Smartphone cameras have seen remarkable advancements in the past decade, evolving from a modest 0.1 MP resolution to over 200 MP. Some high-end models now even feature 1-inch type sensors, offering image and video quality comparable to professional cameras.
Despite these improvements, smartphone cameras remain delicate. Simple mistakes can cause permanent damage. Here are five things to avoid to protect your smartphone camera system:
1. Shooting a Laser Light Show: Concerts often use high-intensity laser lights. Recording these with your smartphone can permanently damage the camera sensor due to their high energy density, affecting both the lens and the sensor.
2. Mounting on a Bike: Attaching your smartphone to a bike or scooter can cause permanent damage to the camera due to vibrations from the moving vehicle. Use a special mounting kit designed to absorb vibrations to prevent this.
3. Using a Smartphone Underwater: Despite some brands promoting underwater shooting capabilities, this can still permanently damage your phone, even with an IP rating. Extended underwater use heats up the phone, and condensation can lead to water entering the system, damaging the camera.
4. Shooting in Extreme Temperatures: Extreme temperatures, whether too hot or too cold, can damage the camera. Directly shooting the sun for extended periods, especially during solar eclipses, is particularly harmful. However, shooting the moon is generally safe, and some phones have dedicated moon modes.
5. Using Camera Lens Protectors: Poorly installed or low-quality lens protectors can scratch the camera lenses. Minor gaps between the lens and protector can trap dust particles, potentially causing damage.
Additionally, dropping your smartphone can harm camera features like stabilization and focusing capabilities.