The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact has stirred lots of interest when it launched, but some users are reportedly facing issues with the smartphone's camera.

Sony has recently launched its Xperia Z1 Compact as a smaller version of the flagship Xperia Z1, as the name itself suggests. The smartphone generated quite some interest due to the fact that it packs high-end specifications in a more compact form factor.

While most "Mini" versions of high-end flagships come with watered-down specs to accommodate the smaller form factor and lower price tag, the Xperia Z1 Compact did not compromise much in terms of specifications.

The smartphone is waterproof, packs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, and boasts a high-end 20.7-megapixel rear camera that should take stunning photos even underwater.

According to a new report from the Xperia Blog, however, some owners of the Xperia Z1 Compact are experiencing several camera issues, such as a flash bleed when taking photos at night or in low-light conditions.

Such user complaints mostly focus around the flash light bleeding through the phone's case and lens, seeping into the images taken. The issue is reportedly affecting the pink and lime versions of the Xperia Z1 Compact more than the black model.

Some Xperia Z1 Compact users have tried covering the flash when taking a photo, only to see either a lime or a pink "halo," depending on the phone model, distorting the image.

German forum Android-Hilfe has a growing thread with more than 180 replies so far on the matter, with various Xperia Z1 Compact users comparing photos taken using the phone's camera flash. Users have also taken to the official Sony Mobile Talk forums to complain about the issues, but Sony has not offered any official response yet.

As the Xperia Blog points out, such issues have previously affected other phones if users had a case or a finger closed to the flash, which refracted the light back into the lens. In this case, however, Xperia Z1 Compact users said the issues persisted even when taking photos with fingers on the edge of the smartphone's body.

It remains unclear at this point just how widespread these issues are, but Sony is expected to ofer a statement soon in response to such complaints.

If you have a Sony Xperia Compact smartphone and have experienced similar or other issues with your smartphone's camera, drop by our comment section below and tell us all about it.