Database Users

Camera testing

While checking the camera I noticed a few symptoms:
[-](Taking photos at night/low light): with/without flash sometimes the photo saved with 1pixel white line (sometimes 2 pixels), the line is random and change to each photo - at the top starting left / left starting buttom (depend on which way you take the picture), here is a sample of picture with this line (circled) at the buttom.
I've found it happens sometimes while taking picture in low light/dark/night, have no idea why is that and what the reason of this.
[-]Another thing while taking picture at low light/dark background with flash: dosn't matter how you focus (auto focus/manual-touching the screen/long press on the button) seems like you should take a few photos of the same image to get a 'satisfactory' picture - I took few pictures on the same place and got some too 'flashy' photo, some too darky (seems like the flash was too fast) and some was what I've expected (OK), at the dark pictures seems the +2 exposure didn't help (didn't notice any difference between 0 to +2, but there is a difference between -2 to 0) -> seems you getting different photos on same shot image and must take few shots to get what you expect to get.
[-]The picture that seems to save after taking a shot sometimes looks different then what its realy saved, for example you taking a picture with flash - its looks like its saving a too lighty/flashy-full flash picture but when you open the gallery you see the picture is fine.
[-]HDR mode: sometimes when its getting focus (manualy or automatically) its not possible to change the focus and any attemp to manual focus (while touching on places on the screen) is do nothing and seems its stuck on the last focus.
[-]Video: sometimes seems its stuck on focus - after focusing on macro/closer image and taking time (if so) to release the focus to infinity, if it dosn't release the only way to fix it is to renter the camera app and record video again.
[-]At day light / regular conditions - great and sharp photos but seems its more grainy then other cameras, especially photos with sky (the sky).
Overall its a great camera, all the above are not something that should disturb someone, I didn't forgot its 'just' a smartphone camera, you can always get better results using 'SnapSeed' app
Does anyone else notice these (or some of these) symptoms and have any knowledge how to get it better or solutions or maybe insights about these symptoms? (the using of camera) would like to get some information...
Anyway - do you recommand other Camera applications? I tried Focal - seems its still have a lil bugs, FV-5 (on my S2) ...
Thanks!

Today I've notice a bug [seems like a real one this time]:
When took a photos: low light + flash (macro focus if its matter), while I took few pictures one after another the camera app got stuck and reboot the device.
I've tried it without flash and didn't got reboot, then its happens again while I've checked at the same condition (low light and flash on).
Also notice that none of these photos (that freeze the app and reboot my device) are saved correctly seems like its 'break' pictures that didn't saved well...
Anyway after I manualy reboot the device and tried it again it wasn't crash/freeze/reboot device.
Just mention that I'm using the stock camera app at stock rom 4.2.2 without root or anything...also my device was on for few days (without any reboot).
Does anyone have any idea about this bug or other symptoms that I had mention at the 1st post?

PsyOr said:
Today I've notice a bug [seems like a real one this time]:
When took a photos: low light + flash (macro focus if its matter), while I took few pictures one after another the camera app got stuck and reboot the device.
I've tried it without flash and didn't got reboot, then its happens again while I've checked at the same condition (low light and flash on).
Also notice that none of these photos (that freeze the app and reboot my device) are saved correctly seems like its 'break' pictures that didn't saved well...
Anyway after I manualy reboot the device and tried it again it wasn't crash/freeze/reboot device.
Just mention that I'm using the stock camera app at stock rom 4.2.2 without root or anything...also my device was on for few days (without any reboot).
Does anyone have any idea about this bug or other symptoms that I had mention at the 1st post?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem as you are describing. I have reproduce it on stock 4.3, cm 10.1.3 and cm 10.2.
I just reproduced it after I took like 100 photos. The Phone just rebooted after a short hang.
Maybe this is a hardware fault on some devices. When did you bought your Phone? Mine is the white one just a week old. Rev 11. If that says something.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

