Various iPhone 5 users have complained that a spurt of purple is displayed in their photos — and Apple has apparently acknowledged that it’s just part of how the camera functions. Apple has told at least one customer that any purple radiances noticed in photos taken on the company’s iPhone 5 are considered usual and occur due to the angling of the smartphone.
Response of Apple Care Support Representative
Gizmodo, earlier today, posted what it says is a response from an AppleCare support representative named Debby to an iPhone 5 owner who called the company complaining about the issue. “Our engineering team just gave me this information and we recommend that you angle the camera away from the bright light source when taking pictures,” AppleCare rep Debby writes in an e-mail. “The purple flare in the image provided is considered normal behaviour for iPhone 5’s camera.”
The matter in question is a purple colour that usually shows up on the boundaries of photos when a light source is closely nearby, though can also occur even when the light is off frame. It can also disturb both photos and videos. Some users began reporting about their troubles just after Apple’s new phone went on sale last month. The problem was not obvious during CNET’s own testing of the iPhone 5, which is uncompleted.
No Official Statement From Apple Yet
So far Apple has not releases any official statement, including support articles that feature the issue. The company refused to remark on the support e-mail. An assessment by Mashable, a CNN content partner, considered comparable images captured with an iPhone 5, an iPhone 4S and a Nikon D300. Some of the 5’s images had a purple radiance around light sources, while others didn’t, Mashable stated. None of the images from the other two devices displayed the flares.
Some have guessed that the problem is triggered by a sapphire cover that Apple added to the phone’s camera. “The new iSight camera in iPhone 5 features a sapphire crystal lens cover that is thinner and more durable than standard glass with the ability to provide crystal clear images,” Apple composed in promotional material for the phone.
The iPhone 5 has been Apple’s leading launch to date, selling 2 million units in the first 24 hours and 5 million over its first weekend on the market. But with the success and popularity, come a handful of tireless complaints, the purple glow being the latest to gain attention.
