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< J.u.s.t > received - very first impression ...

Why oh why is the camera sticking out like that?
Otherwise Screen is a killer.

Congratulations on your new device
The camera sticks out so that if you put the HD2 on a flat table, it wont wobble around or start to rock..

prank1 said:
The camera sticks out so that if you put the HD2 on a flat table, it wont wobble around or start to rock..
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I already love this device so will blindly go with your explanation.
I've actually looked looked at the device side on really closely and the camera sticking out actually raises the device up just enough so the lens isn't flat against the surface therefore meaning less scratches when the device is face up. Excellent design!

Yea, you can tell by the lens's squared housing that it won't get harmed while sitting on a surface.

As well as the raised surround protecting the lens from scratches, I suspect it may also (deliberately or coincidentally) 'protect' the lens from direct light from the flash. I've seen many camera phones where photos taken with the flash have the light bleeding in from the side of the photo where the flash is.

Fatherboard said:
Yea, you can tell by the lens's squared housing that it won't get harmed while sitting on a surface.
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.......... but your suface will. Haha

Another reason is so that you can hear the speaker when you have the phone facing up

Removing lens cover improves pics...EDIT: Cleaning works too! :)

Way back when I owned an AT&T tilt, we had to remove the plastic camera cover to improve quality. It appears the same is true of the incredible.
My cover is not very scarred. I would consider my phone in great shape overall. Still, I decided to pop off the lens cover that projects out the backside of the phone. In so doing, there is a very appreciable improvement in contrast and sharpness of my photos. Attached are some samples. Now, if only we can figure out how to remove or replace the lens cover without jeopardizing the camera itself. As of now, it's the only barrier of protection, so removing it permanantly is not really an option.
Note, the video also shows great improvement, as should be expected.

Epicardium said:
Way back when I owned an AT&T tilt, we had to remove the plastic camera cover to improve quality. It appears the same is true of the incredible.
My cover is not very scarred. I would consider my phone in great shape overall. Still, I decided to pop off the lens cover that projects out the backside of the phone. In so doing, there is a very appreciable improvement in contrast and sharpness of my photos. Attached are some samples. Now, if only we can figure out how to remove or replace the lens cover without jeopardizing the camera itself. As of now, it's the only barrier of protection, so removing it permanantly is not really an option.
Note, the video also shows great improvement, as should be expected.
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thats pretty odd, none of my photos look washed out like that with the camera lense still intact

magneticzero said:
thats pretty odd, none of my photos look washed out like that with the camera lense still intact
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THanks. So, based on your feedback I decided to go ahead and clean both sides of the lens cover and also the inner lens cover with some alcohol. Definitely improved things for me. Check out the attached. It's weird because I could not appreciate any smudges of cloudiness by visual inspection. Looks no different to me after I've cleaned it, but the picture can't lie. There may still be a difference with the cover removed.

Epicardium said:
THanks. So, based on your feedback I decided to go ahead and clean both sides of the lens cover and also the inner lens cover with some alcohol. Definitely improved things for me. Check out the attached. It's weird because I could not appreciate any smudges of cloudiness by visual inspection. Looks no different to me after I've cleaned it, but the picture can't lie. There may still be a difference with the cover removed.
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that looks wayyy better.

Isn't the lens somewhat glued onto the phone. Mine needs cleaning but I was afraid of hurting my phone.
Sent from my MIUI Incredible.

camera lens glare
Having a clean lens will help all photography. I think much of the difference in the first two photo examples is due to glare from sun position and or cloud cover. Notice the difference in the shadow from the pickup. Very pronounced with bright sun in washed out photo, and almost invisible in the 'clear' shot.
When shooting outside with SLR's I always try to use a glare shield, and when I have time to compose a shot with my phone, I do the same by just shadowing the lens with my hand. Sometimes awkward, but it does improve outdoor shots in the sun.
Ken
- also, glare is greatly amplified by a dirty lens...

could you list steps on how to remove the lens cover? I dont really wanna break anything with my camera. Thanks

