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iPhone 7 Plus Camera - Pictures are bad

I take the following picture with my new iPhone 7 Plus (only one example).


http://abload.de/img/img_01482duth.jpg


So as you can see, this is really crap.


What is the problem? Is it a Hardware of Software (10.0.2) issue?


The results of my old iPhone 6s Plus were better...

iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 10.0.2

Posted on Oct 1, 2016 5:30 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 25, 2017 7:38 AM

I sometimes look at past photos taken with iphone 4S, 5S and 6S. Those pictures look nice, good color reproduction, good details. Why do you think Apple sid not show any landscape and colorfull photos in their iphone 7 keynote, like they used to with older models?? They knew that color reproduction is horrible, oil painted and details are crap.

I do not expect a perfect phone, but seriously, I do expect a decent camera!

997 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 25, 2017 7:38 AM in response to henrybutz

I sometimes look at past photos taken with iphone 4S, 5S and 6S. Those pictures look nice, good color reproduction, good details. Why do you think Apple sid not show any landscape and colorfull photos in their iphone 7 keynote, like they used to with older models?? They knew that color reproduction is horrible, oil painted and details are crap.

I do not expect a perfect phone, but seriously, I do expect a decent camera!

Jan 2, 2017 10:52 AM in response to MrBojingels

My husband and I purchased these phones last week after Christmas. We both are having the same issues, this camera is terrible!


This is just completely unacceptable!! When you spend $900 on a phone, the photos should not come out this poor quality!!


I am a wire artist and I depend on my iphone to take quality photos for marketing, posting on my online store, and so on. These photos are worse than my iphone 5!! I am so disappointed in Apple's response to this, placing this on the user's shoulders to use better lighting & photo conditions. This is not a user issue, it's an iphone issue. Whether it's hardware or software, something should be done. My Uncle also has this exact phone and his photos are just as bad.


I have tried everything. Using a 3rd party app, changing the lighting, etc etc. Nothing helps. It's just a crappy camera.


I've also been sitting on hold with Apple for an hour trying to register my complaint. I'm going to return this phone. So angry right now.


User uploaded file

Jan 4, 2017 9:31 AM in response to MrBojingels

The problem with my iphone7+ is what photographers call "noise": graininess or splotchiness, something like a Seurat painting:

User uploaded file

though not as severe, of course. Its more pronounced when I shoot in RAW using either the ProCam or Manual apps. When I shoot in jpeg it doesn't look as bad, but that's because the jpeg smoothes things out. Shooting at ISO that is as low as possible will minimize noise. But even if I shoot at 50 ISO or so (which is very low; 200 is much more common), I still get some noise. Some noise can be smoothed out using a program like Lightroom or Photoshop, but it's hard to eliminate it altogether.

Diywriter

Jan 4, 2017 2:38 PM in response to MrBojingels

So I've had this problem since I bought my 7+. I couldn't accept this so I sold it and bought the Google Pixel. Since my wife still has the 7+, I was able to do some tests between the Pixel and 7+. What I found was that even though the megapixels / file dimensions are about the same, the Pixel's image file sizes are double that of the 7+! So it looks like the iPhone is compressing the jpegs to save space possibly. I also believe what others have said that there is heavy noise reduction and sharpening happening. Add those two things together on a jpeg and you get crappy photos.


Even though this stuff doesn't effect me anymore I thought I'd share my little 7+ vs Pixel test. I'm super happy I switched and the Pixel's images are awesome and so much better than iPhone. (Also note I've been an iPhone user since the 2nd generation so I'm not an apple hater. I just need a good camera on my phone for my business)


Here is a side by side. 7+ on left and Pixel on the right.

User uploaded file

Jan 5, 2017 5:45 AM in response to MrBojingels

Hello guys!
Several days ago I bought iPhone 7 Plus. Previously I use iPhone 6s. When I start taking photos on my new 7 Plus I decide that image quality is bad and my new phone is defected. I notice some watercolour effect. I think - I need to compare images on monitor side by side. I take one shot of object on both phones (focus on text). Here is result (image resized by 50%, left - iPhone 6s, right- 7 Plus):
User uploaded file

As you can see on 7 Plus image quality are better. But another example (image resized by 50%, left - iPhone 6s, right- 7 Plus):
User uploaded file

You can see some kind of watercolour effect, right? Here is how new camera focus works. This is not bad, this is just new camera, new software. Another example (image resized by 50%, left - iPhone 6s, right- 7 Plus):
User uploaded file

Again, looks like in iPhone 6s quality is better. But it is because new camera focus. I am not sure that this is good or bad. I think Apple can fix this in software update. This is just image processing after taking photo I think. Final example (image resized by 50%, left - iPhone 6s, right- 7 Plus):
User uploaded file

iPhone 7 wins I think. Image more clear and sharper. I like it.

I am not sure that this is a problem with camera or phone. Software - maybe yes. Apple can add settings for Camera to tweak blur processing after taking photo.


On new iPhone 7 Plus you must watch on what object you are focusing. And photos will be good.


P.S. Here is not zoomed images (image resized by 50%, left - iPhone 6s, right- 7 Plus):User uploaded file

You can see blur or watercolour effect at the top of the image on iPhone 7 Plus photo.

