My camera sometimes refuses to focus correctly. When I want to take a picture (e.g. outside in the sun) I tap te screen to focus at something(like a few meters away from me). I see a green circle so it thinks it is in focus but in fact it is still really blurry. The lens is not moving far enough to get a sharp picture. I made the following video to describe the issue:
This effect is already there after a factory reset, firmware G900FXXU1ANE2 and G900FXXU1ANE4 show this problem(I only use stock firmware). I already swapped my S5 for a new one at the store but the problem is still there.
The only solution I have is to focus to something really close and then focus to the thing I want to make a picture of. This temporarily solves the problem (could happen that it works fine for the rest of the day). It is quite annoying when I want to quickly make a picture and get something like https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/831846/s5/20140718_154250.jpg. I tapped at different things visible in the picture but it simply refused to focus normally. When I apply the trick of focusing really close first I get a sharp result: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/831846/s5/20140718_154350.jpg
Does anyone have issues with the focusing? The S5 really disappoints me here. I constantly need to verify whether it has focused correctly.
hberntsen said:
My camera sometimes refuses to focus correctly.
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Click to collapse
No doubt this is frustrating to you. But it's regrettable that you didn't elaborate at more length about the nuances of how you use the camera, what circumstances this happens in and attach sample photos.
We are left uncertain if it is a problem with the phone or your usage. Given that you reflashed a stock firmware and exchanged the handset, it seems quite unlikely to be a defective phone. So it seems that you either unhappy with the camera's performance or something in your technique is impairing the focus e.g. having a thumb obstructing the sensor when holding the camera, not holding it steady, et cetera.
I don't have any issue with the focus on my S5, nor heard many complain about it either. Check that you aren't obstructing the camera sensor, perhaps try some test shots from a tripod. Explore the camera settings menu. Try a third camera camera app, which may resolve the issue outright for you. Demo other phones to see if you prefer their camera results.
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Thanks for your response, I mainly tested the camera to capture non-moving things (like the flowers outside) but usually I take pictures in all kinds of circumstances. I understand that it is hard for a camera to handle low light situations or situations where there is lots of movement. I also experienced this issue last night (indoor with lights on) but I can understand that's hard for a smartphone camera. I already have issues outside, with plenty of sunlight, capturing things that don't move/change.
I have owned a Galaxy S3 for 2 years and of course that camera sometimes did not focus correctly. The difference is that with the S3 i could simply tap the screen again and it will focus alright. With the S5 I first need to focus to something close, and then back again to the thing I wanted to make a picture of. So I kind of need to reset the focusing mechanism. That's what is annoying. I used my dad's iPhone 5 and could take the same pictures without any problem.
As far as I know I'm not using the camera any different than with my S3. In the video it might seem a bit shaky but that's due to the uncomfortable position of holding the phone in front of the camera. The issue is still there when I use something like a table to stabilize. Does the camera flash/heartbeat sensor play any role in focusing (outside with plenty of light)? I can't remember if I obstructed those. I'm sure I didn't block the camera with my finger .
I've briefly tested the Google camera app to confirm the issue is there as well. I could test with that some more but as far as I know the camera focus code is done in some hardware-specific library and the camera app simply asks the library to focus. The stock should just work on the default settings. Selective focus is off, face detection does not matter (but I only tested this without people in the picture). For focusing the options are pretty limited.
It indeed seems like I'm the only one. Maybe people don't care enough (the blurry pictures can still be fine for facebook posts). Couldn't it be a defective batch coming from Samsung? I find this hard to believe too. To me it seems like a software problem. The camera is trying to focus as fast as possible, it barely moves the lens if it is in a state where it thinks it is already focused. That's probably why focusing really close helps; it needs to do a 'full' re-focus.
