> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://codifi-fdm.gitbook.io/codifi-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://codifi-fdm.gitbook.io/codifi-docs/known-issues-and-edge-cases/known-issues/photos-appear-pixelated.md).

# Photos appear pixelated or low-quality

🟢 **Workaround documented** · 🔷 minor · affects iPad and iPhone

## Symptom

You take a photo in Codifi and it looks fine on the camera preview. When the photo opens in the Record's media gallery — or shows up later in a generated report — the image looks **pixelated, blurry, or low-resolution**.

The effect is most obvious when:

* You pinched to zoom in before taking the shot.
* The subject was far away and you tried to zoom in to fill the frame.
* You're comparing the Codifi photo to one taken with the same iPad outside of Codifi and they look noticeably different.

## Why this happens

The iPad camera was using **digital zoom** when the photo was captured.

Digital zoom doesn't add detail — it just enlarges fewer pixels. So a photo taken at 5× digital zoom on a 12-megapixel iPad camera has roughly the *apparent* resolution of a much smaller image. The image bytes that land in Codifi are exactly what iOS handed us; there's no Codifi-side compression at play.

The optical lens on most iPads is 1× only. Anything above 1× zoom is digital.

## Workaround

When taking photos in Codifi:

1. **Keep zoom at 1×.** This is the default when you open the camera.
2. **Move physically closer** to the subject if you need more detail in the frame.
3. **Avoid pinching to zoom** unless you specifically need the wider field of view and are willing to accept the resolution loss.
4. If you've already taken a pixelated photo and the moment can be recreated, **delete and retake at 1× zoom**.

For Projects where photos must meet a specific minimum quality (e.g., SHPO submissions, regulatory deliverables), include "1× zoom only" in your Project's field-photo standard operating procedure.

## Resolution

**Not planned.** This is iOS / iPad hardware behavior, not a Codifi-side issue. The Codifi app records whatever the camera produces.

Apple's iPads with dedicated optical telephoto lenses (e.g., some iPad Pro models in certain generations) can take zoomed photos at full resolution. Check your device's camera specs if zoom quality matters significantly for your work.

## Related

* [Capturing Photos & Media](/codifi-docs/mobile-app/capturing-photos-and-media.md)
* [Media Configuration](/codifi-docs/mobile-app/mobile-project-settings/media-configuration.md)
* [FAQ for Field Crews — My photos look pixelated](/codifi-docs/frequently-asked-questions/field-crews.md#my-photos-look-pixelated-when-i-open-the-record-what-happened)

## Internal notes

* Linear: ENG-1234 (closed wontfix 2026-03)
* Camera capture pipeline path: `MobileApp/Camera/CaptureSession.tsx`
* Confirmed on: iPad Pro 11" (M2), iPad Pro 13" (M4), iPad Air 13" (M2), iPhone 15 Pro
* Apple Camera API does not expose a "disable digital zoom" flag at capture time; we'd have to detect zoom factor and warn the user in-app. Tracked as a possible future UX enhancement but not a fix.