Camera plastic cover removal? - 8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario General

I have been very disappointed with the camera in my Wizard ever since I got it. Other 1.3 MPix phones I have had have been classes better at taking photos.
After a while a came to suspect the plastic cover on the back of the phone of being the problem, since as the cover grows more and more scratched the pictures are becoming more and more "Artistic" in their expression. I think it is a great pity to put such a cover in front of any camera lens.
So I am looking for a way to get rid of the cover without damaging the phone. Does anyone know how to disassemble the phone?
Regards,
Kim

Found solution
I just stumbled upon this forums excellent link to the Wizard service manual, and I'll take it from there.
Thanks,
Kim

please keep us posted on your little project...

Should have done this a long time ago!
Today I took the Giant Leap and opened the back of the phone - as it turned out it was a piece of cake and took about 5 minutes. Removed the tiny plastic cover over the camera lens, assembled the thing again.
And what a difference! The 9100 can actually take sharp pictures. No flares and blurs. The camera/sw still seems to interpret colours in a somewhat artistic way, but apart from that I can only recommend the procedure. I tried to look through the plastic cover and a guess is that it removes about 1-2 f-stops apart from adding blur. Shame on Qtek.
I may now be able to use the camera for real now. I have attached a couple of shots.
Oh, Joy!

Related

S-T-U-P-I-D HTC forgot to take the lens cover off! :mad:

i actually can't believe it.
Since i got my phone i never got the chance to really use the camera, so i left the protective nylon that covered the lens under the battery cover.
one week ago, when i wanted to capture something, so i took the nylon off.
only to discover the camera was STILL taking very unfocused pictures!
i was very frustrated about my cam, and i opened the battery cover numerous times to check there's nothing else blocking the lens.
after another week of dispair, i decided im taking the phone apart, to see if there's anyway i can tweak the lens, or maybe twist it to get a better focus.
it really looked like a lens problem and not a sensor problem.
so i took it apart, using the *confidential* (hehe) service manual.
unhooked the flash light, uncrewed the antenna as said,
and tried to turn the little focus wheel around the camera, but no luck - the wheel was glued to the lens case.
i almost wanted to give up and close up the pda, but when i took the pda's plastic cover - i noticed there was ANOTHER protective nylon cap, from the inside of the pda!
took it off - and voilla! it works great!
can't believe they just "forgot" to take the cap off. how stupid of 'em.
added "before and after" shots of my room, and the removed nylon pictures.
Before:
http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/3411/beforevd9.jpg
After:
http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/131/afternq7.jpg
The nylon cover:
http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/8194/thenyloncoverwh8.jpg
could be worse....
can't believe they just "forgot" to take the cap off. how stupid of 'em.
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NO comment
nice lcd screen
from the style, i think it's a sony, panasonic or sharp. am i right?

My x10 clean and Hardware cam mod. Simple.

