Develop Bugs

Camera question - Washed out pictures?

Hey Guys....thanks in advance for any replies...
Can anyone give me some tips on how to take decent pictures with the Evo? In most cases I am taking pictures in dimly lit restaurants or bars (no comments please, heh heh) and most of the time the pictures are completely washed out due to the flash coming on and lighting up the subjects faces like a Christmas tree.
Does anyone know if there are settings, other software or any other tips that can be used to help me take better pictures??
Thank you!

From the camera app,there is a tab on the left side in landscape mode. If you slide it open, choose settings, then brightness a slider will open. I've found that in dim to dark conditions, best results with flash on are with the brightness set to around -2.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Theres an old photographer's trick, not the most elegant of solutions but putting a piece of scotch tape over the flash will help diffuse the light and also get rid of the harsh shadows from the flash.

bluehaze said:
Theres an old photographer's trick, not the most elegant of solutions but putting a piece of scotch tape over the flash will help diffuse the light and also get rid of the harsh shadows from the flash.
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Click to collapse
Honestly this has started to cross my mind too. The two flashes 'sounds' like a good idea...but they are WAY TO HOT for a close up (within 6 feet or so). Now they did actually work pretty well at dusk for a test shot about 12 feet away. (So that should tell you they are too bright for close work)
I am thinking of maybe taping just one and testing.
But you could use scotch tape as posted, because the frosted look of the tape would help diffuse the light. (Remembering it will diminish ability to flash far away.)
Have to start treating this more like cameras now...they are going to require more than point and forget.

Idea
I asked the same question a few weeks ago - why doens't the EVO do light metering.
One though would be to use a LED application to turn on the LED light - maybe on low, and don't use the flash on the camera application? I know a pain to do (and a loss of coolness points) but might work?

if you really want to be photo savvy go to a photo store and get a sheet of diffusion gel, and just place a small cut out in between the flashes and the battery cover. also always shoot as low as you can go with the ISO, the problem with the EVO camera is that when in low light situations it switches to a high ISO, but it doesn't factor in the fact that the flash is going to go off, so when the flash goes off, the high ISO coupled with the strong flash means super overexposed picture. so either leave the camera at iso 100 or 200 and try shooting that way or try the diffusion i stated earlier.
the camera is just very badly coded. for instance what the camera should be doing is lighting the flash to focus, read exposure and compensate, then take the picture with the proper level flash. as it is now all it does is try to focus completely in the dark, then just flash the flash at full power while its taking the picture. it really is a terribly coded camera.
its like the people over at HTC basically just added the lcd's just to add them, i mean we already know that the LCD can be used at various levels of intensity...its a damn shame...

Are there no apps out that improve the cameras function? i figured there would be.

Two Defective Screens in a row. And I bet you have the same issue.

I'm calling all the GN owners to check your screen to see if you could duplicate the same issue I have on my TWO GNs.
Step:
1. Manually set your screen brightness to lowest brightness.
2. Go to a complete dark environment like in your closet or test this at night with all the ambient lights off. Again in a COMPLETE DARK ENVIRONMENT, this is crucial to duplicate the issue.
3. turn on the Camera app and look at the screen.
After your eyes adjusted to the darkness, you will see a bunch of nasty scattered pixel blocks. It's like pouring inks on your screen.
This pic says it all. From forum member sunnyshirz from this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1353324
View attachment 803916
Both my phones ordered from expansys-USA and Negri Electronics have the same issue.

I do this about 7 times a day, it has to be a common use case right?
Seriously, do you see the insanity of recreating this non-problem? Just think about it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

The screen image attached to the OP of this thread also suffers from the same issue:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1366878&highlight=test
How many more of you have this?

I haven't checked mine yet. But I don't really use my phone in the closet with the lights off, so for me, and how I use my phone, my phone kicks ass
I did use it on lowest setting with light out in bed last night for a few mins, and saw no dots. So it probably has something to do with the camera and what it is seeing in total darkness. Since it is not an infared camarea, I see no problems with that either

I tried this and couldnt see spots, mine does have the right edge slightly tinted issue though. All amoleds have variations theres over 200 pages in the galaxy s2 forum.

