Apple: Vibrations Can Affect iPhone Camera Performance
Prolonged exposure to certain vibrations can degrade some of the parts used in the iPhone's camera.
By-Farhan Mazid
Apple has warned iPhone users that prolonged exposure to certain vibrations can affect the performance of the device's camera by interfering with several of its most sensitive components.
MacRumors spotted the company's disclosure of this problem in a support article published on Sep. 10. Apple said in the article that the vibrations can affect two specific aspects of the iPhone's camera system: optical image stabilization (OIS) and closed-loop autofocus (AF).
OIS adjusts the camera lens in response to movement to capture the clearest possible image even if the device isn't being held perfectly still. Closed-loop AF, meanwhile, is said to "preserve sharp focus in stills, videos, and panoramas." Both features are key to iPhone photography.
Apple said that OIS relies on the iPhone's gyroscope to determine how the camera's lens needs to be adjusted; closed-loop AF uses magnetic sensors to "measure gravity and vibration effects and determine the lens position so that the compensating motion can be set accurately."
"The OIS and closed-loop AF systems in iPhone are designed for durability," Apple said. "However, as is the case with many consumer electronics that include systems like OIS, long-term direct exposure to high-amplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges may degrade the performance of these systems and lead to reduced image quality for photos and videos. It is recommended to avoid exposing your iPhone to extended high-amplitude vibrations."
The company said that it doesn't recommend attaching an iPhone to "motorcycles with high-power or high-volume engines" because of that potential disruption to the device's camera. Even people driving low-power mopeds or scooters were advised to use vibration dampening mounts.
Apple said that OIS is found in the iPhone 6 Plus, 6s Plus, and later, with the exception of specific lenses on the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 11. Closed-loop AF is found on the iPhone XS and later . Both systems are also found in the second-generation iPhone SE.