Camera keeps failing - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I am not a power user like you guys, just a basic user so no roms or anything is installed other than nova launcher.
symptoms:
1)the regular back camera will work fine and take pics normally
2)if i try to switch to the front facing camera i get something like "camera failed" and it will freeze up and exit etc.
3)if i try to switch to video mode with the regular back camera the same thing happens.
4)both times i will have to clear cache through the system settings to get the regular back camera to start working again.
i have tried clearing cache through the system settings and also in the start up menu when you hold volume up+power+home button.
after those didn't work i even tried a factory reset which made me lose all my calender appointments and to do tasks even though i used app backup and restore
nothing has worked to fix this, what can i try next?
also, i think i got a lemon with this phone because most people really like this phone but my experience with it has been horrible. the thing has been laggy and buggy and things just stop working randomly including the ambient light sensor. i wish i could somehow trade this phone in for either a new one of these or something else.
GAH!! im sitting here updating my phone and its hot as hell. this thing frequently overheats. I never had any problems like this with the s1

fupamobile said:
I am not a power user like you guys, just a basic user so no roms or anything is installed other than nova launcher.
symptoms:
1)the regular back camera will work fine and take pics normally
2)if i try to switch to the front facing camera i get something like "camera failed" and it will freeze up and exit etc.
3)if i try to switch to video mode with the regular back camera the same thing happens.
4)both times i will have to clear cache through the system settings to get the regular back camera to start working again.
i have tried clearing cache through the system settings and also in the start up menu when you hold volume up+power+home button.
after those didn't work i even tried a factory reset which made me lose all my calender appointments and to do tasks even though i used app backup and restore
nothing has worked to fix this, what can i try next?
also, i think i got a lemon with this phone because most people really like this phone but my experience with it has been horrible. the thing has been laggy and buggy and things just stop working randomly including the ambient light sensor. i wish i could somehow trade this phone in for either a new one of these or something else.
GAH!! im sitting here updating my phone and its hot as hell. this thing frequently overheats. I never had any problems like this with the s1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The S4 always has an overheating issue when using it constantly depending on what you are doing, especially when charging it and using it at the same time. Google results came up with multiple 'solutions' for it, including multiple restarts, replacing the camera module, etc.
Has your phone ever been repaired? And have you tried using a new camera application?

Skyrider said:
The S4 always has an overheating issue when using it constantly depending on what you are doing, especially when charging it and using it at the same time. Google results came up with multiple 'solutions' for it, including multiple restarts, replacing the camera module, etc.
Has your phone ever been repaired? And have you tried using a new camera application?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it has never been repaired. i get the same results when i use snapchat.
what is involved with replacing the module?

fupamobile said:
it has never been repaired. i get the same results when i use snapchat.
what is involved with replacing the module?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search Camera module on google. You'll see it's the camera hardware inside the phone. How old is the phone?

Skyrider said:
Search Camera module on google. You'll see it's the camera hardware inside the phone. How old is the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not old at all. i think less than a year

you Should try a custom ROM, I also had this camera problems with the stock rom and it was gona as soon as i switched to a custom rom.