Luxferro said:
I haven't checked mine yet. But I don't really use my phone in the closet with the lights off, so for me, and how I use my phone, my phone kicks ass
I did use it on lowest setting with light out in bed last night for a few mins, and saw no dots. So it probably has something to do with the camera and what it is seeing in total darkness. Since it is not an infared camarea, I see no problems with that either
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you set your wallpaper to black/grey you will see it at your home screen.
I spotted this issue when I was playing with my phone before bed, it is definitely not a Camera app issue, it's something hardware related. Like I said before your eyes need to adjust to the darkness in order for you to see those dots.
This is pretty annoying if you use your phone at night with all lights off.

[hfm] said:
I do this about 7 times a day, it has to be a common use case right?
Seriously, do you see the insanity of recreating this non-problem? Just think about it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's true that during normal usage in daytime you cannot see them, but I use my phone in dark environments a lot so this is crucial to me.

assisterah said:
It's true that during normal usage in daytime you cannot see them, but I use my phone in dark environments a lot so this is crucial to me.
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Click to collapse
I have used my phone in the dark a bit. Kindle app set on black bg with brightness turned all the way down is the largest. I always have the brightness all the way down when using phone at night in bed so not to bother the wife. Have seen zero issues.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[hfm] said:
I have used my phone in the dark a bit. Kindle app set on black bg with brightness turned all the way down is the largest. I always have the brightness all the way down when using phone at night in bed so not to bother the wife. Have seen zero issues.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I was using google books app last night in bed w/ no lights, set to night mode (black background). Saw nothing as well.

Check this site: http://fiddle.jshell.net/qfxsc/1/show/
Its the critical colour
My first nexus had many stripes from the bottom to the top but my second one is much better.

Sounds like a classic case of someone looking for a problem. If a person has to take all the steps the OP described to recreate a problem, then it isn't a problem. Nothing to see here.

mysterioustko said:
Sounds like a classic case of someone looking for a problem. If a person has to take all the steps the OP described to recreate a problem, then it isn't a problem. Nothing to see here.
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Click to collapse
This is correct. And I think an easy solution would be to put the brightness at 15-20% instead of the lowest so you don't see whatever it is you see

try installing dead pixel from the market then check it that way. My is solid black, no bleeds at all.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

[hfm] said:
I do this about 7 times a day, it has to be a common use case right?
Seriously, do you see the insanity of recreating this non-problem? Just think about it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This.
You can pretty much obsess over and examine any product long enough until the following realization occurs:
OMGDEFECTIEVE!!
It's really unfortunate that the OP cost the retailer/Samsung money going through a few phones for an obsessive compulsive microscope discovery about a real non-issue. Results in higher prices for everyone.
Ridiculous.

I think here's how you get to the bottom of this. Go online and google search absolute black. Save the 7th image on your phone. Then go to the saved image in your gallery and zoom in on the top left corner of the picture while in a completely dark room. If it looks weird, then your phone may have a problem, but if not, then STOP LOOKING FOR THINGS TO HATE.
This is a great phone, why try to ruin that. My guess is that the issue you're seeing is because of the camera. It's horrible in lowlight settings.

assisterah said:
3. turn on the Camera app and look at the screen.
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Click to collapse
I don't have a GN yet so can't replicate your method, but if it happens when you use the camera app, don't you think it could have something to do with the camera? The camera gain will be all the way up in total darkness which will produce weird pixelations.
If you're trying to get solid black on the screen to evaluate the display, I am sure there's an app that can do that. Or simply make a web page with all black.
[hfm] said:
I do this about 7 times a day, it has to be a common use case right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hah!

Same thing with my gsalaxy s2. There are also other "strange" effects on gs2 screen at lowest levels. I think I saw something like that at note subforum. So I guess it is more or less normal for every amoled screen.
I can reproducethis issue, but I never experinced it in day to day usage. It is no problem for me.

Ok guys. Thanks for all the negative comments.
If your phone has no problem then good for you. I couldn't stand for this issue because I can notice it fairly easy in low brightness condition, I have tried to increase the brightness to around 40% and I can still see it. And again this is not a camera caused problem. I first noticed this when I was using Google Music to play some songs at night. The problem pretty much exists under any pure dark background.
Please look at the pic I posted, Does this look like "normal" to you guys if you were in my shoes?