Edit: Just tested the google camera again, wasn't blocking the sensors on the back in any way:
1. Opened app while pointing at the flowers
2. Tapped the flowers, saw focus ring, tapped again at another place but no difference, still blurry
3. Took picture: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/831846/s5/IMG_20140722_132806.jpg
4. Focussed to something close
5. Pointed camera at flowers again
6. Touched to focus (looks sharp now)
7. Took picture: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/831846/s5/IMG_20140722_133109.jpg
It's so simple to get such a blurry picture. In something like half an hour later I tried to take another picture but I already had to apply the fix again...
Also having problems with focusing on S5
Hi there,
I was reading this forum and have the EXACT same problem with my S5! The camera won't focus at all! it was like that when i got the phone, then i took it in for repairs and it came back much much better. but then literally overnight it just decided to stop focusing again. it won't focus on distance shots. i've tried playing around with all my settings again, but nothing is solving the problem. i tap the screen to get it to focus with the green square, it says it's in focus but all of the pictures are blurry!
Did you manage to come right with getting your camera to work properly @hberntsen?
hberntsen said:
My camera sometimes refuses to focus correctly. When I want to take a picture (e.g. outside in the sun) I tap te screen to focus at something(like a few meters away from me). I see a green circle so it thinks it is in focus but in fact it is still really blurry. The lens is not moving far enough to get a sharp picture. I made the following video to describe the issue:
This effect is already there after a factory reset, firmware G900FXXU1ANE2 and G900FXXU1ANE4 show this problem(I only use stock firmware). I already swapped my S5 for a new one at the store but the problem is still there.
The only solution I have is to focus to something really close and then focus to the thing I want to make a picture of. This temporarily solves the problem (could happen that it works fine for the rest of the day). It is quite annoying when I want to quickly make a picture and get something like. I tapped at different things visible in the picture but it simply refused to focus normally. When I apply the trick of focusing really close first I get a sharp result:
Does anyone have issues with the focusing? The S5 really disappoints me here. I constantly need to verify whether it has focused correctly.
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Click to collapse
I dont know if you are rooted but if you are i would deffinitely install the following MOD as it fixes alot of the samsungs Camera Shortcummings
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/development/mod-hx-camera-mod1-0quality-t2816831
My problems vanished, it could be due to an update from Samsung to ANG8. When I had the problem I tried various camera apps(also the HX mod) and all of them had the focusing problem. The HX mod does not help since the focusing code is not modified.
Camera focus fix
Hi guys!
I've been having this problem of the camera not focusing either. I did some looking around on the internet and found a quick and easy fix!
It seemed that my camera app/cache had become corrupted, as was common with the S5.
Go to Settings>Application Manager>All>Camera and then clear the cache. It was only about 35kbs.
I restarted the phone after this and the camera now focuses brilliantly again! No issues at all with far away or really close.
Give that a go and see if it works for you!
I'm having exactly the same issue im confident its a camera hardware issue. Im sending the unit back to Samsung to replace or repair overall im disappointed and find the camera very poor.
I took a video for you guys because you seem to all be having the same issue.
http://youtu.be/VZdJD0z2duA
Mine focuses perfectly without me even touching the screen. When I do touch the screen it always reports a clear focus. Otherwise I can just move around and the camera automatically detects the distance even through a window, and instantly adjusts the focus to compensate.
If your phone does not behave the same way, then it's a defect, you aren't holding it correctly (blocking or obstructing the sensor) or you are experiencing some sort of other issue.
Some cases can ever so slightly interfere with the sensor too. The sensor is so much wider than you think when you look at it directly. So if you have even anything slightly in the field (even the field that is not displayed on the screen) it may give you bad results with focusing. (However I see the OP has no case in his video).
Overall I am 100% satisfied with this camera.
What I have found in testing is if I tap the front of the phone with my finger the focus kicks in a works, temporarily however it resorts back to the non focus issue after a brief period. Any shots taken at close range are fine its basically any shot the it using the zoom function or any shots of anything at a distance such as a scenery shot.
