Database Users

Broken Camera Glass/Lens

EDIT: I'm not talking about the battery cover. I'm talking about the glass (when you remove the cover) that covers the lens.
I don't know how this happened, probably a pencil in my pocket, but the glass that protected the camera sensor broke. It can't focus anymore without the lens.
Anyone know where I can buy a replacement?

Falcon11 said:
I don't know how this happened, probably a pencil in my pocket, but the glass that protected the camera sensor broke. It can't focus anymore without the lens.
Anyone know where I can buy a replacement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure it doesn't matter, considering I can take the back of my phone off and it'll focus. It's just a little thin piece of plastic to protect the camera.
There's no real lens involved.

Falcon11 said:
I don't know how this happened, probably a pencil in my pocket, but the glass that protected the camera sensor broke. It can't focus anymore without the lens.
Anyone know where I can buy a replacement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Call HTC and ask for a replacement battery cover. When they ask why, tell them your battery cover squeaks a lot and doesn't fit correctly.
I got a new one for free.. fixed my squeak problem too.

Was gonna say, I couldn't focus mine lately, then i realised I had touch to focus on (latest CM6 nightlies include it) so I had to touch the screen to focus it then take the pic, if you know it's the glass then ignore me...

I'm not talking about the battery cover. I'm talking about the glass (when you remove the cover) that covers the lens.

Same thing happened to me

anyone know how to order a new one?

Hmm, if you're talking about the square glass piece under the battery cover, it looks to me like its just a thin layer of plain glass, like a slide cover for a microscope. But under it you can see there seems to be an actual convex lens which most likey works with another internal lens. If you cant get focus im betting it because something pressed hard enough that it damaged the aperture or an internal lens. You prob need to send it back for repair. Im guessing your aperture is f'ed though.

tr.slate said:
Hmm, if you're talking about the square glass piece under the battery cover, it looks to me like its just a thin layer of plain glass, like a slide cover for a microscope. But under it you can see there seems to be an actual convex lens which most likey works with another internal lens. If you cant get focus im betting it because something pressed hard enough that it damaged the aperture or an internal lens. You prob need to send it back for repair. Im guessing your aperture is f'ed though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing happened to me. Just remove it and you'll be fine. I'm not sure what its function is though, but I believe all HTC lens use the same cover, so you can probably find a broken G1 or something and switch it from there. If you decide to do that, be very careful when you remove it, as it's very fragile.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Flex-cable-ribb...663801?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item27b6817c39
Get one of these and install it. Problem solved.
Though I'm not sure how you managed to break the glass behind your battery cover

Does the Camera have a protective shield to remove ~ Solved. Yes it's Does.

Guys,
Quick question. Just received my S4 and took off the protective plastic on the back and front of the phone.
However, the camera lens looks like it may have one as well but it is hard to say for certain.
Has anyone had to remove anything from the lens?
Looking at the lens there is definitely something on there because I can clearly see an air gap and if you press on the lens you then see this protective layer sticking to the lens itself.
If you don't touch it you then can see half the lens with the transparent substance touching it whilst the other half is not.
I have not yet taken a photo as it's just gone on charge but it's my guess it's going to show this transparent cover over the shot.
Edited: Thank you to all who subscribed. Yes it does have a protective cover that requires removal.

There is a small protective plastic shield surrounding the lens, but not directly over it.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

Beards said:
Guys,
Quick question. Just received my S4 and took off the protective plastic on the back and front of the phone.
However, the camera lens looks like it may have one as well but it is hard to say for certain.
Has anyone had to remove anything from the lens?
Looking at the lens there is definitely something on there because I can clearly see an air gap and if you press on the lens you then see this protective layer sticking to the lens itself.
If you don't touch it you then can see half the lens with the transparent substance touching it whilst the other half is not.
I have not yet taken a photo as it's just gone on charge but it's my guess it's going to show this transparent cover over the shot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know exactly what your talking about as I'm thinking the same lol , don't know if I should try and remove it or not

I removed it and a number of other people have also. Need to take the back off and get under the edge with your fingernail.

I suppose what we need to hear is if anyone has removed this cover and was it meant to be removed?
Edited: Thanks dacbeth. I'll get a scalpel to it when it's finished charging.
Why on earth it's not mentioned though is weird.....

It's not stuck down very well. Mine almost jumped off as soon as I lifted one edge with my fingernail.

proctologist said:
It's not stuck down very well. Mine almost jumped off as soon as I lifted one edge with my fingernail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I would have assumed.... But as mine is definitely not wishing to move (so far tried with finger nail but no joy) I thought it best to come here and ask other owners.

I removed mine. There are also some near invisible covers around the edges of the phone too.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

Yup. Mine came with a protective plastic -- wasn't covering the lens itself though. Its a rounded square with a hole in the middle where the lens is.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 2

Planktron said:
I removed mine. There are also some near invisible covers around the edges of the phone too.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks... I didn't notice those side protectors.
seltaeb said:
Yup. Mine came with a protective plastic -- wasn't covering the lens itself though. Its a rounded square with a hole in the middle where the lens is.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks... Mine has no hole and covers all the lens.