berg82 said:
I have the same problem as you are describing. I have reproduce it on stock 4.3, cm 10.1.3 and cm 10.2.
I just reproduced it after I took like 100 photos. The Phone just rebooted after a short hang.
Maybe this is a hardware fault on some devices. When did you bought your Phone? Mine is the white one just a week old. Rev 11. If that says something.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems like the flash heat the cpu or something like that...happened again today (without purpose) after few focus with flash few photos with flas..at regular photo without flash (straight after) it got stuck and reboot the device.
Then I tried to get it again but now with Camera360 app, lots of focus flash,photos with flash,without....seems works fine.
Maybe a stock app problem, guess anyway its the flash (another guy got reboot after using flashlight app).
There is any app that I could determine the CPU temperature even after reboot/turn off (like GSAM graph or the built in Battery graph that show all day and not only when you turn on /reboot device and start a new one every time)?
Btw - the device is only month old (from play uk), my serial# start with 304k, whats yours?

Yesterday night I had this again, only 2 photos with flash, take a look at the gallery and got freeze then reboot.
The device was cold [also wifi was off this time, I didnt tought its something to do with it anyway just mention] so nothing about hot cpu...
It might be something with the stock app and/or stock gallery app [maybe the swipping thing from camera to gallery and vice versa], as I tried again camera360 with lots of flash, focus flash and lots of photos and seems it was fine.
Very weird.
What camera app do you guys recommands?

I think it's an issue with the AOSP camera app. My rev. 10 211k Nexus 4 does this sometimes when taking a picture with flash on. It hasn't done it with a flashlight app ever though. I haven't encountered this issue with Focal, but I don't like Focal much.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

lopezk38 said:
I think it's an issue with the AOSP camera app. My rev. 10 211k Nexus 4 does this sometimes when taking a picture with flash on. It hasn't done it with a flashlight app ever though. I haven't encountered this issue with Focal, but I don't like Focal much.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, seems like its something with the stock camera app... I really like the stock one, Focal is almost the same with some more options but it isn't stable yet.
I found camera360 doing great job but I like the stock-clean design more...
Anyway I hope the new KitKat version will fix it.
BTW - any reason/idea about the first symptom that i've mentioned in the first post? [the white 1pixel line], and about the stuck focus on HDR mode?

berg82 said:
I have the same problem as you are describing. I have reproduce it on stock 4.3, cm 10.1.3 and cm 10.2.
I just reproduced it after I took like 100 photos. The Phone just rebooted after a short hang.
Maybe this is a hardware fault on some devices. When did you bought your Phone? Mine is the white one just a week old. Rev 11. If that says something.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got a rev 11 White too, I've got a strange Issue, if I take a photo with the stock rom with flash on with and without touch to focus everything seems to be right; If I take a photo with a CM based ROM without touch to focus I obtain an almost black picture, could it be an hardware issue?

And one kiddish doubt , why we can't take 16:9 pics ? Any idea ? Or it is possible and am I missing something ?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

VinciusG said:
I've got a rev 11 White too, I've got a strange Issue, if I take a photo with the stock rom with flash on with and without touch to focus everything seems to be right; If I take a photo with a CM based ROM without touch to focus I obtain an almost black picture, could it be an hardware issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've notice it too, also with stock, I mentioned it as well - seems like we need to take few photos of the same thing to get and chooce the better result, I've found it sometimes the flash is too fast and its taking the photo just before the led turn off or before its turn on fully... something like that. but its on flash photos most of the time.
Try taking 10 shots of the same thing, you could notice a difference between some of the pictures. (BTW I think its happens with and without touch focus; it dosn't matter)
jithuelad said:
And one kiddish doubt , why we can't take 16:9 pics ? Any idea ? Or it is possible and am I missing something ?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess some other camera app (3rd party) would have this option... anyway I'm still waiting for any recommand about a good camera application...

[small tip] when the stock camera hangs while taking a pic....