---------- Post added at 09:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:04 AM ----------
leijonasisu said:
I took a video for you guys because you seem to all be having the same issue.
http://youtu.be/VZdJD0z2duA
Mine focuses perfectly without me even touching the screen. When I do touch the screen it always reports a clear focus. Otherwise I can just move around and the camera automatically detects the distance even through a window, and instantly adjusts the focus to compensate.
If your phone does not behave the same way, then it's a defect, you aren't holding it correctly (blocking or obstructing the sensor) or you are experiencing some sort of other issue.
Some cases can ever so slightly interfere with the sensor too. The sensor is so much wider than you think when you look at it directly. So if you have even anything slightly in the field (even the field that is not displayed on the screen) it may give you bad results with focusing. (However I see the OP has no case in his video).
Overall I am 100% satisfied with this camera.
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Click to collapse
The camera focuses and shows the green circle each time, but when you look a the shot you can see the blur this is with shots taken in daylight.
leijonasisu said:
I took a video for you guys because you seem to all be having the same issue.
http://youtu.be/VZdJD0z2duA
Mine focuses perfectly without me even touching the screen. When I do touch the screen it always reports a clear focus. Otherwise I can just move around and the camera automatically detects the distance even through a window, and instantly adjusts the focus to compensate.
If your phone does not behave the same way, then it's a defect, you aren't holding it correctly (blocking or obstructing the sensor) or you are experiencing some sort of other issue.
Some cases can ever so slightly interfere with the sensor too. The sensor is so much wider than you think when you look at it directly. So if you have even anything slightly in the field (even the field that is not displayed on the screen) it may give you bad results with focusing. (However I see the OP has no case in his video).
Overall I am 100% satisfied with this camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The camera focuses and shows the green circle each time, but when you look a the shot you can see the blur this is with shots taken in daylight.
---------- Post added at 11:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:19 AM ----------
priormix said:
Hi guys!
I've been having this problem of the camera not focusing either. I did some looking around on the internet and found a quick and easy fix!
It seemed that my camera app/cache had become corrupted, as was common with the S5.
Go to Settings>Application Manager>All>Camera and then clear the cache. It was only about 35kbs.
I restarted the phone after this and the camera now focuses brilliantly again! No issues at all with far away or really close.
Give that a go and see if it works for you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not the fix I've tried that several times without any luck
Non focus - FIX
Update:
My S5 has been repaired by Samsung to resolve the non focus issue the problem related to a faulty camera module and was replaced with an updated camera module the focus now works perfectly. If you have this issue you'll need to get the camera module replaced it would seem a lot of S5 users are having this problem.
Im having this issue and its really annoying. Im thinking of sending it to repair, but im afraid that : a) might still come out the same b)Lose waterproofing since they have to actually remove the screen/front to fix it c)they don't do anything because it focus sometimes and it might focus when they do the tests
So, what would be a good indication that focus problems is really a faulty sensor? Compared to my s3, the s5 struggles to focus and its really noticible when i try to take a picture of text and close up.
Blurry
I got a similar Problem, but I am not absolutely sure if it´s focus-related or something else with the camera.
Almost every picture I take is blurry, and my focusing lens is also very loud when I shake the phone.
I compared my S5 to 2 others today and mine was really having the worst image quality, no matter what I did. Changed all settings on my phone to match the other one which has good IQ, but it really doesn´t change anything.
Someone said to change ISO to 100 instead of Auto, this improves a little bit, but still the other pix are way clearer.
Will wait for Lollipop Update and see how it improves, but I guess its a hardware issue.
I have read about that camera noise and Samsung has said it's normal and part of the camera module and system. Strangely, I never heard it on mine.
Have you tried photos outside in sunlight? Camera seems to show its worth only in those conditions. Regardless, if full auto in different s5 is better than on yours that much, then you might have a bad sensor and should get it replaced.
In good light conditions the pix look quite good, but as you take photos indoors the´re just blurry and smeary. No sharpness. Compared it to an iP5s first and then to the other S5s, even checked my old S2, which also made better pictures.
Now I wonder if I really wait for Lollipop and hope it´s a software issue or directly use the warranty.