Careful with the alcohol it mucks up plastik & rubber

had the same problem. resolved
whewstoosae said:
Isn't the lens somewhat glued onto the phone. Mine needs cleaning but I was afraid of hurting my phone.
Sent from my MIUI Incredible.
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I had the same concerns. In fact, returned my first two Incs because of dust buildup under the camera glass. (edit-didn't mean to offend. I know everyone is busy/has a life/doesn't check messages all of the time) I wondered if it was latched somehow, or maybe screwed on. One day, out of frustration, I took off the battery cover and just tried to take it off. Turned out it was just stuck on with some kind of soft adhesive; just two short horizontal lines of it, at the top and bottom, behind the red part. I just gently pulled, and it did unstick from the top. I left the bottom connected, but folded the cover/bezel down and cleaned the inside with a little alcohol on a q-tip. Good as new. I wish I had done this on my very first Inc. I would probably still have it, and it had the best display.

I_ronnik said:
I had the same concerns. In fact, returned my first two Incs because of dust buildup under the camera glass. I sent a PM to another member who said he simply 'popped the cover off' to clean it, to ask how. I never got an answer. I wondered if it was latched somehow, or maybe screwed on. One day, out of frustration, I took off the battery cover and just tried to take it off. Turned out it was just stuck on with some kind of soft adhesive; just two short horizontal lines of it, at the top and bottom, behind the red part. I just gently pulled, and it did unstick from the top. I left the bottom connected, but folded the cover/bezel down and cleaned the inside with a little alcohol on a q-tip. Good as new. I wish I had done this on my very first Inc. I would probably still have it, and it had the best display.
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Thanks for the info, I was too afraid to touch it without knowing if it was going to damage it or not.
Sent from my MIUI Incredible.

I_ronnik said:
One day, out of frustration, I took off the battery cover and just tried to take it off. Turned out it was just stuck on with some kind of soft adhesive; just two short horizontal lines of it, at the top and bottom, behind the red part. I just gently pulled, and it did unstick from the top.
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That's actually a little disturbing. By no means do I think the Incredible is somehow the industry standard of build quality, but the lens cover itself looks like it's made by NASA. Disappointing (but useful!).

nordr said:
That's actually a little disturbing. By no means do I think the Incredible is somehow the industry standard of build quality, but the lens cover itself looks like it's made by NASA. Disappointing (but useful!).
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I agree. This seems like a very preventable issue, from a manufacturing standpoint. The only good thing is that there is another piece of glass (square) that is over the actual camera lens, and seems to be well sealed to the camera module itself. I haven't seen any dust under there. I agree with the 'disappointing' aspect. The 8Mp camera w/flash was a big factor in deciding to buy this phone.

just did this, my pictures are coming out much better now also. Thanks for the tip, never thought of this...

Does it work the same way with Incredible S(vivo), i too have some dust under the glass.

makos101 said:
could you list steps on how to remove the lens cover? I dont really wanna break anything with my camera. Thanks
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just remove your battey cover and then you should be able to pop the cover and lense off

moondev said:
just remove your battey cover and then you should be able to pop the cover and lense off
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Thanks for your reply. I was going to ask the same question.

Camera Lens BENDED!

Beware: the camera lens on the back of our SGS II is made of cheap plastic. I learned the hard way.
Yesterday I was using the camera and all was really good. Today all photos were blurred. I checked and noticed a small bend, yes a bend, right in the middle of the camera lens. It is not a scratch, which has been my concern since buying the SGS2, it was a bend. I may be wrong, but glass should not bend, it scratches. Now I don't have a lens anymore, I have a prism.
The phone did not fall, or was treated badly. Most probably, I put it in my pants' front pockets, as I have done for years with my HTC phones (horrible cameras btw, compared to the sgs2), there may have been a contact with a harder surface (a key, maybe, but I don't suppose so), and the lens bended. It's a real pity. I'm considering now removing the "lens" as it is not the actual lens, just a cover I guess, and see if this works.
This may be the best and most expensive cell phone right now, why couldn't Samsung put a real glass (like apple does, btw) to protect the camera?
I hope this warning helps others not to get into the same problem. Maybe using a leather pouch can prevent this from happening (I was using the mesh cover case).
A previously super happy owner, now a very desolate one...

what did you do to your phone? Don't blame samsung for something you physically you did.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

thats strange? a bit of plastic with those dimensions shouldn't bend at all, unless put under direct heat and pressure? :S

can you post pictures taken and a picture of the lens?