This is an AMOLED issue. Just keep the screen step above minimum and its completely fine. Phone is not faulty, that's how that screen works. AMOLED is also more noisy on lower brightness, that's not a faulty screen.

I don't have this issue. My screen looks great and is from Expansys. What do I win? Your phone does look pretty bad though, maybe exchange it again?

Camera Purple tint fix?

Aside from waiting on an update, would flashing a rom or kernal help at all with the HTC one camera issues?? I really want to avoid getting my phone replaced for a warranty replacement. I am passed the 14 days, i just rooted my phone and got S-Off. Someone please help!!

I am running cm10.2 and I get the purple haze. 10/11 seemed better that 10/9 build... Might just be wishful thinking tho.

It isn't a software issue.
blkoutt8 said:
Aside from waiting on an update, would flashing a rom or kernal help at all with the HTC one camera issues?? I really want to avoid getting my phone replaced for a warranty replacement. I am passed the 14 days, i just rooted my phone and got S-Off. Someone please help!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are having issues with the camera then you really need to have it replaced under warranty. The issues we are having is from a bad image sensor, not software. The bad sensor will have more issues with purple tinting in the edges, generally turn out darker and more grainy even at the same exposure and ISO. I have a few sample pics on Google Plus. Also below is my HTC One with a bad image sensor issue (left) next to a CLNR from Verizon (right) that does not have this issue. They are running the same software and have the same default settings applied before I recorded this. You can see the camera software on the bad one cycling through various levels trying to optimize the image.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUrHQ92x65c
So bottom line - Don't wait on an OTA to fix this. If you have an HTC One with a bad sensor then get it back to stock and replace it under warranty.

Mine seems to be ok. Mine actually when put camera down will stay black for a bit, then the purple will creep in. But it definitely doesn't change around a lot like the video shows. Sounds like I got a good one. Mines also the blue one from best buy so, idk if that makes a difference.
Sent from my HTC6500LVWBLU using Tapatalk 4
If I've helped, please hit the thanks button

The good sensors still have a bit of issue with tinting in very dim photos, right at the cut off where the automatic flash would otherwise kick in. That can be fixed with software. What I had on the first one was no consistent across the entire image. For lack of a better term it just wasn't as sensitive as the replacement or my T-Mobile HTC One's sensor.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk

kpetrie77 said:
If you are having issues with the camera then you really need to have it replaced under warranty. The issues we are having is from a bad image sensor, not software. The bad sensor will have more issues with purple tinting in the edges, generally turn out darker and more grainy even at the same exposure and ISO. I have a few sample pics on Google Plus. Also below is my HTC One with a bad image sensor issue (left) next to a CLNR from Verizon (right) that does not have this issue. They are running the same software and have the same default settings applied before I recorded this. You can see the camera software on the bad one cycling through various levels trying to optimize the image.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUrHQ92x65c
So bottom line - Don't wait on an OTA to fix this. If you have an HTC One with a bad sensor then get it back to stock and replace it under warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh, sorry to break it to you but both are equally defective. If it shows anything other than pitch black (maybe with a tiny bit of noise) when you set it down, your sensor's bad. Both of yours are going bright pink in total darkness and have severe tinting in low light shots.

wireroid said:
Uh, sorry to break it to you but both are equally defective. If it shows anything other than pitch black (maybe with a tiny bit of noise) when you set it down, your sensor's bad. Both of yours are going bright pink in total darkness and have severe tinting in low light shots.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I lock the bad one to ISO 200 still pure pink. The replacement is black center with pick edges. Did you check the pics on my G+ album? There is definitely a difference. Could be this new one is bad too, I don't have my T-Mobile HTC One any longer to compare side by side. I'll mess around with them both and grab some screen shots so you can see what I am talking about with the ISO setting.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