Hi,
Sometimes while taking a pic the stock camera would hang without even saving the pic to album.This generally happens when i open the camera from lockscreen. Another common error is "camera not available".
On encountering this , most ppl restart the phone. However, i have seen on all occasions, opening the multitasking pane and swiping the camera app away will fix this (atleast temporarily)
Hope this helps and u dont miss ur shots [emoji4]
Sent from my C6902

sruba209 said:
Hi,
Sometimes while taking a pic the stock camera would hang without even saving the pic to album.This generally happens when i open the camera from lockscreen. Another common error is "camera not available".
On encountering this , most ppl restart the phone. However, i have seen on all occasions, opening the multitasking pane and swiping the camera app away will fix this (atleast temporarily)
Hope this helps and u dont miss ur shots [emoji4]
Sent from my C6902
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have the same bug in my phone, but the sweeping camera task not always work, sometime thats has work for me i clean cache from camera and cameras then restart the phone so it take more time for next camera freeze. hope sony fix this soon.
i'm LB stock rom 108ver2 stock camera

True...most times it occurs when camera is launched from lockscreen
Sent from my C6902

I had this issue while on holidays... even clearing cache for Camera app did not fix it, then I restarted and discovered that fixed it.

It never froze to me and I use black Z1, C6903 and I have firends who have white Z1 and Z1 compact and their cameras freeze most of the times, but I use it or open it from anywhere and nothing.

Moze666 said:
It never froze to me and I use black Z1, C6903 and I have firends who have white Z1 and Z1 compact and their cameras freeze most of the times, but I use it or open it from anywhere and nothing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you LB or UB? any rom or kernel?

Demon_360x said:
Are you LB or UB? any rom or kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on stock phone 4.4.4 LB no Roms or moded stuff

I've noticed one thing - when I launch camera from lock screen and it freezes when I half-press camera button to focus, all you have to do is touch the icon with cameras (the one that allows you to switch to automatic/panorama/etc) and select Auto again. Camera works then with no issues.

jontr said:
I've noticed one thing - when I launch camera from lock screen and it freezes when I half-press camera button to focus, all you have to do is touch the icon with cameras (the one that allows you to switch to automatic/panorama/etc) and select Auto again. Camera works then with no issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@jontr : will try it out !!!

A minor update : the problem doesn't arise if i am in manual mode...i just switched from superior auto to manual mode after launching from lock screen....manual mode takes better pics in my opinion
Sent from my C6902

there's the ultimate fix for the op problem
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=52696903#post52696903

did you test it?
did solve the camera hang?? 0.0
anyone just try this?

I tested the fix in my previous post. It works
Never had the camera hang using that fix

guybrush2099 said:
I tested the fix in my previous post. It works
Never had the camera hang using that fix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you tell me what rom are you using?
LB or UB?
i really wanna try using ur configuration
thanks in advance

last Nut's stock 4.4.4
LB
deodex
superuser mod (by xperia xposed)
..and the fix in the link
I installed 120fps e 4k mod too
I had the problem of the camera hang before to apply the fix

well unfortunately this fix did not work.
i have a xperia z1 c6906 LB.
i tested with ihackers ROM v5.1 the first day i was able to take like 300 pictures without any failure, next day after taking the 12th picture i get camera hang somehow i change between auto and manual and 'fix' for a moment so i decide reboot the cellphone, second day i take about 100 pictures only hang 2 times in auto. today i keep testing and when i taking the second pictures got camera hang u.u i tried to do the same trick changing from auto to manual but it only got worst i lost preview (black screen) from camera. :c.. i make a quick reboot but did not fix the camera preview so i did a full reboot and its working again...
i think i gonna get back to android 4.3 :/
it is really disappointed because both versions android 4.4.4 and 4.3 have bugs
maye its time to change phone and brand

remember, the reboot is required after you have installed the fix

The fix works fine for me. Thanks.

Guys I'll be now testing for a few days since I have this problem too.. I'm on UB, I have chocolatetrain mod installed (pretty nice but this issue hasn't been solved there too..), trinity kernel (dunno if that mathers hahah). I'll tell you more
Edit - ok totally not working here.. Camera still has its annoying problem

Thanx for ur excellent suggestions bros..but my phone is on stock rom and unrooted.....guess thrs nothing i can do abt it for completely getting rid of it
Sent from my C6902

Camera auto focus issue

Whenever i open my camera app, the displayed image will not auto focus- it remains blurry no matter how long i allow it to readjust. The only way i can get it to focus is by shaking the phone vigorously- then it instantly auto focuses. Anyone else experience this or other problems focusing?

