Canals, bridges, sunsets over the IJ – and suddenly every photo is soft, hazy or full of light spots. Camera problems after a drop are common. Before you assume the worst, do these quick checks.
Quick checks (2 minutes)
- Clean the lens with a soft, dry cloth. A fingerprint or pocket dust is the number-one cause of hazy photos.
- Take off the case. A case knocked out of place after a fall can cover part of the lens or cause flash reflections.
- Try every lens. On phones with several cameras, switch between wide, ultra-wide and zoom. If only one is blurry, the problem is in that camera.
- Restart the phone and open the camera again.
What the cause usually is
- Cracked lens glass: the small glass cover over the camera breaks. Photos get a haze, streaks or flare around lights. The camera underneath is often fine.
- Damaged camera module: the camera keeps hunting for focus, the image shakes, you hear a buzz or click, or the screen stays black. That points to the module itself (focus or stabilisation).
- Moisture or dust inside: after rain or a crack, a fog or spot can appear behind the lens.
How it is repaired
Depending on the model and damage, sometimes only the lens glass needs replacing; otherwise the camera module is replaced. Which one you need is clear after the free diagnosis, and you get a fixed price before we start. Do not keep using a phone with a cracked lens for long: dust and moisture get in through the crack and can damage the camera behind it.
On recent iPhones, a cracked back or front camera can also affect Face ID. If Face ID stops working after a drop, see iPhone Face ID repair.
PhonePlus, Binnen Bantammerstraat 4, Amsterdam – near the Nieuwmarkt and about ten minutes' walk from Centraal Station. Walk in without an appointment.
- Monday: 10:00–19:00
- Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00–21:00
- Sunday: 12:00–21:00