kpetrie77 said:
If I lock the bad one to ISO 200 still pure pink. The replacement is black center with pick edges. Did you check the pics on my G+ album? There is definitely a difference. Could be this new one is bad too, I don't have my T-Mobile HTC One any longer to compare side by side. I'll mess around with them both and grab some screen shots so you can see what I am talking about with the ISO setting.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's definitely better but it's not good. A working sensor should not be showing discolored edges on any ISO setting, especially the lower ones like 200.
You can see a pretty severe tint in these three pictures:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...AtQg/BDaqkjMJO9Y/w1555-h879-no/IMAG0002_1.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAtW0/3RAD_1eg-P4/w1555-h879-no/IMAG0009.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-.../27G7mpWcIlk/w494-h878-no/20131017_155755.jpg

wireroid said:
It's definitely better but it's not good. A working sensor should not be showing discolored edges on any ISO setting, especially the lower ones like 200.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, better but not good. Poor choice of words on my part. In any event, there is a wide variety of image quality even with the same software which was my point to begin with.
Received replacement #2 yesterday. Still notice a maroon (this time) noise at ISO800 and can definitely see it at ISO1600. ISO 400 is dark starting out and just barely gets a tint in the corners when the camera is left sitting on. No issues at ISO 200 and lower. Left to right in the attachment is original, replacement #1 and replacement #2. Screenshots are from #2. Guessing this is as good as it's going to get.

Purple Haze HTC one M7
ackmke said:
I am running cm10.2 and I get the purple haze. 10/11 seemed better that 10/9 build... Might just be wishful thinking tho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dose any one know how much it will cost to fix this issue at phone repairer in Australia. Not under warranty and what part of the phone needs fixing. I would like to give them as much info as possible so they don't start trouble shootng with all the stuff I have tried already.
Thank you

Anyone else noticed a lot of light bleeding into images..

As the title suggests. When taking a pic, for example of a wall with a window next to it, the light from the window bleeds into the images like rays and although certain pictures would look cool with this effect, I have no desire for an image I can see clearly with my eyes to be altered by the camera, took the same pic with a galaxy s5 and an iPhone 5 and they dealt with the light just like you would expect your eyes to.
I'm finding this in most shots unless its very well lit, I haven't changed any of the settings on the phone, I'd expect HTC to have got the camera right, third time lucky etc.
Have tried other shooters, like snap camera (which is a great app) but I get the same thing.
Extremely irritating, especially seeing as its meant to be a decent camera this time.

Focus is on the plant.

After altering the image, this is the best I could get..

Try cleaning your camera lens, there may be some oil on it that causes the flares.

chong81 said:
Try cleaning your camera lens, there may be some oil on it that causes the flares.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have done mate, its not that. Like I said when there's perfect lighting the camera is spot on, but if the conditions aren't just right the camera just has a brain fart.

Have you tried manually lowering your ISO setting? That usually helps with lighting blowout.
Try ISO 200 as a start point, if too dark give ISO 400 a try.

I just took some similar pics yesterday, low light with a natural light source coming in thru a window in the background. While they were not they greatest, they did come out good, no light streaks like that.

spikeydoo2006 said:
Have you tried manually lowering your ISO setting? That usually helps with lighting blowout.
Try ISO 200 as a start point, if too dark give ISO 400 a try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been playing with the settings, raw does enable a greater degree of control, its just that my wife was sat next to me taking the same pic with a galaxy s5, full auto and I was sitting there with my brand new m9 with a sad face her pic came out perfect, she was quite smug and I was annoyed..
Anyway, having had a play about i managed to take some decent pics especially zoomed in ones of my wife's engagement ring, something I've been unable to do on any other phone before, I don't mind working to take a pic, I just find it unusual that it doesn't compete with other devices automatically. There's nothing wrong with the device

Some other pics I took

dladz said:
Have done mate, its not that. Like I said when there's perfect lighting the camera is spot on, but if the conditions aren't just right the camera just has a brain fart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks like lens flare. That means a light is shining into your lens when you're taking the shot. Try putting your hand above it, assuming its lights above like you would shield your eyes from the sun. This has the effect of making a lens hood like you see in DSLRs. It also concentrates colour.
---------- Post added at 07:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:16 AM ----------
dladz said:
its just that my wife was sat next to me taking the same pic with a galaxy s5, full auto and I was sitting there with my brand new m9 with a sad face her pic came out perfect, she was quite smug and I was annoyed..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This tells me two things
- she did not take the picture in the exact same position as you. So you could also try moving a bit, to avoid lens flare and try again.
- gs5 is default set to centre weighted metering. If you've not changed it. So metering isn't the problem. the m9 does not offer any choice here, its centre weighted and that's it.
I don't mind working to take a pic, I just find it unusual that it doesn't compete with other devices automatically. There's nothing wrong with the device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what i learnt about m9 is this auto focus thing, aim it, let it get focus THEN click. As opposed to tapping to focus like with most other devices. Tapping to focus will mess up photos with the m9 and drive you nuts