Has this always happened? Did you just get the phone?
Sent from my SM-N910U

i got it about 2 weeks ago, and i'm not sure if its always been this way- i never messed with the camera until after i rooted & flashed a new rom. But i do notice the problem on 2 separate note 4's, so i'm wondering if this is a rom specific issue or something others have noticed as well

Try using a third party camera app and see if it makes a difference.
Sent from my SM-N910U

Same thing is happening with my wife's Note 4 camera. Tried DL'ing 3rd party apps, and that didn't work. Shaking it vigorously for about a minute did work, but who wants to do that every time you need to take a pic, especially since we have a 1 yr old. Anyone have any luck with settings? I don't want to have to go back and return the phone, if i can help it.

Glad I'm not alone with focusing problems...
Here is my topic : Note 4 camera won't lock focus + blurry edges on pictures with far focus
Best regards,
Chris.

Problem with initial autofocus
I have the same issue with autofocus. When I open my camera is out of focus. When I a shake the camera it goes into autofocus. This has happen every time so far. I just purchased my a note from an ATT store on Dec 19th. I read on another forum a user sent his back to be fixed. They said it was a software update issue. My question is will it be released to every one soon?

Same issue here. 1 week old note 4.

been using my phone for a month and this blurry back camera is happening lately !!! it was ok when I bought it !! really annoying

Wipe off your camera before opening the app. I'm serious. The rear camera has to be clean or it will try to focus on whatever is on the screen in "close up" mode. It even tries to focus in on fingerprints! I'm dead serious. This was bothering me for almost a whole month before I figured it out.
A lot of you may have already messed with settings, etc. So, reset your camera settings to default, close your camera app (completely by clearing it in recently used apps) and then clean your lens and launch the camera app.
Felt like an idiot after struggling with this so long. Now I just know I have to wipe the lens off before launching the app every time.

DJHile said:
Wipe off your camera before opening the app. I'm serious. The rear camera has to be clean or it will try to focus on whatever is on the screen in "close up" mode. It even tries to focus in on fingerprints! I'm dead serious. This was bothering me for almost a whole month before I figured it out.
A lot of you may have already messed with settings, etc. So, reset your camera settings to default, close your camera app (completely by clearing it in recently used apps) and then clean your lens and launch the camera app.
Felt like an idiot after struggling with this so long. Now I just know I have to wipe the lens off before launching the app every time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This does not fix the issue we are experiencing.

Unfortunately, it's a hardware issue and you need a replacement. You can tap the phone on your hand and it will focus correctly for awhile but it needs to be replaced.

Note 4 af issue
Besides shaking, i noticed it needs sufficient light for it to be calibrated properly. And of course this is only temporary. Not sure if there is a fix for this problem. Bummer

i had issue with kitkat but only for a object in movement. It does not focus object. i compared camera with a Xperia Z1 and it seems to be better than note 4.

I've got the same problem when shooting in macro , the problem is gone when i've updated on lollipop.

ptfdmedic said:
Unfortunately, it's a hardware issue and you need a replacement. You can tap the phone on your hand and it will focus correctly for awhile but it needs to be replaced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have right. I am waiting for new note 4 from Samsung.

Yes ur right. But this problem started after upgrading to lollipop

Hi, I also have this issue. In the past I never got this issue. I am not sure if this happen after upgrade to Lollipop or not.
But I believe it is not hardware problem as it not happen all the time.
I open camera app and it cannot focus for a while, then I exit from camera, and re-open it again immediately, it can focus.
If I lock and left the phone for a while, let say 5 minutes, and open camera again, the issue come back again.
Is this because software issue like the camera app need to prepare something in background before ready to focus (causing lag before focus) and when we put it to sleep( lock the phone and left for a while) then we open it again and it need to prepare again.
My work around is, if I face camera focus lag, I immediately exit camera app (pressing home or back button ) and re-open camera again and it no lag on focus!
Hope this help you.

Did I break my camera?

