Without any doubt, one of the most critical factors that affect our selection of mobile phones today is the camera technology.
The storage capacity, screen resolution, safety features, and processors are all followed by the bigger question, ‘is this phone’s camera worth it?’
Perhaps the biggest reason why iPhones gained such popularity within a short span had a lot to do with their camera technology.
When Apple introduced a built-in camera, it was a revolutionary invention. More sophisticated iterations of that camera have only served to create a new generation of photographers.
However, many of us often struggle to use these cameras to their fullest capacity. Are you not satisfied with the sharpness or overall quality of your pictures? Do you find yourself wondering why my camera is blurry every time you capture something? This blog is for you!
Why Is My iPhone Camera Blurry? (For iPhone)
The most common reason for a blurry camera or out-of-focus pictures are dirty cameras. Using your phone with wet/oily hands can leave imprints on the lens, which produces a blurry image. Your beloved phone case or screen protector may be the culprit too.
Let’s look into all the possibilities and try to find out why exactly your saved iPhone photos are blurry.
Remove The iPhone From Its Case
I am a big fan of matching my phone cases with my outfits, and so must be you! The only problem with this hobby is the case’s quality.
Sometimes, the material of the case or uneven edges of the case around your camera can be the issue. Also, ensure that your iPhone is not upside down in the case.
Wipe Off Camera Lens
If you have dust, debris, and a humid environment, it can interfere and make your iPhone camera blurry and soft-focus effect.
Each iPhone camera follows an algorithm to get the correct focus. It will surely face difficulties while capturing a picture if you have debris on your iPhone lens.
It is best to clean the cameras using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. By far, this one’s the easiest and most common way to solve selfie camera blurry issues.
Restart Your iPhone
Still unsure why your iPhone 12 camera is blurry? Another trick to get better results is to restart your iPhone.
- If you have the latest version of the iPhone, press and hold the side and volume up or down buttons until the “slide to power off” appears on the screen. Drag it to the right, and the phone will restart.
- If you have an old version of the iPhone, press and hold the power button. The slide will appear, and the rest will follow as per the latest procedure.
Upgrade Your iPhone
Older versions of the iPhone are not designed to accommodate a lot of camera zoom. Every iPhone relied on digital zoom prior to the iPhone 7. Digital zoom is operated by software to enhance the picture but can be unsteady.
Over time, new iPhones have made advancements and have become much better at taking photos using optical zoom. Optical zoom uses your camera hardware and is much better and clearer.
Close And Then Reopen The Camera App
If the above cleaning tips did not solve the “iPhone camera looking blurry” problem, then a software issue could be possible.
Access the app switcher by double-clicking the home button if you have an iPhone 8 or earlier, or swipe up the camera app from the bottom of the screen if you have an iPhone X or later model.
After finishing the opening app backup. Click a picture and check if the problem persists.
Try Putting Your Phone in DFU Mode
Another way to deal with a blurry camera is opting for DFU mode. “DFU” stands for Device Firmware Update. With this mode, the device can interface with iTunes without loading the operating system or boot loader.
If restarting the phones has not fixed the problem, DFU can be the cure. Make sure to backup your phone before using this mode.
Try Checking For An iOS Update
Often, updating the iOS could solve numerous problems, including lagging apps and shaky images. First, look for the iOS updates in your iPhone. There could be an update showing possible camera auto-focus problems.
You may simply follow these steps, and the update will start.
- From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select “Software Update.”
- Tap to download and install.
Clear The Camera App’s Cache
Clearing the app’s cache could be a game-changer and a life-saver sometimes. Its storage capacity is limited. You might reach a point where your apps stop functioning, and your camera stops taking selfies.
You’ll need to offload the cache in order to carry out this task. While keeping the documents and data, offloading apps will free up storage space that the app uses. When you reinstall it, your data will be restored.
Update Your Apps
If your iPhone camera is still producing blurry images, you should keep your iPhone apps up to date. It will allow access to the latest features but also enable the developers to fix security holes.
If you want to update your apps manually, follow these steps.
- Open the app store and tap on your profile icon.
- Scroll down until you see a list of apps to be updated.
- Tap to update each app, and installation will start.
You Zoomed In Too Far
If you capture a picture and zoom it too far, you may notice that the picture becomes blurry. Instead of a software bug, this might be the result of the new auto macro mode feature.
Despite the fact that macro mode cannot be turned off, enabling macro mode control makes it simpler for you to recognize when it is active and turn it off.
Get The Camera Repaired
Unfortunately, if you are still finding the camera blurry, then you might have to take it to an electronics restoration store. A genius will be able to open it up and take a look at the internal mechanism.
If something has happened with your screen or some other hardware issue, then try contacting Apple officially for a quick fix.