One Twelve said:
It looks like lens flare. That means a light is shining into your lens when you're taking the shot. Try putting your hand above it, assuming its lights above like you would shield your eyes from the sun. This has the effect of making a lens hood like you see in DSLRs. It also concentrates colour.
---------- Post added at 07:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:16 AM ----------
This tells me two things
- she did not take the picture in the exact same position as you. So you could also try moving a bit, to avoid lens flare and try again.
- gs5 is default set to centre weighted metering. If you've not changed it. So metering isn't the problem. the m9 does not offer any choice here, its centre weighted and that's it.
what i learnt about m9 is this auto focus thing, aim it, let it get focus THEN click. As opposed to tapping to focus like with most other devices. Tapping to focus will mess up photos with the m9 and drive you nuts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was the same position because I took the picture.
I hear you with the auto focus, I am used to clicking the screen and have been taking much better pics, I'm just using raw for all my pics now, haven't took a bad pic since.
Also was a little annoyed that there is no focus alteration and the manual focus only goes so far. Either way overall its still a good camera, just not what I'm used to.

Focus alteration ? you mean focus on something other than the centre.
and what did you find missing with manual focus ?

One Twelve said:
Focus alteration ? you mean focus on something other than the centre.
and what did you find missing with manual focus ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Focus alteration as in a different metered focus type, ie; centered, spot etc.
With manual focus although I really do like it, i found with objects which are really close up, the slider only goes so far, i'm being nitpicky about that but it's just something i noticed, to see what i mean, try to focus on something close up, the slider just doesn't got that far.

yes its limited to centre weighted.
With close up shots if you use the macro settings you will be able to get closer. thought manual would accomodate this. for a 4mm lens you should be able to get up as close as 5cm.

One Twelve said:
yes its limited to centre weighted.
With close up shots if you use the macro settings you will be able to get closer. thought manual would accomodate this. for a 4mm lens you should be able to get up as close as 5cm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a lot better than other handsets, by far, was trying to take a pic of my wife's engagement ring, was quite hard to do and up close was just not possible. Got a few good ones though.

dladz said:
It's a lot better than other handsets, by far, was trying to take a pic of my wife's engagement ring, was quite hard to do and up close was just not possible. Got a few good ones though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Random comment but Opo does a really good job at macros its actually one of my favorite camera phones for macros. But yeah Macro focus for this phone could be a tad bit better

Teo032 said:
Random comment but Opo does a really good job at macros its actually one of my favorite camera phones for macros. But yeah Macro focus for this phone could be a tad bit better
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if I've tried it yet, still good it a whirl. Cheers mate

Duplicated light source / ghost lights in photos

Hello,
Today when taking photos I've noticed that light sources like lightbulbs and chandeliers appear twice in photo. It's hard to describe, but attached photos should clarify what I'm talking about.
I've checked on other phone, Honor 8X and it's same.
And here's my question to you: do you observe the same behaviour, or my device is flawed?

Shogun91 said:
Hello,
Today when taking photos I've noticed that light sources like lightbulbs and chandeliers appear twice in photo. It's hard to describe, but attached photos should clarify what I'm talking about.
I've checked on other phone, Honor 8X and it's same.
And here's my question to you: do you observe the same behaviour, or my device is flawed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's odd....I have to see if my phone does the same.
Are you on Auto mode?

SantinoInc said:
That's odd....I have to see if my phone does the same.
Are you on Auto mode?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm on Auto. I've gone also through pro mode settings, but none of them seem to reduce it.

