Think twice if you’ve been riding your motorcycle down the highway with an iPhone mounted on it. Apple announced on Friday that certain motorcycle engines can cause your iPhone’s camera to malfunction if you’re using one.
Apple explains that this is to protect two technologies used in iPhone cameras- OIS and Auto Focus.
On its support site, Apple warns that “exposing your iPhone to high amplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges, specifically those generated by high-power motorcycle engines, can degrade your camera system’s performance”.
Why are the vibrations harmful to the iPhone camera?
To avoid damaging your phone, don’t attach it to a motorbike with a powerful or loud engine, the company advises. A vibration dampening mount is advised to use for prolonged periods. You can use scooters and mopeds, which tend to have small-volume or electric engines.
In order to compensate for shaky shots, modern camera systems use gyroscope and magnet technology. Optical image stabilization and closed-loop autofocus are examples of systems that make automatic adjustments if you accidentally move your camera while taking a picture.
OIS and closed-loop AF systems are designed for durability, according to Apple. Long-term direct exposure to high-amplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges. On the other hand, may degrade the performance of these systems and lead to reduced image quality for photos and videos.”
They also interfere with magnetic accessories, which can temporarily disable the sensors if they interfere sensors. For long-term safety, it’s best to not mount your iPhone to your motorcycle at all in order to reduce the effects of vibration.
In Apple’s blog post, you can find out which iPhone models have these camera systems.