Why Is My Camera Blurry? (For Digital Cameras)
Why are my digital camera pictures blurry? Even though this is a common problem, troubleshooting isn’t as easy.
The first step is to identify the cause of blurry photos on your digital camera. It is occasionally possible when your camera is not faulty and working properly. The below mentioned could be a few reasons.
#1- Not Using Autofocus
If you are not using autofocus, it can be the reason behind blurry pictures in digital cameras. In manual modes, it will focus manually.
Your camera’s and lens’ focus is adjustable. Therefore, it can either be AF (auto focus) or MF (manual focus). You will notice that both the lens and camera have access to AF/MF switches.
If you are noticing a change in how focused your images are, MF may be the culprit! Simply switch back into AF mode and see if that helps!
#2- Your Aperture Is Too Wide
If you still witness the same blurry photos, then you should select the appropriate aperture settings of your digital camera. It means selecting the aperture according to the type of photo you are looking to take.
The wider the aperture is, the shallower your depth of field will be. It means if you use a wide aperture, only a small part of your image will be sharp.
#3- Not Using A Tripod
All the issues regarding blurry photos (and incorrect posture) can be resolved simply by owning a decent tripod strand.
There is no substitute for a tripod stand if you want to take photos that are completely blur-free. You will also want to pick up a basic shutter remote control while you are at it. Both are excellent tools for getting into spaces where you wouldn’t normally be able to stand.
#4- Poor Lens Quality
If you are following all the instructions exactly and the blur problem persists despite your best efforts, it may be time to upgrade your hardware. Unbranded lenses made of low-quality materials simply can’t compete with premium lenses in terms of performance.
A significant improvement can be achieved by upgrading to something of a higher caliber. Many amateur photographers assert that it is relatively uncommon for the lens to be the primary contributor to poor-quality images.
#5- Keep Your Camera Steady
Your camera’s holding technique will result in numerous blurry shots. Make sure to adopt the proper posture when shooting handheld. Even if you have a fast enough shutter speed, avoid holding the camera by the sides.
In order to minimize vibrations, you should either try to hold your breath or exhale very slowly. If you have a solid surface, you can utilize it to steady yourself.
#6- Don’t Raise Your ISO Too High
The significant increase in ISO may also be the root of the blurry problems. To choose a faster shutter speed, it might be tempting to increase your ISO, but this will result in more noise in your image.
Your subject will start to appear soft under close inspection because of the noise. At 6400 ISO, a person’s face will be blurry even in a still portrait. Keep your ISO as low as you can if you want the sharpest pictures possible.
#7- Your Shutter Speed Is Too Slow
The most frequent cause of blurry photos is the camera shake when you press the shutter button. Few people possess the ability to stabilize a camera for one second without shaking.
The ideal relationship between the shutter speed and the lens’ focal length, or plane of focus, is reciprocal. For instance, the shutter speed of the camera must be 1/60s or faster when using a 60mm lens.
Wrap-Up:
Now that you have read the whole blog, you know why your camera is blurry. Be it your DSLR or iPhone, cameras are delicate objects that require great care.
We have discussed a number of reasons why you come across the blurriness issue, and almost all of them arise from not being careful with your gear.
I’m sure most of your problems ended midway through the blog. However, if your camera is still blurry after trying out all the hacks, you might want to take it to the technical doctor (electronics shop) and get it fixed!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
#Q1- How can I make my camera clear?
Answer: By simply following the below mentioned tips, you can get a clear camera.
Hold your camera correctly.
Use a tripod
Select a fast shutter speed.
Choose a narrow aperture.
Keep your ISO as low as possible.
Turn on your image stabilization.
Improve your focusing technique (and use the right settings).
Make sure your lenses are sharp.
Get your eyes checked.
Clean your equipment.
Use your lens’s aperture sweet spot.
#Q2- Does camera moisture go away?
Answer: It is possible to remove moisture from the lens, and this should be done right away to avoid damage.
Ideally, the condensation is only on the outside, in which case the fix is simple, and the camera will function normally after a quick cleaning.
#Q3- How do you Defog iPhone camera lenses?
Answer: Rub the lens with a slightly damp cloth that has a small amount of mild soap on it. Next, wipe it off.
Once you’ve finished with that, try taking a few pictures to see if the problem persists. If the images are still hazy, gently scrape the lens with the edge of your fingernail or a guitar pick.
#Q4- Why is my camera blurry on the laptop?
Answer: Clean your webcam with a soft cloth. You may be experiencing blurry images as a result of lens smudges.
To make sure the camera is properly connected to your computer, gently press the camera’s edges. If the problem continues, disconnect the camera and restart your computer.