I have removed it very easily with a pin

I didn't remove mine, Since the plastic is not covering the entire lens, I think this is to avoid lens to touch the table and be scratched.

SoRRoW_BR said:
I didn't remove mine, Since the plastic is not covering the entire lens, I think this is to avoid lens to touch the table and be scratched.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I don't think it's meant to be removed. I took some fantastic pictures with that plastic on, and then thought you were supposed to remove that and that pictures would look even better, but they look identical. Also it took a good 10 minutes to get off, scratching at the edges with my fingernail before I finally got underneath it. Wish I would've kept mine on!

You'll find that if you don't remove it, it will start to collect fuzz / gunk around the inner circle. So you'll end up having to remove it eventually anyway.
If Samsung intended it to be left on, then it is a bad design. Mine was linted beyond belief after putting it in an admittedly lint filled pocket.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

that part was the trickiest to remove,
i forced it using my fingernails and i thought i scratched the device, good thing it didn't

Does your camera lens have a screen protector on it?

I've just bought an S4 for my wife (Tesco mobile in the UK) and we noticed that around the camera lens there are a series of fine scratches. However it looks like the scratches are on a protector that surrounds the lens but doesn't cover the centre. I wanted to try to take it off but my wife wouldn't let me as we couldn't be sure it WAS a protector.
So, I wanted to ask whether your s4 came with a protector round the lens and if it did, did you take it off?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

yes it's a protector - yes, you should remove it.

My S4 also had a protector on the camera lens.

You dont have to remove it. Leave it to protect from scratches
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

Take it off, your pictures will get blurrier and blurrier.

you can take of, see this ss
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/93477710/s4/20130508_184513.jpg

I would be very surprised if Samsung didn't use Gorilla glass on the camera's lense also.
So short of using your phone around a lot of sand or diamonds, it should be ok.

plznote said:
Take it off, your pictures will get blurrier and blurrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that really true, how would that happen?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

btemtd said:
You dont have to remove it. Leave it to protect from scratches
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my GT-S5830 using Tapatalk 2

Mine came off on its own after the phone became hot.

I don't think camera lenses are gorilla glasses. I remember developing lots of scratches on my S2. I just wonder why there hasn't been lots of talk about it already.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

I took it off after brushing against it a couple of times and hearing the flimsy plastic crinkling sound was enough. I figured it must come off because although the overall build of the S4 is somewhat on the cheap plastic side, it's not possible that this could be a normal feature.
I keep a case on it now so the camera lens never touches the surface the phone rests on.

Seems like there is still plastic on my lens. Buggered if I can get it off though.

Guys you don't need to take it off the centre is not covered by the protector but it allows the camera to function normally the protector is doing its job properly by protecting the bulk of the lense when say for example you put your phone on the desk it hits the lense first.

pff good thing i found this topic, i was worried that my brand new S4 is already scratched near the camera The bad thing about is that it has air in it, at least with my S4 it has and it really don't protect the lens so good. When I'am geting my case i'am taking it off ! :victory:

not really ...
jutley said:
Guys you don't need to take it off the centre is not covered by the protector but it allows the camera to function normally the protector is doing its job properly by protecting the bulk of the lense when say for example you put your phone on the desk it hits the lense first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would suggest you to tilt and look your s4's back... lens is about 1/2 mm lower than the back cover and never touches the desk surface unless you plan to keep it on a dust(sand) sprinkled surface.
i have also ripped that ****ty thing on my s4...
regards,
richie

I got my phone at tesco mobile too, and only because of this thread I noticed there was a camera lens protector. I also thought there were fine scratches around the lens, but I can see now they are on the protector. I'll remove it anyway, going to be getting a case soon which no doubt will sit out further than the camera lens.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

i don't think it will affect your shots since it's only covering the sides, mine's still intact

You don't need to take it off but I did. It's a doughnut shape and doesn't cover the actual center of the lens where the image is exposed. As such you have to wonder what the point of it is.

Pagnell said:
You don't need to take it off but I did. It's a doughnut shape and doesn't cover the actual center of the lens where the image is exposed. As such you have to wonder what the point of it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Point is: if lens area get in contact with some surface, the raised protector will prevent the actual lens to be scratched. It is difficult to remove because it meant to be there!
If this protector is'n centered correctly when assembled, I guess it can effect quality of camera and have to be removed ...
I too removed it (even there was no need of doing it) but I always use a case that also raise lens from any surface.

[Q] Is the glass covering the camera Gorilla glass?

Is the glass on the rear camera gorilla glass? It seems very exposed, it very closely touches the surface the phone is laying on, so I am really worried about it scratching

No. It looks like a thin film of something.

