S20 - should I install the protector over the lenses?

Ernie Misner · Jul 5, 2020

I got a new S20 (bottom line of the 3), and got the screen protectors with it. Should I install the one over the camera lenses on the back of the phone? I just wondered if anyone ever heard of those softening camera images. Thanks.

JT26 · Jul 8, 2020

Definitely dont do that. Its just cheap plastic or cheap glass at best, normally with some kind of adhesive too. The lens cover on the S20 is 'Saphire' or something close anyway, you wont scratch it even if you leave you keys in the same pocket as the camera.

Ernie Misner · Jul 10, 2020

JT26 said:
Definitely dont do that. Its just cheap plastic or cheap glass at best, normally with some kind of adhesive too. The lens cover on the S20 is 'Saphire' or something close anyway, you wont scratch it even if you leave you keys in the same pocket as the camera.

Thank you for the kind reply. My wife put that protector over the camera lenses on her S20 and I think it should come off. I wonder if lens cleaning fluid will safely remove the sticky residue after removing it.

JT26 · Jul 10, 2020

Yep or a Zeiss wipe, hot water or rubbing alcohol.

Those lenses are tough, and you’d have to really try hard to damage them.

Make sure your wife uses the 64mp mode, it’s truly amazing

Ernie Misner · Jul 13, 2020

JT26 said:
Yep or a Zeiss wipe, hot water or rubbing alcohol.

Those lenses are tough, and you’d have to really try hard to damage them.

Make sure your wife uses the 64mp mode, it’s truly amazing

Thanks for the reply! We both got new S20 phones at the same time. (not plus or ultra, just S20's). So the basic S20 has 64mp mode? I will definitely check that out and thanks.

Have you ever used Snapseed photo editor on Android? I started another thread here about that too and asked a couple of questions.

JT26 · Jul 14, 2020

Yep. The basic S20 has 64mp mode... And it is far better than the S20 Ultras 108mp sensor and lens. Which delivers poor results at the corners.

Yes I have used that. It is my mobile app of choice... I'll have a look

Groot · Jul 23, 2020

Ernie Misner said:
I got a new S20 (bottom line of the 3), and got the screen protectors with it. Should I install the one over the camera lenses on the back of the phone? I just wondered if anyone ever heard of those softening camera images. Thanks.

I used on my previous phone for years, did not feel any image quality degradation.
The plus side: you can clean the lens with your shirt with force without worrying to scratch the lens.

The minus: The protectors need to be cleaned more often from my experience.

Honestly, I would go with.
I ordered already for my Mi 10 Pro.

JT26 · Jul 23, 2020

You won’t scratch the lens. It’s made from tough sapphire like material and I promise, a cheap adhesive lens protector will harm your images.

Groot · Jul 23, 2020

JT26 said:
You won’t scratch the lens. It’s made from tough sapphire like material and I promise, a cheap adhesive lens protector will harm your images.

I had scratches on lens in the past, I prefer not to take chances again.
I actually tested with vs without protector and could not see a difference. I even checked flares at night, results were identical.
The protectors were, allegedly, glass.

Ernie Misner · Jul 24, 2020

JT26 said:
Yep. The basic S20 has 64mp mode... And it is far better than the S20 Ultras 108mp sensor and lens. Which delivers poor results at the corners.

Now that's interesting that it is better than the Ultras 108mp mode.

JT26 said:
Yes I have used that. It is my mobile app of choice... I'll have a look

I'm liking Snapseed a lot on my S20 phone. Still have not figured out how to get a Snapseed icon on my phone yet though.

GossCTP · Sep 26, 2020

JT26 said:
Yep or a Zeiss wipe, hot water or rubbing alcohol.

Those lenses are tough, and you’d have to really try hard to damage them.

I didn't have to try that hard for my LG

Doesn't matter most of the time.

--
"Law and order" is anathema to liberty and justice.

Ernie Misner · Sep 29, 2020

GossCTP said:
JT26 said:

Yep or a Zeiss wipe, hot water or rubbing alcohol.

Those lenses are tough, and you’d have to really try hard to damage them.

Click to expand...

I didn't have to try that hard for my LG

That baby is definitely banged up and a great macro shot of it too. Surprising it doesn't degrade the image a lot more!