Thinking about rooting and using custom ROMs, I didn´t really find out if this is possible with LP as well (given it´s possible to downgrade to a towelroot compatible version, say 4.4.2 as atm). Is there a chance?
What would you suggest? Wait for the upgrade and if it doesn´t help, send it to the support? Or do this right now and hope they will also see the difference to a good camera and replace or repair it? Have to wait like 2 weeks they said.
Thanks!
Honestly, we are all going to start accepting that the camera is not that great in anything other than outside with direct sunlight (or probably with studio film lights but not everybody has those laying around).
Auto-focus is not great and its very frustrating actually, even if you have decent light inside, it miss it a lot of time and you have to keep moving and pressing the screen - but put it outside or next to a window in daylight and the autofocus works well enough. Oddly, my s3 still has better/more accurate autofocus in lower light scenarios than the s5, even if the final image isn't that great (its actually inferior, but autofocus works much better). The s5 focus for a split second and then loss focus.
Also, most photos i take on the s5 just turn out having way to much noise.
I don't think software is going to do much at this point. It helped in the first batches, but now im starting to think is more the sensor fault than anything else. I don't think lollipop will help unless we get the manual controls, which samsung s5 doesn't have on lollipop rom. Also, i remember reading that lollipop didn't improve the camera quality on the s5. Software will help quite a bit, but it won't be everything.
With warranty, if they test it and are able to get it focus a few times they probably won't fix it or replace the sensor, unless it's something really bad - but that's my opinion and why i haven't used the warranty on mine, because they might test it in better light and get the focus to work and won't even bother.
Also, im afraid it will lose the waterproofing from factory. I recently saw videos of repairs on the s5 and the whole fron't screen needs to be removed in order to access the camera or any hardware and im afraid that might in any way compromise waterproofing - i don't plan on take it on the water but who knows.
So, personally, im just trying to accept that the camera isn't that great as i thought and not stress more about it. If your camera does take inferior photos compared to others and you have similar problems with focus like OP, then i suggest you take it to the warranty. If its just focusing problems in low light or inferior image quality in low light with pictures coming out the same as other s5's (not compared to other phones, different sensors), then it probably won't do much taking it to the repair center, unless it gives you peace of mind or getting another opinion from the repair center.
Where the photos were taken was irrelevant, inside or out the camera module was faulty on my one a problem many S5 users have had it's NOT software well not in my case anyway this solution is get the module replaced the S5 camera is average at best and if compared against the likes of the Note 4 it's very poor.
True. I asked if he tried outside because in my case the camera focus better outside with a lot light , even if inside is well lit enough to take a picture. Most of my problems are with focus inside, even is decent light, it just doesnt want to pick proper focus and it shouldnt be like that, my old s3 and other older or lower-end phones are not like that.
Unfortunately the camera was so hyped for nothing, yes it takes good pictures if are outside during the day but its a pain to focus or get a picture that isnt full of noise, the s4 took good pictures and it wasnt a mess to focus. I havent sent mine for replacement because i just know they are going to test it in a well lit enviroment and it will probably pick up the focus and send it back.
Samsung repaired and replaced my camera module without any question once I'd demonstrated the issue I even sent them the link to this thread. I found the camera focus was even worse when using video.
Agree the S5 as both a camera and a smart phone is average at best hence why I use the s5 rarely now with the Note 4 as my main phone.
My nexus 6p is now about 1 month old and since yesterday i noticed my rear camera has been producing unfocused and blurry images. It also make a little cracking noise when i open the camera app or switch back to the rear camera from the front facing camera. Please help me please. I tried to clean the lens and I even buy fv camera 5 and try manual focus but it did not work. The images produces from the rear camera are now even worse than the front facing camera.
koalalookatme said:
My nexus 6p is now about 1 month old and since yesterday i noticed my rear camera has been producing unfocused and blurry images. It also make a little cracking noise when i open the camera app or switch back to the rear camera from the front facing camera. Please help me please. I tried to clean the lens and I even buy fv camera 5 and try manual focus but it did not work. The images produces from the rear camera are now even worse than the front facing camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what you describe it sounds like the VCM/AF Actuator has malfunctioned.
