

Video: Adjust focus before you begin recording. You can also tap to readjust focus while recording. Exiting the Camera application while recording will stop recording and will save the video to the Camera Roll.
Note: Video-recording features are not available on original iPhone or iPhone 3G.

If your iPhone has a front and rear camera, try switching between them to verify if the issue persists on both.

My issue is still not resolved. What do I do next?
Contact Apple Support.

iPhone: Hardware troubleshooting

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2802

Cheers,

Allen

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Answer 2

sdeetz Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 12, 2014 10:36 AM in response to CarlAVII

Thank you for the reply, but none of these resolve the low light video capture.

The issue is on every iPhone 5s and 5C that I have seen, even the ones in the Apple Store.

If you want to see what I mean, all you have to do is open up the camera app like you're going to take a picture in a lowlight situation. The image will look fine. Now swipe the screen to engage the video mode to take a movie instead. You will notice that the screen gets considerably darker.

This is what I'm trying to explain. The lens does not let in nearly as much light in video mode as it does in photo mode.

Many websites including Engadget and imore.com have articles also detailing this issue.

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