GossCTP said:
Doesn't matter most of the time.

--
Ernie Misner

Ernie Misner

Explore Ernie Misner’s 742 photos on Flickr!

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The first digital image was made in the late '60's for NASA, as a way to record images of Mars. Each "square" was represented by three numbers, corresponding to the red, green, and blue hue on a scale of 0 to 255. This eliminated the need to ship film back to Earth.

JT26 · Sep 29, 2020

Im really talking scratches. That is a pretty hard bang so I doubt a protector would have saved that either.

I'll take a side by side one day and post it to show the difference.Ultimately a a cheap filter degrades the image on a lens, noticably, so add in adhesive and a cheap bit of glass and you will, without question have a worse image.

You shot looks ok, highly compresses and tiny though so impossible to see here

GossCTP · Sep 29, 2020

JT26 said:
Im really talking scratches. That is a pretty hard bang so I doubt a protector would have saved that either.

I bought a replacement screen but I havent tried swapping it yet. Requires some phone disassembly.

JT26 said:
I'll take a side by side one day and post it to show the difference.Ultimately a a cheap filter degrades the image on a lens, noticably, so add in adhesive and a cheap bit of glass and you will, without question have a worse image.

You shot looks ok, highly compresses and tiny though so impossible to see here

It's full resolution in the gallery. It didn't seem to affect this shot at all (color version fine as well, just less interesting). Point light sources play havoc with it though. Kills contrast. Also, I think it fogs worse. Definitely needs replacing.

I2K4 · Sep 29, 2020

FWIW, I've always used a protective case that extends a few mm past the camera lens (and screen), but never sweated or suffered any lens damage, despite clumsy drops to hard surfaces once or twice a year. Even so, the question is what difference it really makes.

GossCTP · Sep 29, 2020

Ernie Misner said:
GossCTP said:

JT26 said:

Yep or a Zeiss wipe, hot water or rubbing alcohol.

Those lenses are tough, and you’d have to really try hard to damage them.

Click to expand...

I didn't have to try that hard for my LG

Click to expand...

That baby is definitely banged up and a great macro shot of it too. Surprising it doesn't degrade the image a lot more!

Only when the sun is in the frame. Then contrast suffers.

Ernie Misner said:
Ernie Misner said:

Doesn't matter most of the time.

Click to expand...

Ernie Misner · Sep 30, 2020

GossCTP said:
Ernie Misner said:

GossCTP said:

JT26 said:

Yep or a Zeiss wipe, hot water or rubbing alcohol.

Those lenses are tough, and you’d have to really try hard to damage them.

Click to expand...

I didn't have to try that hard for my LG

Click to expand...

That baby is definitely banged up and a great macro shot of it too. Surprising it doesn't degrade the image a lot more!

Click to expand...

Only when the sun is in the frame. Then contrast suffers.

GossCTP said:

GossCTP said:

Doesn't matter most of the time.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Not technically digital but may be of interest to you:

A great article and lots of cool history there - thanks!

GossCTP said:
http://www.deadmedia.org/notes/27/279.html

Jeff Peterman · Oct 2, 2020

For my Note 20 Ultra, with the huge camera bump on the back, I bought a case that extends a few mm beyond the bump. This protects the lenses from rubbing on surfaces when put down and offers some protection when the phone is in my pocket.

I would not put anything over the lenses. This would reduce contrast, increase the possibility of flare, and probably reduce the lens sharpness. Plus, any cover over the lens would probably be made of a material that scratches easily, creating the problem you are trying to avoid.

Ernie Misner · Oct 6, 2020

Jeff Peterman said:
For my Note 20 Ultra, with the huge camera bump on the back, I bought a case that extends a few mm beyond the bump. This protects the lenses from rubbing on surfaces when put down and offers some protection when the phone is in my pocket.

I would not put anything over the lenses. This would reduce contrast, increase the possibility of flare, and probably reduce the lens sharpness. Plus, any cover over the lens would probably be made of a material that scratches easily, creating the problem you are trying to avoid.

Words of wisdom - thank you.

John Fantastic · Oct 12, 2020

Is the S20 much better than the S10? thank you for your answers.

S20 - should I install the protector over the lenses?

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