I don't have another camera with me to photograph the lens. Besides, it is hard to see the bend, you need the correct angle for the light to hit it and be able to see. But attached is a picture I took with the cell. Kind of artsy...

I would have thought that if it did actually have a bend in it (which seems like an awfully difficult thing to have done), that it would cause a distortion and not just producing a blurry pic like that.
Looks more like something has been smeared across the lens cover.

It's not the lens that bended, it's the protective screen on top of the lense. Looks like glass to me, but it's possible to be plastic. Any way, i doubt it could bend unless you put a lot of pressure on it.

As I said, it was in the front pocket of a not so tight pants, so there might be little pressure, normal pressure as every cell phone suffers in this situation, but nothing exceptional, not much. Nobody sat on my lap as well... That would be a worthy reason at least.
I've had smartphones for the last 6 years, done the same thing since. I'm not asking for a replacement or whatever, so I have no reason to minimize my responsibility.
My point in posting is that it happened. Just trying let others know to not make the same mistake. It is not as solid a construction as, say, the HTC HD2. It needs more care.
Just beware, hope it does not happen to others.
PS: And no heat also, not a teenager anymore to have so much heat near the crotch area...
PPS: Yes, it is the protective screen. My hope is I can get rid of it, and have my camera back. Unprotected, but taking photos, with lots of care from now on...

OP, stupid question: that lens glass out of the box was protected with a transparent plastic film I think, just like the screen. Did you remove it?
Can you make a shot of the lens using a bathroom mirror perhaps, in macro mode?

mbernstein said:
I've had smartphones for the last 6 years, done the same thing since. I'm not asking for a replacement or whatever, so I have no reason to minimize my responsibility.
My point in posting is that it happened. Just trying let others know to not make the same mistake. It is not as solid a construction as, say, the HTC HD2. It needs more care.
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I agree with your here. The way Samsung designed the back of the phone makes it very easy to scratch/ even bend (like it happened to you) the protective screen. I had a HTC Touch HD before and the back of the camera could never touch the surface where the phone was put. With Samsung if you put your phone on a rugged area you might end up damaging the protective screen easily.

Have you been using the LED as a torch or anything like that? Perhaps the heat could have warped the plastic?

kreoXDA said:
OP, stupid question: that lens glass out of the box was protected with a transparent plastic film I think, just like the screen. Did you remove it?
Can you make a shot of the lens using a bathroom mirror perhaps, in macro mode?
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Sure, I took the plastic out. I saw no point in having a very good phone camera weakened by the plastic.
I tried to take the photo you asked, but was not successful. But as I said it was a very small bend, which makes the light enter the lens like a prism. Very difficult to photograph with a normal camera.
Actually, there was a power outage in the area I'm in now, but I don't recollect to use torch that much... I remember I used it for a while, the used some screen light, then on to Kindle. Id on't suppose it was torch, but could it really be so silly like this?!

mbernstein said:
Sure, I took the plastic out. I saw no point in having a very good phone camera weakened by the plastic.
I tried to take the photo you asked, but was not successful. But as I said it was a very small bend, which makes the light enter the lens like a prism. Very difficult to photograph with a normal camera.
Actually, there was a power outage in the area I'm in now, but I don't recollect to use torch that much... I remember I used it for a while, the used some screen light, then on to Kindle. Id on't suppose it was torch, but could it really be so silly like this?!
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Wow, I just tried pushing on mine with my nail, it moves a teeny tiny bit, but it springs right back up Maybe something in your pocket just happened to touch the middle of that little piece of plastic, and just managed to apply enough force to bend it beyond the recovery point, so your plastic piece did not spring back up.
I fully understand what you mean now. But not sure what your options are. It is clearly a physical damage. I would not advise trying to take that piece out and bend it straight, you will mess up the actual lens.

mbernstein said:
A previously super happy owner, now a very desolate one...
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flash back stock firmware, reset custom download counter with jig, return under warranty saying the camera takes blurry pictures

godutch said:
flash back stock firmware, reset custom download counter with jig, return under warranty saying the camera takes blurry pictures
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I believe warranty doesn't cover physical damage though.

Ingvarr said:
I believe warranty doesn't cover physical damage though.
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they wont know if you dont tell them plus they wont inspect the phone in that detail closely at the camera, worth a try. IF you bough it from a store, bring it back there and get a replacement.

