Foggy Lens on back

I have this same problem, but *after* the Apple Store Genius had replaced the back panel (I had a different problem). I suspect that there was either a plastic film on the replacement part which they hadn't taken off (though I'm not sure if there is one).

Or the genius had accidentally touched the back of the lens cover in the process of fitting it, either way, my new back panel has resulted in a foggy/glare-y camera!

I replaced a shattered back glass with an OEM replacement. Later I found out my camera lens was foggy. Turns out there was a tiny protective decal covering the lens. You wouldn't even know it was there until you took a fingernail and peeled it off.

Many thanks!!!! Had exactly same issue with a 3 year old iPhone 4 until I read the earlier answer: "

"I replaced a shattered back glass with an OEM replacement. Later I found out my camera lens was foggy. Turns out there was a tiny protective decal covering the lens. You wouldn't even know it was there until you took a fingernail and peeled it off."

- had a look and sure enough there was the tiny offending decal!! All fantastic now and thanks again!! I was just about to order the special screwdriver to dismantle the back!!

Cheers

Peter

Take it back to the Apple Store. They replaced my back glass for free (usually a $29 repair).

I had the same problem, and the problem was the iPhone custom case added to the back of my phone. Pictures taken during daylight were ok, but at night they were all foggy. I had to take off custom casing from the back because it was reflecting flash light (case not thin enough) and made pictures that way. So the case was the problem, try removing it first before opening your phone.

I had the same problem (scratched up so badly it was blurry). The Apple Store replaced the case gratis, but made a point of telling me they were doing me a favor and it's supposed to cost me $29. Given all the posts on the web about this issue I suspect they just replace it.

Same here: thought the lens was scratched but could remove a thin film from the lens. Now it's perfect again. Could also have been an anti reflection or glare filter, but I don't care. Photos look great again.

I bought a used iphone and was disappointed to see the quality of the photos. When I wrote the seller (ebay) about it. He more or less called me an idiot and said to remove the protective plastic film. I assumed that since the phone is over a year old, that any protective film would have been removed long ago... Anyway, I cannot find this allusive plastic film there. Even gently took a needle to the side of the camera lens in attempt to lift up the edge of the film. Nothing! I assume it is on the outside, not a film inside the phone. Meaning: I'd have to take the back of the phone off to get to it. What would be the point a protective film there? Can't be that. Truly an idiot, I guess, but how do I remove this plastic film???

I want to take my iphone to the apple store. Should I tell them that i bought it used? And if I do, will they charge me a million dollars to fix this $*!#*!$ scratched up lens?

Had a problem with the camera, whereby all pictures were pretty blurry, and any with a flash were completely fogged and whited out.

Changed camera unit, still the same problem...

had a close look at the inside of tha back cover, and there was a small square of plastic with tabs covering the lens hole. Removed, but still getting foggy pictures with the flash...AArrrggghh!

Looked again, and discovered a piece of plastic like a left handed capital L going from camera lense hole all the way down the case... With nothing to loose, removed this piece of plastic (which wase barely stuck on) and voila. Problem solved, and all pics are now nice and sharp and with no fogging caused by the flash. Can only assume that this was supposed to be removed in the factory, but wasnt.

Foggy and blurred pictures when using flash in low light.

My I-Phone 5 is in a white plastic/black rubber case

After reading other comments on this forum, I took the case off. No more fog. Then I used a black permanent marker and blackened the area inside the oval cut-out on the case where the flash and camera look through. No more foggy pictures. The flash was indeed bouncing off the plastic case near the camera and causing the haze.

I am sure leaving the clear protective plastic from the manufacturer on the phone would also cause this type of problem. I cut mine straight across the phone just below the camera and flash, and removed it only from the top portion of my phone. This way, I still have an extra layer of protection from minor scratches on the backside of the phone that would be caused by junk getting in between the case and phone, and it also protects where the Apple icon opening is at. Phone is 6 month old and there is not a single scratch or mar anywhere on the actual phone. Screensaver on front, and case with rubber buttons keep it unscathed.

I used the replacement clear back, I saw matthews post and scraped and found the plastic cover, instantly sooo much better.

So WHERE exactly do you find this protective covering and how to remove it? I don't see any specifics on that. I have an iphone 4 and also having issues of REALLY bad photos with the flash.