Recently purchased a X10 and some how dirt and muck had got under the screen, I decided to buy it as I was confidant I could take it apart and clean it.
One thing I also noticed was that the photos were not very good. Upon inspection of the camera I noticed the plastic cover over the camera lens, this was clean however my theory was any bright light sources off centre of the camera were scattering across this plastic section and making photos look a little washed out and blurry.
Anyway I took the phone apart and cleaned the muck from under the screen and now it looks brand new.
I then popped out this plastic piece from in front of the camera and put her back together.
Here are some disassembly pics.
This is the plastic part i popped out from the camera
And here are the before and after camera samples. Straight out the cam no edit. "more to come"
Before
After
More after shots.
Think you will agree MASSIVE difference. Only draw back is im not sure if the ir filter is built into this plastic bit, and now the camera has no protection from dust etc, but I always clean my gear regularly anyway.
Edit - Seems this glass protection wasnt the IR filter so all is good . I'm dumping new test pics in the following dropbox folder.
http://db.tt/OV9b9WP
Really happy with this phone now.
Wow, that's a huge difference.
3 years ago, my w810i's lens cracked. Photos weren't bad or anything but it bothered me. I bought a cheap pair of glasses online (5$ i think) with a uv film (that's the slight purple tint on the plastic cover) and tried to fashion the lens into a size that could replace the oem piece of glass. I took a few photos and it was a huge difference as well.
Unfortunately, glass from the glasses were too thick and it wouldn't fit with the backcover on. I bought a UV filter for slr cameras but those were way too thick. I thought of trying with a slide cover slip but that project ended up dying when my bro's phone died (i gave him the w810 and picked up a K790a).
Does anyone know of any glass makers/fabricators that can make an optically clear piece of glass with a coat of UV (filter)? I'll take a look online when I get home. I use the camera on my phone pretty regularly so I'd be willing to purchase a glass cover. Just something to protect the lens.
A spec of dust has still got back in today lol. Will take it apart again in the week and plug all the joints.
That is a huge difference in those comparison pictures.
But I guess that cover isn't supposed to come off right?
Damn, how did you took off that plastic camera sheild?
Imagine this with Vignette...
so i guess if i put some high quality glass instead of plastic, quality should increase
What an awesome solution. You should put a guide up on how to do this. You might have good ideas grow from that. Ask the mods if you can do this. I would love a guide to know how if my lens gets that dirty. And those before and after pics are amazing too. Great post and info owner of post.
Sent from my X10i using XDA Premium App
Thanks guys. The phones pretty simple to take apart. I had to take it all apart to clean the screen but to cam mod you don't have to remove the motherboard so its much easier. I'm adding pics into my dropbox link all the time too.
theninjagecko said:
Thanks guys. The phones pretty simple to take apart. I had to take it all apart to clean the screen but to cam mod you don't have to remove the motherboard so its much easier. I'm adding pics into my dropbox link all the time too.
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Does removing this part have any negative effects?
Like would the lens be more prone to dust & scratches without it?
I noticed on some picutures that theres a minute amount of red tint. Is that normal?
That IS a huge difference.
Do you think it would be hard to repaint the whole device from white to black?
EDIT: Done!
Night and day difference. Incredible. Please tell me this doesnt require messing around with the screen as I dont want to risk messing with the screen placement or anything.
How exactly do we remove this little piece?
clixt said:
I noticed on some picutures that theres a minute amount of red tint. Is that normal?
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I think i see a red tint on photos of my chickens, maybe the colors of the chickens is messing with the auto white balance?
a1exander said:
That IS a huge difference.
Do you think it would be hard to repaint the whole device from white to black?
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fairly easy i would say.
3dawg said:
Night and day difference. Incredible. Please tell me this doesnt require messing around with the screen as I dont want to risk messing with the screen placement or anything.
How exactly do we remove this little piece?
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ok The only reason i took the phone apart is to get to the screen I had bad dust under it and had to take the lot apart to get to the screen.
For the cam mod take you battery cover off, now inspect the plastic over the camera very closely and you will see its glued down, use a small tool to pry it off.
Lots more pics added to dropbox link.
A few edited with Picnik and put on my Flickr. Sandy girl was actually before the mod "not as sharp as it should have been" All the latest on Dropbox link on first post.
Sandy girl. by Scott..Hutchinson, on Flickr
Summer night coming. by Scott..Hutchinson, on Flickr
Long standing. by Scott..Hutchinson, on Flickr
theninjagecko said:
I think i see a red tint on photos of my chickens, maybe the colors of the chickens is messing with the auto white balance?
fairly easy i would say.
ok The only reason i took the phone apart is to get to the screen I had bad dust under it and had to take the lot apart to get to the screen.
For the cam mod take you battery cover off, now inspect the plastic over the camera very closely and you will see its glued down, use a small tool to pry it off.
Lots more pics added to dropbox link.
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The plastic on my camera is pretty scratched up, so I'd like to take it out.
I tried but it seems really difficult. Can you please elaborate on how you did it?
Which tool did you use, etc?
My_Immortal said:
The plastic on my camera is pretty scratched up, so I'd like to take it out.
I tried but it seems really difficult. Can you please elaborate on how you did it?
Which tool did you use, etc?
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Because i too the phone apart to clean my screen i could poke it out from the back.
if you look really closely its glued from the outside though and you should be able to get a really small flat head screwdriver "from a pc repair kit" and pry it off. It's just glued down.
If you look at this picture with my battery cover off you can see where the glass sits in the circular groove. You can even see some left over glue residue on it.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
theninjagecko said:
Because i too the phone apart to clean my screen i could poke it out from the back.
if you look really closely its glued from the outside though and you should be able to get a really small flat head screwdriver "from a pc repair kit" and pry it off. It's just glued down.
If you look at this picture with my battery cover off you can see where the glass sits in the circular groove. You can even see some left over glue residue on it.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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It seems that it is extremely difficult to do it from the outside.
I've tried everything, it's glued very strongly, it won't come out,
I've been trying for 2 hours! Time to give up!
Thanks for the tips though!
My_Immortal said:
It seems that it is extremely difficult to do it from the outside.
I've tried everything, it's glued very strongly, it won't come out,
I've been trying for 2 hours! Time to give up!
Thanks for the tips though!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypmgeoaDURQ
theninjagecko said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypmgeoaDURQ
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Thanks man!
theninjagecko said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypmgeoaDURQ
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Awesome!
I'm kind of embarrased though, should have thought to search on YouTube myself!

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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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...

[SCRATCHING LENS] Camera Improvement.

Hi Guys
Alot of users find that the m8 camera is crappy and takes bad pictures..well youre about to change your opinion!
I'm here to deliver a tip discovered by +Chris isEnlightened from google+
Get a couple q-tips. And a bathroom.. I'd start with one q tip. Just touch it to the toothpaste to get some on it. You don't want a lot.. go in the same direction and apply pressure in a circular motions, basically buffing the lens.. then add a tiny drop of water and repeat the process.. like a wet sanding.. then take a clean q tip and go over once more.. then wipe off.. you should be able to see the film that's over the lens come off in the middle.. open the camera lens and look to see if it's clean. An easy way to tell is with white objects. They will be fuzzy and glow and appear "soft"
and this is it .. 2 minutes and you camera will improve forever and you won't need to do it again. basically it's a very thin film on the lens that need to be scratched. it can be done to front and rear cameras.
You can find before and after pics in the attachments
Yeah .. we know
http://forum.xda-developers.com/htc-one-m8/general/how-to-fix-htc-one-m8-camera-issue-t2803825
I noticed my camera lens was scratched all to hell the other day. My pictures weren't fuzzy like your samples, but I was worried they would get that way if the scratches got worse. I went the toothpaste route as per your instructions and it worked like a charm. Nice, clear camera lens, just like new. Thanks!
Thread closed.
Please search for existing threads before creating new ones.
Many thanks,
Ghost

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