Jan 7, 2017 7:46 PM in response to MrBojingels

Same problems here with iP7+. I can't say for sure, but I'm thinking I started noticing the "painting" or "grainy" effect after the portrait update. When I shoot in portrait mode, the resulting image is really bad. REALLY bad. I actually took a few of my dog this afternoon in daylight, and they are just gross. After reading through this forever long thread of complaints, I compared my dog photos with those I took with the regular photo mode, and those photos seem to be good. I think I get good photos outdoors, but much else is just garbage. So much so that I don't really even use my phone for pictures anymore unless I open my Lightroom mobile app. I agree the iPhone 6 was MUCH better.User uploaded file

Yorkie photo taken using the "portrait" mode, no zoom. (Apparently the portrait mode saves both a regular copy and a Depth of Field copy of the same photo.) This is the regular one. The DOF one looks just as crappy, however.

User uploaded file

This photo was taken indoors with just the regular photo mode. Looks ok.

Jan 8, 2017 12:39 AM in response to MrBojingels

User uploaded fileI have the same problems with iPhone 7 Jet Black 128GB and my wife with her rose gold version as well. Even my dad and mom have the same issue with their iPhone 7 Plus 128 GB! It starts to become enervating beyond normal. Especially for such smartphones and that price tag! I already tried to reset completely and switching the suggested settings, but no result.

Jan 12, 2017 7:59 AM in response to MrBojingels

I bought iphone 7 plus last year and just found problem about quality of photo.

One is reflection of thing when shoot a bright light and

today just found the quality of photo is like watercolor as this post said,

I read a lot about a problem but no solution for 2 issue of this problem. Hope apple will fix it soon,

So annoy when shooting a photo and got a reflection thing on scene and also have low quality photo.

I move from iphone 5 to iphone 7 plus that I think the camera is will be great but it not, so disappointed.😟


This is example of photo

User uploaded file

User uploaded file

User uploaded file

Jan 27, 2017 1:24 PM in response to mfurch

I think many people don't even realize that there is a problem with pictures.😟 When I showed some of the photos to my friends, they said it was an amazing quality, however, I had to disagree.

Here is a picture taken inside, with all the windows open for more light. As you can see the bunny is too bright and the face is smudged.

User uploaded file


When I showed these picture at the Apple store, they ran diagnostics, changed the phone, I left happy, thinking everything is fine now. Second phone had the same issue, I came back to Apple store, the technician said "yeah, I can see that the quality is off!!", ran diagnostica, reset it and gave it to me. I checked it in the store, the issue was still there, so they just told me "that's the way the camera is" and demonstrated cameras on other iPhones in the store. They all had the issue, you can see it especially clear on pictures of people, so I asked them if in their opinion it was acceptable for a $900 smartphone? they just shrugged and didn't say anything else, implying, that it's time to go, only saying "i'm sorry you feel that way", which is not even a real apology. I left, and now use my sony nex 5 to take pictures. So yeah, so much for "the best smartphone in the world".

Feb 12, 2017 11:47 PM in response to MrBojingels

I got my iphone 7 in January and I only realised how bad the camera is. I also have this fuzziness to my photos like many of you. And is anyone else having this issue where you would put the focus in the middle but the top left corner and bottom right corner of the photo end up being out of focus even if it's a flat surface? In the photo I attached, the word DERWENT (Top left) and Matite Colorate (bottom right) is out of focus. It's been happening with a few of my other photos and I cant figure out why the focus area is so small on my new iphone 7 (Not Plus). Is this normal or is it faulty? Not sure if I should get it checked by one of the Apple supports in store or not.
User uploaded file

Feb 13, 2017 5:09 AM in response to G00BUS

It's normal with a higher-aperture lens like on the iPhone 7 for there to be a slightly shallower focus zone, which allows you to achieve a blurred background when focusing on things closer up. I just took a photo illustrating this, see below.


However, your image looks more like it could be a defective lens and/or stabiliser. The blurring should be very predictable, i.e. anything closer or further away from where you're focusing will be increasingly blurred.


If it's happening even on mostly flat surfaces where everything is at a similar distance — and you're not super close up — then it's probably an issue. If you are really close, try backing off a little. Bear in mind that all lenses have a minimum effective range, so even if they focus you might still get a sharper image a few more centimetres away.


Here's a photo I just took of a coaster to show that my lens is pretty uniform in sharpness — although it's not on a flat surface the distance keeps things pretty consistent.


User uploaded fileUser uploaded file

Feb 15, 2017 5:33 PM in response to MrBojingels

Hi guys,


I purchase my iPhone 7 128gb Black in December. I come from an iPhone 6.


I first noticed the picture when I zoomed into the face of my young cousin with the image shot inside - it seemed like it had a watercolor effect. I've noticed this to be the issue with most interior shots. Today i took a picture of a glass - see full and zoomed in pictures.


When is apple going to fix this is it's software related!? This is ridiculous - they go on like "it's the best camera ever" Surely it's the worst ever! iPhone 6 seemed much more superior!User uploaded file

Mar 14, 2017 11:21 AM in response to MrBojingels

More advertising that Perrin to the excellent camera that simply can't produce anything like this for me, RAW or not! Wonder what the additional hardware is, Nikon D750 with the iPhone 7 controlling it is my guess...User uploaded file

iPhone 7 Plus Camera - Pictures are bad

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