Related

Galaxy S camera problems

Just as the thread title says, my camera is full of bugs, unable to change iso/exposure properly and hangs when I try to focus or take a picture. Had the same problem when using jf4 and jm2 as well as third party camera apps. Is this a software or hardware problem? And any solutions?
you are the very first person to complain about this.
just about every body else loves the camera, including me
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=731846
AllGamer said:
you are the very first person to complain about this.
just about every body else loves the camera, including me
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=731846
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had problems testing the panorama shot, but I never complained, mostly because I don't take pictures and I was just testing it. Also, in the camera's defense, I was talking pictures in a room, where perhaps there was an issue due to corners while the shot is intended to be of landscape....any thoughts?
Not exactly complaining but I think that it could be a hardware problem as half of the time I press the camera app, the app starts shows a black screen and says 'camera failed' and force closes...
Qazz~; said:
Not exactly complaining but I think that it could be a hardware problem as half of the time I press the camera app, the app starts shows a black screen and says 'camera failed' and force closes...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this lag ?
Not much lag, but like I said its real buggy, can't even focus.when I tap on an area the box shifts to wheretapped but it does not focus, the box will now get stuck there and the iso/exposure will not change then usually the camera will stop working
Qazz~ said:
Not exactly complaining but I think that it could be a hardware problem as half of the time I press the camera app, the app starts shows a black screen and says 'camera failed' and force closes...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now, that is an actual problem.
did you try rebooting the phone?
if you can't take even a normal picture, you might have an defective camera
Taking a picture is a hit and miss affair, takes pics 2 out of 10 times i try, it should be a camera problem, going to send it in for warranty now. will report back when its fixed
Have you tried a hard reset to see if the problem goes away?
Whenever things start to go wierd, I alway 1)Soft reset 2)If it does not work do a hard reset 3)If still doesn't work, find out if everyone else with the same firmware has the problem 4) Finally, go to the shop for a replacement, it's likely then to be a hardware issue.
If you have 'fring' installed uninstall it and camera will stop failing
Just updated to JM2, I have fring installed, never had such problem even with stock...
Sorry my bad, fring was recently fixed for sgs
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Soft reset, hard reset, flashed firmware again. All did not work. Was sent in for repair a few hours ago, they said it would take 2-3 days, had jm2 on it though and where I live the latest firmware is jf4. Hope they don't bother about that. Hoping for the best
Update!
Just got phone back from Samsung after waiting for 4 torturous days, everything seems to be in working order now, the auto focus is still pretty slow though but other than that its great.
So after all it should have just been a hardware problem as the customer service lady told me that they changed the pcb of the camera
Qazz~ said:
Not exactly complaining but I think that it could be a hardware problem as half of the time I press the camera app, the app starts shows a black screen and says 'camera failed' and force closes...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem get voodoo lag fix if you have any other lag fix un do them before running the voodoo it works rember after you do the lag fix it takes a long time to boot
here is the fix to camera problem!!!!!!!
I had the same problem get voodoo lag fix if you have any other lag fix un do them before running the voodoo it works rember after you do the lag fix it takes a long time to boot
HELP PLEASE.... I bought a new Galaxy S Captivate about 3 weeks ago and i think alrealy had the new Android 2.1 with the GPS Fixed. The Camera was working until a few days ago. Every time I start the Camera app, after just 2 or 3 seconds I am getting the Warning message "Camera Failed". I can only press okay and the Camera app closes. I tried many times and it is always the same.
I tried soft reset, and hard reset which errased all my data, and nothing. Today I decided to upgrade to the new Leaked version of the Froyo 2.2 to see if it would help. Nothing helped. I AM STUCK....
I called Samsung 3rd level support and they said that I should send my phone to them for them to REFLASH my phone. If that would not fix they would replace and send another phone to me.
My problem is that I am out of the USA (I am in Brazil now) for the next 3 months, so I would like to find a way to fi via software now.
Since Samsung said that the best way to fix this Camera problem is the FLASH the phone, and only SAMSUNG has this special flashing software, my question is:
1- DOES ANY ONE KNOWS WHER I COULD DOWNLOAD THIS SAMSUNG FLASHING SOFTWARE ? ANY WHAT WHERE I COULD GET THE ROM ORIGINAL CAPTIVATE 2.1 VERSION?
2- I only know this 2 ways to flash or upgrade my phone,
I897UCJF6-final-OCD-REV0.rar (for Android 2.1)
I897UCJI6-OCD-REV02-Low-designgears.exe (for Android 2.2 leaked version)
But I am not sure that this is the SAMSUNG FLASH version that they are talking about , is it?
Where can I find the real Samsung Flash software ? PLEASE HELP
Solved Thanks to Voodoo
Had practically the same problem, Camera failed yet it worked for Video and even in Panorama mode, I didn't install anything new other than some themes from the Market, I tried factory set, removing the battery ... nothing worked, so I disabled OCLF, uninstalled it, and installed Voodoo lag fix instead, that made the trick !! Don't understand why though , but anyways it's working now
twingerbread 3.3 - video camera
alovell83 said:
I had problems testing the panorama shot, but I never complained, mostly because I don't take pictures and I was just testing it. Also, in the camera's defense, I was talking pictures in a room, where perhaps there was an issue due to corners while the shot is intended to be of landscape....any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the camera is definitely broken. I'm running kernel 2.6.32.9, twingerbread 3.3 on sgh-i897; and the video option is no-fugu. force-close EVERY time I try to use it.
When i try to camera it says "camera failed".Soft reset, hard reset, flashed firmware again. All did not work

[Q] Camera problems.