Try this Download Freedcam from play store
Make sure you give it permission to access camera
Settings > Api > Camera 2
Then set Focus to manual then activate Focus Peak
Then move focus wheel if you start seeing yellow higlights/ outline that means its focusing if no highlights then AF Broken.
Also try Reset Device if no go i suggest you return the device
Sent from my NX503A using Tapatalk
I tried to reset but it did not work also I tried moving the wheel but no luck. I ship this unit to Vietnam which is where I'm currently living so I cannot send it back. Also the cracking noise every time I open my main camera really worried me, it does sound like something went wrong from the inside. I have been taking fine and focused image up till now. I find this happened the day after I went home raining without an umbrella or raincoat. It was a small rain and the device was not soaked in water it was just having little splash of water on it. I wondered if this was the reason
After I googled this problem there seems to be others having the same problem as me and they are sending back their devices
Hi koala . Did you send back yours too? I bought this phone about 5months back. I have the same problem. Any chance of a replacement?
Hi, Did this ever get resolved? I ordered a replacement camera module and tools to fix it myself. The repair guide is from Repair Universe. Here's the video on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/zEQbQPAU9Ss
Joe
Did you update to Nougat already? I do not experience this, but it might be because I'm still on Marshmallow.
Hello guys whenever I open camera I hear a buzzing sound.
How can i fix this pls help me
That is just a problem when the camera aperture gets stuck while the camera is Auto Image Stabilizing. If you still have warranty I would send it back to Samsung regarding the issue.
Tahseen I said:
That is just a problem when the camera aperture gets stuck while the camera is Auto Image Stabilizing. If you still have warranty I would send it back to Samsung regarding the issue.
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Click to collapse
I had this replaced under warranty from Samsung.
You can easily recreate it by shutting down the camera, giving the phone a shake from side to side and opening the camera again, it almost always buzzes.
Anyway, had mine fixed, 4 months later it's doing it again. Not going to bother sending it in again as it's just a design flaw, they also quite heavily scratched the bezel of my otherwise perfect condition phone prying the back off which I wasn't happy about.
Hello. I am new owner of S8. As they claim front camera now has autofocus so selfies will be now "sharper" .
I dont know if I just have wrong model but when I am doing selfies really close to front camera they are really sharp.
However if I move camera little bit further it start re-focusing almost all the time. If I touch on the object sometimes it helps a little bit but it still not good.
The best result I could achive, you can see on the photo (and I tried many times and others were even worse). The text is totally unreadble. It is same with faces, but you can see it better on text.
I compared it to much cheaper phone Honor 8, which does much sharper photo without any autofocus.
Does any of you have the problem, or it is just me?
I tried restore camera setting but it didnt help.
Thanks for feedback. (cause I have no feedback from samsung )
I got the s8 plus and for me the front camera is beast! I know back on the s7 the camera was eh and the keyboard lag was real so I got the edge. It could be the camera or you could be snapping the camera too fast. Takes a sec to grab the image.
Do you have selective focus on? This mode will blur background to simulate portrait mode with telephoto lens on DSLR. I find it useless, but stupid iphone has it so why not galaxy?
Mine is not 100% sharp either (however much better than yours), but I have low light now and get shutter speed of 1/24sec, it's hard to hand held photo at 1/24sec without some shake. Need to retest this in full sun tomorrow.
pete4k said:
Do you have selective focus on? This mode will blur background to simulate portrait mode with telephoto lens on DSLR. I find it useless, but stupid iphone has it so why not galaxy?
Mine is not 100% sharp either (however much better than yours), but I have low light now and get shutter speed of 1/24sec, it's hard to hand held photo at 1/24sec without some shake. Need to retest this in full sun tomorrow.
