Large Glares iPhone 12

I’ve called Apple Tech Support regarding this and I’m wondering if anyone here can give me an answer as to whether or not this is a camera defect or not. I’ve got some time left to exchange this phone for a new one on warranty from

the Apple Authorized Dealer and the salesman told me he will exchange it no questions asked but the store is in another whole city away from me. So if going there can be avoided then I’d rather not. If this type of flare, glare or reflection is a regular occurrence on my IPhone 12 or with iPhone cameras in general, when compared to other types of markings which can or do show up in our pics with iPhones, then I’d love to stop worrying about this and let it go. But I’m not willing to pay outright for this phone if it’s defective and might get worse at some point because of something I could have traded for a mint condition one.

Posted on Dec 17, 2021 4:09 AM

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11 replies

Dec 17, 2021 8:10 AM in response to MaggzM

Did you look at the photos in the link I posted? Just looking at your first image, the “ghost” is an inverted reflection of the brightest section of your window:


The same for the other 2 reflections.


I’ve been using cameras for 60 years, and I’ve seen lens flare in many photos I’ve taken. Perhaps you didn’t notice. One significant difference is the iPhone doesn’t have a lens hood as most larger cameras do, so light sources not in the direct view of the camera can still cause reflections. You can get clip-on lens hoods for iPhones, or you can shade the lens with your hand. But in your 3 photos the light source is directly in the image so a hood wouldn’t help.


In some respects the risk of lens flare is greater in the newer iPhones, because the more advanced compound lens has more elements that can reflect internally.

Dec 17, 2021 6:51 AM in response to MaggzM

Any time you take a photo that has a light source in the picture, or where the light source falls directly on the lens, you will see this. It’s called “lens flare” and will happen with any camera, whether its a phone camera or a $25,000 professional camera. it is caused be internal reflections between elements of the lens system. Here is the long explanation, with examples from different types of cameras→iPhone Camera Lens Flare and Reflections - Apple Community

Dec 17, 2021 9:16 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Thanks and I did notice that it’s because of the light coming it or his window but I’ve never have to experience anything such as this. I’ve seen dots but jot something like this. So you’re saying it won’t meter which iPhone 12 I have, even if I trade it for another new one, ( this one I’m currently using is one week used) it still won’t go away?

Dec 19, 2021 7:38 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I’m not sure why you have named what we can see showing up on my pics and vid’s as a ghost. Also, I have had numerous other cameras that I’ve used to take pics of that same window and never had any issue until I got the iPhones. I noticed it at first with the iPhone 11 Pro Max and now I’m seeing it again on my iPhone 12. My last camera was recording in the same quality and it doesn’t matter which level I’m recording or shooting at on this phone, with this camera these marks and dots are always showing up. What really is the point in buying a new iPhone for that much money that we’ve got to have this kind of issue ruining our pics. Never had this issue with any android phone in my whole life before getting back into iPhones again. If this phone is supposed to be o have this awesome camera and recording quality then why isn’t it able to record or take pics that will remove this from the pics? Seems like a waste of money. Also I spoke to Apple Tech Support and she said that this picture is displaying an imperfection because of the light from the window which is obviously because of the light coming inside, but she said that the camera should not be making that happen and that I should just get a exchange for a new one. I’m also a little bit confused about what exactly you were trying to point out with the red outline around the blue marks that are in my pics that I have posted.. I think you’re trying to show me that the marks in my pics are the same shape as the light up part of the window that is right next to the mark and I already figured that out, while I was taking these pics and vid’s and I thought that I had mentioned that I was aware of the light from the window being the reason for the camera having those marks showing up in my shots, but I still don’t understand why this isn’t happening while using Samsung phone or google phone cameras. My friend was here on and off for a month with his brand new Samsung Galaxy S21 I think it’s also called the Ultra.. anyhow, his phone is the best quality and highest quality camera that Samsung made at the time and that was sold in Canada. I am 99 % sure that his phone actually has a higher quality for recording and pics than my iPhone 12 does and so think is also better than the iPhone 11 Pro Max as well.. And I’ve taken videos and pics with that camera on his phone and never once seen that kind of thing showing up while recording vid’s or afterward showing up on the recordings or images. Also, if I you’re saying that I will always have this issue using the higher quality cameras on new iPhones then I’m switching back to android. That is unacceptable.

Dec 19, 2021 7:50 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I tried to shade the camera with my hand and it didn’t help at all. I am wondering if you know whether or not Samsung’s newer model phones have the lens hood that you’ve told me about..Samsung galaxy s21 ultra or higher? which have higher quality cameras like on my iPhone 12 and can take better than or close to better quality vids and pics? Because I’ve used the newer Samsung models for recording vids and taking pics and never have seen that kind of thing. I just want to rule out the all the things that are possibly comparable to know the difference. Because if I can get a different iPhone that won’t do this to my images and vids then I’ll get it instead of keeping this one.

Dec 20, 2021 6:53 AM in response to MaggzM

In then examples you posted a lens hood would not help, because the light source is actually in the photo. I call it a ghost because that is exactly what it is. The very bright light coming in the window hits an internal element of the lens, reflects to an outer element of the lens, is inverted by the lens, and then appears in the image because it is actually on the outer element of the lens. The same thing would happen if you took that picture with a Samsung, an LG, a Pixel, or a $1,000 SLR.


You would not have the problem with a really cheap camera, or a smartphone with a cheap single-element lens, because there would not be another element to reflect the light source to.


I know you mention a Samsung and a Pixel that didn’t have the problem. Did you take the EXACT SAME photo, with the same lighting conditions, same brightness, from exactly the same location? Would you please post those pictures if you did?

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Large Glares iPhone 12

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