Hello
I have been having some problems with the main camera on the A500. It has different tints to it. Sometimes the picture seems to be divided in 4 and all 4 squares have a different hue to them. Restoring to factory settings seem to take care of it for a while. Initially I thought it was "skype" that messed it up, but it is not.
I just restarted the tablet and the camera is giving me a yellow tint, with a clear horizontal stripe about 3/4 inch wide through the middle.
The tab has stock 3.2 on it.
I was wondering if anyone has experienced similar problems and if there was a solution to the problem.
Thank you
Well, I would think the problem seems to be some app/apps you have installed. Based on when you do a factory reset, it goes away.
I would just do another factory reset. Then verify it went away. Run it for a couple of days WITHOUT installing any apps. This will probably rule out a hardware issue.
Then install apps, 1 at a time. Use the camera, and look for issues.
Thanx. I will give that a try.
I traced it back to Swift Key X keyboard for tablets. How is that even possible?
Also yahoo messenger is another one that ruins the camera. As soon as I install any of those apps and reboot, the camera is back to normal.
Does anyone out there use either of those apps?
mobilebone said:
I traced it back to Swift Key X keyboard for tablets. How is that even possible?
Also yahoo messenger is another one that ruins the camera. As soon as I install any of those apps and reboot, the camera is back to normal.
Does anyone out there use either of those apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, everything is ok?
Rule #1,
Stay away from apps meant for phones.
Yes, they "may" have tested it it on "1" tablet, then gave it a clean bill of health. Maybe.
Moscow Desire said:
So, everything is ok?
Rule #1,
Stay away from apps meant for phones.
Yes, they "may" have tested it it on "1" tablet, then gave it a clean bill of health. Maybe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought it would be ok. But after restarting a few times, the camera colors are off. I'm going to root and install a custom 3.2 to make sure it is not the hardware.
Spasiba for all your help )
any news about this problems.
it seems that my iconia has the same problem- i never noticed it because i dont use the rear camera.
i sold it it today and the guy who bought has described something like what you folks are talking about
the strange thing is that i had done a clean boot before i sold it, and the buyer hasnt installed anything on it yet.
im waiting to hear back from him after he tries another clean boot.
anyone else have any ideas ?
I'm having the same problem. I don't use it much, but the camera was ok before. When I tried using it this weekend, it showed colored translucent squares on the sides. It is not a config problem, as there are no effects turned on. The front camera works 100%. I will post a sample when I get home.
If I change the "whites" config to Incandescent, it kind of solves the problem. Sometimes, the squares appear, but not for most the time.
I believe this is not a harware issue, unless that whites configuration is made with hardware (highly doubt it). I don't have Swift key, or Yahoo messenger, or any other apps that use the camera (other than Skype, but it was already installed when the camera worked).
Did anybody find a fix to this? It seems it is only a problem on stock 3.2.
Edit: not an exclusive 3.2 stock issue, it appears that custom roms have this problem as well.
I have the same issue after ICS ota upgrade...
Any ideas?
I haven't had the issue since the ICS upgrade. Only tested once or twice, but it is working properly.
What I did to partially fix it was changing the White Balance to "Incandescent".