Hi,
I have the same issue as yours.
Where is your SGS2 made in when you take out the battery and look at the back sticker?
Mine says "Made in China"
Wonder if yours is made in Korea or China.
Please share~

I would send it in too, your chances are good to get it repaired!

Mine is made in: Korea
I would try to replace it if I had bought it in my country. I bought it through a friend from Xpansys US (a UK phone), and I'm now in Brazil. I guess I would have so many troubles with customs here to send it out and back with no guarantee to have it replaced...
My idea is not to take the plastic out, and try to fix it. It is to just take out. I will have a hole there, but there will be nothing distorting light that comes into the lens. I will have to be extra careful, but considering how easy the plastic which was supposed to protect the camera was damaged, extra care is the name of this phone for me.
And I'm not complaining about SGS2's plastic finish as opposed to the metal/glass ones of iPhone or HTC. I actually like this, including the back cover. After you get used to it, it is kind of cool. And it is light. I just wished there was a cover or that Samsung used a hard glass on the camera, or perhaps that the plastic was so tiny and receeded that nothing could reach it. I always like the way Sony and Nokia used to put a sliding cover over the camera lens in their phones. With such a thin phone as ours, I wouldn't mind the extra thickness. Or like my HTC Kaiser, where the plastic was actually on the cover. If it was scratched or broken you could replace the back cover... Sorry, just venting my frustration.

Don't leave that hole uncovered. Your lens will get dirty in no time. Pocket lint , dust and dirt will accumulate in there and break the lens autofocus mechanism. Just don't even think about leaving that hole uncovered.

I need a new camera lens (cover)

My rear camera takes HORRIBLE shots.... but its no fault of the camera, its the *junk* plastic lens cover that is now all scratched up. This causes the camera to focus on the scratches and makes everything else out of focus (basically everything!).
And before you blame me for being rough with it... I bought it used. If I cant find just that piece Im going to try and fashion my own out of a raw piece of plexi if I can...

Best off luck with it, shouldn't be to hard to take off, it is attached to the back plate. Though mine is flawless and still takes bad pictures
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

The lens cover is... well its not even glued on. Its more like that sticky stuff on magazines holding papers to each other. I had to remove mine because mine was affected the same way yours was, not from scratches but from dust INSIDE the lens. I used an eyeglass flat head screwdriver, it came off effortlessly. I hear guitar picks work great for stuff like this too.
After you take it off, you gotta push hard to get it back on. Push till you feel like it might break if you push any harder, then keep it there for about 20 seconds. If you do less it'll fall off.
I couldn't tell ya where you'd find another lens cover, but I'll look it up when I get home.
--------
Sent from my a500

This is the part number and description for the Camera Glass
60.H6002.002
CAMERA GLASS FOR 5M CAMERA (INCLUDED WITH BACK COVER)
A500
MISC

Thanks guys but it turns out it wasn't just a scratched lens cover (well it is scratched but thats not it), the inner lens assy that is attached to the CMOS sensor was LOOSE! Yea, f'ing loose, believe that! I found out when I tried to remove said lens cover, to try and clean the cover internally (I figured there would be some space between the inside surface of the cover and the topmost part of the image assy.
Well turns out there is a piece of that soft sticky foam that must obviously be there to keep foreign contaminates from getting in. Well when I removed that lens cover (its stuck to the rear frame/housing with that same foam, the lens part came with it. There I was with that in my one hand, and looking down directly at the image sensor (you can tell since it looks almost like the surface of a cd. I immediately put everything back on and prayed that I didn't get more dust inside the lens unit. Well this didn't happen, I guess I got lucky, and actually the unit takes cleared pictures now, I think I pressed everything back together tighter then it was before (closer to spec I guess).
Here is to keeping my fingers crossed. I never took many pics with my last tablet (Im never without my cellphone which is easier to use) but I would still like it to work as it should...
Be careful with this part guys if you ever decide to disassemble the unit, its pretty fragile.

I know this is a stupid reply but why would you like to take pics with this crap. I mean my SE k610 takes way better pics than the tablet. And its an tabled.... Why would you took photos with it :d
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

niksssss said:
I know this is a stupid reply but why would you like to take pics with this crap. I mean my SE k610 takes way better pics than the tablet. And its an tabled.... Why would you took photos with it :d
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
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ive noticed my a500 takes great close up pics really detailed and whatnot but from medium to far range its just garbage i dont know if its my camera or what

I dont take pics with it, however I would just like my unit to function as its supposed to. I also would like to to work so when I sell it, which I will eventually to upgrade to a better tablet, I wont take a hit on the price...

