Blurred, shaking or black
A rear camera usually fails in one of three ways. It refuses to focus, it rattles and shakes because the stabilisation mechanism has been damaged in a drop, or it shows nothing at all. The first two are almost always physical damage to the module rather than a software fault.
Worth checking before ordering a module: if the picture is hazy rather than out of focus, the problem may be a scratched outer lens cover rather than the camera behind it, and that is a much cheaper fix.
The cheaper thing to try first
The outer glass over the camera is a separate part. Scratches and cracks there scatter light and ruin photos while the module underneath is perfectly fine. Those covers are listed under iPhone camera lens. Front facing modules are under iPhone front camera.
Buying in New Zealand
Everything here is held locally. Orders placed before 2pm on a working day are packed and dispatched that afternoon, which for most of the country means next day. Repair shops and resellers can apply for trade pricing through wholesale deals.
Questions answered
My photos are hazy but the camera focuses. What is it?
Almost always a scratched outer lens cover rather than the module. Replacing the cover is far cheaper and usually solves it.
Why does the camera rattle?
The optical stabilisation mechanism has been damaged, normally by a drop. That needs the module replaced, not repaired.
Will all lenses work after replacement?
On multi-lens models the module is replaced as one unit, so all lenses in that unit are covered.