Please read forum rules before posting
Questions and help issues go in Q&A and Help section
Thread moved
Thank you for your cooperation
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator

scannon said:
Is the glass on the rear camera gorilla glass? It seems very exposed, it very closely touches the surface the phone is laying on, so I am really worried about it scratching
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's Gorilla Glass 3. Also, the glass doesn't exactly touch the surface if the phone is laid upside down. The faux metal rim around the device protrudes out just a tad on the front of the phone, thus crating a small raised lip around the front of the phone.
EDIT: nevermind, I just realized you were talking about the back. I think the battery cover's lip around the camera may protect it some from actually touching the glass. Not sure about it though because I use an aftermarket that has a thin faux leather material that is a tiny bit thicker but makes the phone not nearly as slippery as it is with the OEM plate. The aftermarket backplate I use does have a tiny bit of a raised lip protecting the back camera glass (to a certain extent of course). I believe the OEM backplate may have the same.

myphone12345 said:
Yes, it's Gorilla Glass 3. Also, the glass doesn't exactly touch the surface if the phone is laid upside down. The faux metal rim around the device protrudes out just a tad on the front of the phone, thus crating a small raised lip around the front of the phone.
EDIT: nevermind, I just realized you were talking about the back. I think the battery cover's lip around the camera may protect it some from actually touching the glass. Not sure about it though because I use an aftermarket that has a thin faux leather material that is a tiny bit thicker but makes the phone not nearly as slippery as it is with the OEM plate. The aftermarket backplate I use does have a tiny bit of a raised lip protecting the back camera glass (to a certain extent of course). I believe the OEM backplate may have the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hardly seems like adequate protection, but maybe in product development scratching wasn't much of an issue

oscarthegrouch said:
No. It looks like a thin film of something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can remove the thin film that comes on it. I hated how it looked and felt so I got rid of it. I used some tape to get it off.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium

But isn't the lens naked and unprotected? Yes the film over the camera lens is thin and cheesy, but it's better than nothing.

oscarthegrouch said:
But isn't the lens naked and unprotected? Yes the film over the camera lens is thin and cheesy, but it's better than nothing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had zero scratching and smudging issues and I don't regret removing the plastic for a second. And I don't use a case. In fact, I had more smudging issues with the plastic on. If you'll notice, there's a hole in the middle to let more light through. That hole collected tons of smudges for me.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium

Check out the drop test video (Youtube) on Pocketnow. It proves how easily a drop can break that glass and that it is the weakest part of this awesome phone. Make sure to have a good case for your phone. In the drop test vs The HTC One the S4 came out the winner still.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app

jpkelly05 said:
Check out the drop test video (Youtube) on Pocketnow. It proves how easily a drop can break that glass and that it is the weakest part of this awesome phone. Make sure to have a good case for your phone. In the drop test vs The HTC One the S4 came out the winner still.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been through a lot of phones without any cracked glass (including an Optimus G) and I've never used a case. I can't stand the extra bulk.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium

Too bad we couldn't get one of the glass screen protectors companies to make a perfect sized glass replacement for the camera lens. What I'm taking about is a glass button small enough to adhere to the frame size around the camera element so you could peel off the factory film over the lens and replace it with a strong and scratch resistant glass lens protector. Just like the stuff the screen protectors are made if but meant for the camera lens assembly. I wouldn't imagine it something that would be in high demand and make them lots of money but it would certainly protect the vulnerable camera lens area.

maxpower7 said:
You can remove the thin film that comes on it. I hated how it looked and felt so I got rid of it. I used some tape to get it off.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More info on this. I've been trying to remove that damn plastic for 3 days now lmao.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium

buzzwyzr said:
More info on this. I've been trying to remove that damn plastic for 3 days now lmao.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just took a piece of clear packing tape, stuck it to the plastic, and pulled. Came off right away.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
---------- Post added at 02:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:51 PM ----------
It helps if you take off the battery cover first.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium

Somehow glitter got under my camera glass?

So i was looking at the camera lenses on my V20, and noticed that somehow, a piece of glitter got under my camera glass, right over the main camera lens. I have no idea how this could have happened. Has anyone else heard of this happening?

Slash8915 said:
So i was looking at the camera lenses on my V20, and noticed that somehow, a piece of glitter got under my camera glass, right over the main camera lens. I have no idea how this could have happened. Has anyone else heard of this happening?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a protective film over the camera glass that can be removed.

Swizzle82 said:
There's a protective film over the camera glass that can be removed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you remove that screen protector the glass could shatter from just a scratch.

YellowGTO said:
If you remove that screen protector the glass could shatter from just a scratch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive read about the camera glass weakness. I took my protector off of my last one before I had got my replacement. It was fine, I'm very careful with my phone though. I don't set it down hard, I put it in my pocket with nothing else. I have a flip case so I can set the phone down on it's face worry free as to not mess with the back and camera housing either.. Not saying one should take it off just for the sake of it without reason, but if the OP has glitter under it, it might be good reason to remove it..

The protector has cutouts for the lenses though, right? If so, then removing the protector won't do anything for me since the glitter is directly over one of the lenses.

Slash8915 said:
The protector has cutouts for the lenses though, right? If so, then removing the protector won't do anything for me since the glitter is directly over one of the lenses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's really odd, but glitter can find it's way into many unusual places..