What Could Be Causing This Bewildering Camera Issue?

Got an amazing deal on what was supposed to be one of these in new open-box condition and was incredibly happy with its performance, speed, and compactness until I opened the Camera app. There is a line that seems to run across the main shooter and when you aim it at any sort of light it seems to interact with some sort of crack, scratch or something that's inside the lens and distorts the image.
I've been taking a close look and close pictures of the camera and lens but just can't find where the physical damage is (if any) and I just can't wrap my head around how such a thing would even happen to begin with. I installed all of the available software updates and then GCam but same thing as in the built-in app. Tried to wipe the lens with a water/rubbing alcohol mixture and a microfiber towel and nothing. Photos taken with the black and white camera come out as they should so I know it's not a software issue. Here's the pictures:
https://imgur.com/a/IIaYdzj
I took a video and that's where things get even weirder! It becomes a line that seems to follow the lens instead as you move the phone, not a static/physical line that's always there. Here's a video:
https://imgur.com/a/YCSW4Lt
This is a real head scratcher. Have any of y'all seen or experienced anything like this?

it looks like an eyelash

mruno said:
it looks like an eyelash
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I thought it could be something similar to that, but at this point not really sure. I took my electric duster with the two high-pressure attachments to it on the highest setting, trying to see if I could force air to go inside through the secondary microphone hole next to the cameras, the very small gap between the camera, flash and ceramic back and even the gap at the top between the ceramic and the frame and move whatever it is in there out of the way to no avail.
This issue pretty much makes the main camera unusable but I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and was able to fix it and if so how. Obviously I just got the phone so I'm not gonna take it apart until I can get access to the cameras and physically remove whatever is in there since I bought it through eBay and I can return or exchange it but based on the fact I asked the seller specifics about the condition and their answer that everything worked properly I expected it to and right after getting the phone I bought prepaid service for it that now I can't return. Sigh.

DeyEatDaPooPoo said:
I thought it could be something similar to that, but at this point not really sure. I took my electric duster with the two high-pressure attachments to it on the highest setting, trying to see if I could force air to go inside through the secondary microphone hole next to the cameras, the very small gap between the camera, flash and ceramic back and even the gap at the top between the ceramic and the frame and move whatever it is in there out of the way to no avail.
This issue pretty much makes the main camera unusable but I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and was able to fix it and if so how. Obviously I just got the phone so I'm not gonna take it apart until I can get access to the cameras and physically remove whatever is in there since I bought it through eBay and I can return or exchange it but based on the fact I asked the seller specifics about the condition and their answer that everything worked properly I expected it to and right after getting the phone I bought prepaid service for it that now I can't return. Sigh.
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I'm not entirely convinced it is physical given the way it moves position on screen when you move the camera. If it was physical wouldn't it stay in the same position? Then I thought must be a reflection but even that doesn't make sense as it appears to move independently ie still moves when you have stopped panning the camera, which seems more like an image processing or auto focus issue maybe? Though it could still bye a hair and the apparent movement is just caused eg focus. Strange.
Does it remain even with light source coming from all different angles eg left, right, top, bottom?
Does it remain in same place on stills when you do different focal lengths eg close ups?
As a workaround maybe moving it with "electrostatic charge" will be possible if it is debris, as I've seen it done in sealed units. Though only a small chance this will work if debris on glass cover & no chance if it's in the sealed lens unit assembly it might not move (see assembly here https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/UKOASSYDwDAfbVro.large but that should have been made in a clean room so more likely debris is on window cover, I'd think). Discharge with ESD earthed wrist band or antistatic cloth ... OK most people don't have them so a damp/sweaty finger will have to do ? (which will mean it is at the same PD as you). Then rub glass lens cover with a synthetic cloth to create a charge on surface or charge a glass rod/plastic ruler and touch glass cover (edit: try alt polarity on cloth). Repeat discharge /charge cycle. Cross fingers first as this is a long shot & I'm not sure if there is a gap!!!