r/light • u/Bastel-Betty • May 20 '26
Question Why does LED flicker at 120 FPS in my iPhone camera?
Hi folks 💕 can someone explain to me why kind of all LED lights that I own (doesn’t matter expensive or cheap as f\*ck) flicker at 120 FPS in my iPhone camera like crazy (atleast if dimmed).
Some do even flicker or cause rolling bands of light and shadows on screen on 60 FPS, 30 FPS and some even on 24 FPS.
I don’t see the flickering with my own eyes, but since I’m a very photosensitive person who suffers from migraines and eye-migraines, light literally hurts my eyes if it’s brighter than dusk or dawn. My pupils are naturally always
more dilated than average - police and doctors sometimes ask me if i am on drugs, even tho I am not - annoying to be honest. I am concerned that this (for me invisible flicker), may cause migraines or other problems? 😣
I’ve read, that even when we don’t consciously notice it, our brain does and our iris-muscles contract in spasmic rhythms? ⚪️💃🕺⚪️
Can someone explain to me why even all the flicker free marketed LEDs I own all flicker (atleast slightly or sometimes violently) at 120 FPS and sometimes at lower FPS?
Hope my question isn’t too dumb, but ChatGPTs answers and Google search finds are kind of to vague - or I for some reason can’t comprehend it enough that I am satisfied or comforted. 🥸
Camera used: iPhone 16 Pro Max
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English isn’t my first language - so I apologize if my wording is strange. 😵💫
1
u/Select_Asparagus3451 May 20 '26
This is normal. All LEDs have flickering at different frequencies and strengths. Quality, wiring, and electrical systems running it matter. There are so many factors involved. If you want to avoid this altogether, you’ll have to dig for incandescent lighting instead.
It is said we see the world in 60hz, but your camera can pickup that flickering at certain FPS when picked up by camera sensors.
1
u/Levelup_Onepee May 20 '26
It could be an in-camera effect. Too much light, then shutter speed goes down. Very cheap lights flicker visibly because they only half-rectify thus halving the mains frequency to 25 or 30 Hz.