Shogun91 said:
Yes, I'm on Auto. I've gone also through pro mode settings, but none of them seem to reduce it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And Honor 8x does the same? Thought that the camera lenses cover has some reflecting residue like oil etc...it is strange.

mzsquared said:
And Honor 8x does the same? Thought that the camera lenses cover has some reflecting residue like oil etc...it is strange.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, Honor does the same. Actually I've just checked LG V30 and Huawei P10 Lite, and it's almost the same.
I'm kinda shocked I haven't noticed it before.
Can you please check on your phones?
I don't know if it's worth using warranty with my Note 10+ if it's the general issue.

I took a direct photo of my desk lamp and there's nothing wrong, I'll try again later tonight using different angles/sources.
I googled it and this problem is widely commented on:
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=phone+camera+ghost+reflections+of+light+sources

mzsquared said:
I took a direct photo of my desk lamp and there's nothing wrong, I'll try again later tonight using different angles/sources.
I googled it and this problem is widely commented on:
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=phone+camera+ghost+reflections+of+light+sources
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the link. So it seems like this can be considered "normal".
However I'm still curious what will be result of your tests. Please share what was the outcome, whether you were able to reproduce this.

It depends on the angle, sometimes you will see this, some times not, I have seen this in dedicated cameras as well

Thank you for your response.
As I'm testing it more, it seems very hard to take photo without ghost lights when not pointing straight into light source, attached few more sample files.
Maybe I'll get over it, if not I'll give it a go, and use warranty, they'll do something with this or not.

Hello,
That's amazing to see this post today, just the day i noticed exactely the same.
I noticed that when doing a video test, through windows stores (the room was in the dark, light going thru the little holes in the stores). I had exactely the same kind of little lights reproduced in the left quarter of the frame.
I thought it was due to the shape of the lens, some kind of light reflexion on it, but now i am wondering because that is the EXACT same thing as your description.
I would not send to warranty... since i had exactely the same 'problem'. I believe it is due to lens design.

mafy31 said:
Hello,
That's amazing to see this post today, just the day i noticed exactely the same.
I noticed that when doing a video test, through windows stores (the room was in the dark, light going thru the little holes in the stores). I had exactely the same kind of little lights reproduced in the left quarter of the frame.
I thought it was due to the shape of the lens, some kind of light reflexion on it, but now i am wondering because that is the EXACT same thing as your description.
I would not send to warranty... since i had exactely the same 'problem'. I believe it is due to lens design.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you have the same, but don't know how often you see these lights.
I can understand this can be seen in some conditions, but as I'm testing it more, I almost can't take any photo without it.
I've looked through YouTube reviews with some night shots and can't see it there.
Attaching last two samples, to not spam this thread, as maybe I'm now oversensitive on this
I'll go to the store today, and see what they'll say.

Shogun91 said:
Thank you for the link. So it seems like this can be considered "normal".
However I'm still curious what will be result of your tests. Please share what was the outcome, whether you were able to reproduce this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Went on tonight to my favorite night photography places and the full moon was the perfect source of light to look into the "ghosting" thing. It's really easy to see what's happening with the light when moving the camera around its axis. Note 10 has a rather thick glass covering/protecting the lenses and the light entering the camera is being distorted by the inner and outer surfaces of the glass plate depending on the angle of entry.
I was having really boring Sunday today so I'm glad I found something to do because of that, and I even made a little drawing using the S-Pen(love the s-pen!) to illustrate directional changes of light while entering/exiting a medium of different densities (air/glass)

We know that light will get reflected by a glass at certain degree because of different density between air and glass. Basic physics. Our camera is made of multiple layers of lens with variables angle. So if 99% of light goes through the lens, 1% get reflected. We won't see it for normal light. But if the light source is very bright, even 1% will be visible on photo.
That's my hypothesis.

Happens all the time when facing a lamp light directly, with wide and zoom lens. But seems to be less visible with ultra-wide.

This looks like an internal reflection within the camera it's self.
Internal reflections are common on multi-element lens.
You pay big bucks for coated elements and engineering to suppress this effect in pro lens.
Internal reflections can also happen between the cmos sensor and any of the internal optics.
In the case the cover element is a prime suspect.
Lol, you can thousands for a pro shooting system and you will still find this.