[Q] Camera Making Cracking Noise while focussing

I updated my Nexus 4 to Kitkat recently and now I am facing problem while taking pictures.
As soon as an image is captured the camera makes a cracking noise from the backside. Sound is like some switch going on and off "tik tik tik tik"
and then if I minimize the camera app phone can used and camera app can be closed and reopened again.
But if I keep it cracking then within 2 secs the phone freezes and restarts itself.
I tried using other apps like Cymera and I am able to take pictures without any problem.
This problem occurs 50% of the times I use stock camera app. Sometime works fine sometimes hangs up.
How do I get rid of this?
Google support suggested factory reset. I have not rooted my phone. Is there any way I can backup few important apps with their data on PC before I try factory reset?
Thanks in advance!!
sachinthakur82 said:
I updated my Nexus 4 to Kitkat recently and now I am facing problem while taking pictures.
As soon as an image is captured the camera makes a cracking noise from the backside. Sound is like some switch going on and off "tik tik tik tik"
and then if I minimize the camera app phone can used and camera app can be closed and reopened again.
But if I keep it cracking then within 2 secs the phone freezes and restarts itself.
I tried using other apps like Cymera and I am able to take pictures without any problem.
This problem occurs 50% of the times I use stock camera app. Sometime works fine sometimes hangs up.
How do I get rid of this?
Google support suggested factory reset. I have not rooted my phone. Is there any way I can backup few important apps with their data on PC before I try factory reset?
Thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think its caused by camera's focus mechanism and it is just a little click noise but yes sometimes it makes very audible noise, especially with HDR function(which does not focus when you press to focus it just seems green. It only focuses when you move phone or it is just me). Can you check and listen closely if other camera apps doing that click noise when you focus ? I dont think factory reset solve this because I do several factory resets and flashing 4.4 it does not change a thing.
I get that ticking sound as well but only sometimes when I open or close anything that uses the camera, never during focusing. I can't imagine factory reset would help but if you're gonna give it a shot I'd recommend Helium to backup apps https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.backup though I think you'd need root to backup any system app data.
Problem Solved
Thanks Scrye & AlderCass,
I did factory reset and tried camera it was working fine. Then google started installing my apps and after that was complete I started getting the problem again. So I got skeptical about some app making the stock camera malfunction. I removed an app called cymera and rebooted the phone.
and to my relief it started behaving awesome like before
Feeling happy

[Q] Touchscreen becomes completely unusable when opening camera?

Hi!
I'm absolutely new here (and to Android and everything about it) and i've only made a couple of posts in the noob thread. I felt like this should be a thread of its own due to its abnormality.
I've only very recently rooted my phone (i9505, 4.4.2) a couple of hours ago using the towelroot method. I have not flashed any custom ROM yet however I do have some Xposed Modules installed.
i've only run across some problems like repetitive rebooting (fixed) and faster battery drain (hopefully fixed by tomorrow).
However, I have one problem that doesn't seem to have any solution whatsoever anywhere in the internet; it wasn't even mentioned once.
Whenever I open the stock camera app, the touch screen becomes completely useless. I cannot touch anything; the settings, shutter, view finder to focus, absolutely nothing. The camera itself is not broken, I can still take pictures with the volume rockers. Also, I know not the entire screen is broken because one of the modules I have installed is SwipeBack, which lets me swipe from a corner and it goes back and it still works perfectly fine.
I've tried rebooting the phone and force stopping the camera but nothing has worked.
The only suspicious thing I've done is backup and uninstall all the KNOX apps, which should be no surprise.
Now I'm not particularly bothered by this as I barely use the stock camera app anyway, or any camera app besides Snapchat. I don't use my phone for taking pictures much, but it still is quite annoying.
Is there any sort of fix to this?
Thank you very much in advance!

S8 weird camera problem

Hi guys, I have been dealing with s8 camera problem for months now and decided to ask before I smash my phone into the wall.
Problem looks simple, I start recording and it randomly stops. Its followed by quick flash(the one that you see when switching the camera on) and looks like camera is restarting. It happens after 2,5, 10 seconds or sometimes doesn't happen at all. I recorded a video of my baby and after 20s I found out that recording stopped and I didn't get anything. I tried to use a camera in safe mode, seems to be working fine there.
Does it mean that some apps interfere with camera app? Also tried cleaning the cache which didn't help. Is there a way to find what apps are causing the issue? Is factory reset best option in my case? I would add that I can see those weird flashes even when I'm not recording and camera is simply switched on.
I would appreciate any help guys. Thank you.
Do you try some other camera apk ?
zelenko said:
Do you try some other camera apk ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, they worked fine and didn't have any issues. I would like to use an original app tho because I find it much quicker and less complicated. Wonder if it's maybe related to Samsung cloud sync. I'm just too scared to factory reset lol
So you are saying that U never tried to solve the problem by doing a factory reset? That should be second thing on your list, after restarting. xD

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