I've been using an Arnova GCAM port that has been great and haven't updated my phone to Pie, but suddenly as of today I can't focus on anything more than about a meter away. I haven't done anything to the software or OS recently but I dropped the phone a few days ago and wonder if I've damaged the camera - would that explain the issue? Switching back to the stock cam doesn't help unless I switch it to portrait mode - that allows better focus at 3 meters or so, which is not good in regular mode. I tried a few different Arnova versions tonight with no improvement. Any suggestions?
The output from Camera2 probe shows the following:
Hardware Level Support Category
√ Level 3
X Full
X Limited
X Legacy
(all ticked in Exposure)
Focus
√ Manual focus
√ Auto focus
√ Auto focus macro
√ Auto focus continuous picture
√ Auto focus continuous video
X Auto focus EDOF

Maybe try to switch to manual mode in stock camera app and then try to adjust focus (from micro to infinity)

Meme :D said:
Maybe try to switch to manual mode in stock camera app and then try to adjust focus (from micro to infinity)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that, and over the whole range it only focussed really close (10 - 15 cm away) and the focus didn't change when I moved the slider across; even when focus was set at infinity, only an object close to the camera was sharp. I guess that's a hardware issue then - any ideas?

Did your camera glass broken?

Meme :D said:
Did your camera glass broken?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it looks fine.

I dont know, it is possible that when you droped it, you jamed auto focus mechanism. Try to factory reset and if even that does not work, take it to service center

After watching quite a few videos on this, I used the technique of tapping/knocking around the camera module to try to loosen up a stuck motor. Eventually this worked! Dropping the camera must have caused something to get stuck, and the tapping allowed that to un-stick.

roshea66 said:
After watching quite a few videos on this, I used the technique of tapping/knocking around the camera module to try to loosen up a stuck motor. Eventually this worked! Dropping the camera must have caused something to get stuck, and the tapping allowed that to un-stick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice to read that you have resolved your camera issues.
I reckon your device is still on Oreo and Gcam is still working fine like it always does.
Avoid upgrading your device to pie 9 which is simply atrocious/horrible/buggy.

dixtir said:
Nice to read that you have resolved your camera issues.
I reckon your device is still on Oreo and Gcam is still working fine like it always does.
Avoid upgrading your device to pie 9 which is simply atrocious/horrible/buggy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I haven't updated due to the issues I've read about with Pie - everything works now and I can't be bothered waiting for fixes to newer versions.

Black screen when recording videos

Do you guys experience a black screen for 1-5 seconds when you take videos using the stock camera using auto settings? This happens when the photo size is set to 4:3 and the video resolution is set to 16:9.
Examples (it is worse with SD card):
Internal
-https://youtu.be/fbK_COczXz0
SD card
-https://youtu.be/3KbXS-8QsrQ
Can you guys test this for me?
I need to determine if this happens to all phones or just mines so I can decide to exchange /repair it.
My device is US996 7.0
EDIT: OREO update seem to fixed it. but there is still a slight delay .

imeem said:
Do you guys experience a black screen for 1-5 seconds when you take videos using the stock camera using auto settings? This happens when the photo size is set to 4:3 and the video resolution is set to 16:9.
Examples (it is worse with SD card):
Internal
-https://youtu.be/fbK_COczXz0
SD card
-https://youtu.be/3KbXS-8QsrQ
Can you test this for me?
I need to determine if this happens to all phones or just mines so I can decide to exchange /repair it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try clearing your cams cache. Other than that...sounds like your phone or software. Also try a different cam app if issue persists.

Mysticblaze347 said:
Try clearing your cams cache. Other than that...sounds like your phone or software. Also try a different cam app if issue persists.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried factory resetting and safe mode. But it still happens. It only happens if I use stock cam using that exact setting using auto mode. Doesn't happen when both is set to 16:9, manual mode or other camera apps like g cam and open camera; there's no black screen but the delay before it record may be still there, but I'm assuming that could be normal.
I'll try updating to oreo to see if it fixes it.
Atm, I requested an RMA for incase I can't fix this in stock.

It don't do that for me...I'm on ls997 classic ROM. Stock or this V30 port I'm running don't do that. Gcam is an odd one...but that's expected.

Mysticblaze347 said:
Try clearing your cams cache. Other than that...sounds like your phone or software. Also try a different cam app if issue persists.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mysticblaze347 said:
It don't do that for me...I'm on ls997 classic ROM. Stock or this V30 port I'm running don't do that. Gcam is an odd one...but that's expected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I updated to oreo and the black screen is gone. There's still like a 1-2 second delay with internal storage (timed it) when I press the record button and when I see the record icon shows up. Should i assume that is normal with this phone?
I probably have to live with that...