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Hi, no I dont. And this is another problem. When I try to do picture in this mode it always say me something like "Picture was taken but the effect of contrast cannot be used because no object was reckognized" . So there must be something defenetly wrong.
And when I was doing photo I was waiting more than 5 secs to focus but the result was still same. And I put phone on the table so I didnt move with it at all.
dominik01k said:
Hi, no I dont. And this is another problem. When I try to do picture in this mode it always say me something like "Picture was taken but the effect of contrast cannot be used because no object was reckognized" . So there must be something defenetly wrong.
And when I was doing photo I was waiting more than 5 secs to focus but the result was still same. And I put phone on the table so I didnt move with it at all.
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Click to collapse
Thats sounds similar to message I got when using selective focus. It tells you that it couldn't recognize your face so the effect wasn't fully applied (in selective focus that effect is to keep sharp focus on face and blur everything else). Seems like you have some effect enabled and that could be your problem. I never got any msg, except for selective focus, but didn't have much time to play a lot.
pete4k said:
Thats sounds similar to message I got when using selective focus. It tells you that it couldn't recognize your face so the effect wasn't fully applied (in selective focus that effect is to keep sharp focus on face and blur everything else). Seems like you have some effect enabled and that could be your problem. I never got any msg, except for selective focus, but didn't have much time to play a lot.
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I tried factory reset as a last option and it still didnt helped. I reviewed lot of videos and pictures of S8 online and for sure mine is behaving different. Probably I will have to take my S8 to the nearest service..
Sounds like you do have a problem. I used my S8 and stood back and the picture was focused. Closer ones have always been focused.
I had the same issue, but really don't know If what I did was the fix, because this issue was happening every time I open the camera app after a while (like half an hour) and I had to knock my phone just to wake up my focusing sensor or what ever it called, but after I:
- re-enabled all the disabled bixby apps.
- stopped using my car magnet holder - so it never gets too cold because of the car's AC and never gets attached to a magnet.
after that, camera never miss-focusing anymore, now more than 3 hours.
So please, if anyone had this issue and:
- not using any magnet holder.
- not disabling bixby apps.
- not having the phone too cold.
please tell us to be aware.
I know it's not logic, as long as I can use the camera normally after I knock the phone, so it might be a hardware problem, but I'm sharing my experience with you just to find out the fix.
Thanks
Update: Nothing from the above was the issue, still; miss focusing, even after a factory reset... waiting for July update and see if they will fix it.
Hey there, I too have an issue in front camera of my galaxy s8 when I put it too far then it shows blurry image but when the camera is nearby the object then it shows some good quality, but not showing as much good as it was showing before .
i have the same issue. But the camera works when it wants to work... but sometimes is blury (most of times)
I recently got the new Samsung S10+ 1TB phone and every time I take a picture, the photo comes out blurry or out of focus, even when the object isn't moving. I have even restarted my phone as a Samsung technician recommended. I have also installed the Google Pixel camera app from another post and that has less issues. Any one found a fix or have the same issues with the native camera program in the Samsung S10+?
Which application installed ? all work for me is not stable(((
I have Exynos 9820
Stock. I didnt chang anything. I ended up download gcam and open cam. They have no issues.
Native camera doesn't appear to focus all the time on my S10+, but that's just one issue. My scanner rarely works. I'm gonna ask if BB can exchange mine...
For the finger scanner i rotated my finger around at strange angles and it works great for me.
Same
I am having this issue with the front facing camera.
9 out of 10 times I try to take a selfie or use face unlock, the front camera won't focus.
The only quick solution I have found is to tap on the lens glass once or twice. After that the camera will work correctly, but only for a short while, after which I have to repeat tapping in the front camera glass.
I'm guessing the camera module is defective.
I can't get my S10+ that I bought straight from AT&T to focus on close up things at random times when I need to take a pic of like a nail or something. Not sure the S10 has it, but there used to be a macro mode on the S3 and S4 that made this a lot easier.