Phone Skope adapter & LiDAR issue

When I upgraded my iPhone 11 Pro Max to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, I discovered a serious issue with low-light afocal imaging with the new model. The LiDAR sensor emits a red light that reflects off the front glass surface of the eyepiece back into the camera lens. The issue is fully documented in my article "iPhone 13 Pro Max Afocal Photography LiDAR Issue". I contacted Phone Skope and advised them of the issue. They sent me a preliminary design for their new style case for the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

The LiDAR port is not covered when using the 1X lens, but is covered when using the 3X lens. I tested the new adapter with a 2" 30mm eyepiece. The LiDAR reflection is visible with the 1X lens, but not the 3X lens.

Using a 1.25" 15mm eyepiece with the 1X lens did not show the LiDAR reflection since the eyepiece glass surface had a smaller diameter than the 2" 30mm eyepiece.

Whether you get a LiDAR reflection will depend on the size and design of the eyepiece. However, there is a simple way to avoid the reflection completely. Just tape a small piece of black paper on the adapter as a cover.

This is the Double Cluster using the 2" 30mm eyepiece and 1X lens. No LiDAR!

Summary

The new style Phone Skope digiscoping adapter is great. Like the previous designs, the challenge of optically aligning the camera over the center of the eyepiece field-of-view is eliminated. And with a simple cover, you eliminate the LiDAR reflection.

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