Camera not focusing after 1.8x - Google Pixel 4 XL Questions & Answers

After zooming to 1.9x camera turns blurry in 95% cases.
Here is screenshot:
https://imgur.com/a/vCUxw2V
I tried to uninstall updates, clear cache & app data, safe mode, with no result.
I have also tried open camera app same issue.
I have also cleaned camera with cloth.
Camera ver 8.x with latest Android 11
I came to conclusion, that it is telephoto camera issues and need replacement.
I am planning to replace it with camera from ifixit.
I have also read in some places, that it is OIS fault & does camera include OIS? Will camera replace fix this or something else might be necessary?
Thanks!

Of course if it may be software issue any suggestions are welcome!

Hey!
So the first thing you could do is factory reset the phone and uninstall all updates from Gcam. Try using Camera PX as well. If you still get the problem, then you may have a damage camera.
If you decide to open the phone, I would recommend you try to clean the camera it self, but don't be brute as they are very easy to break. I would use a cotton to clean up the lenses, and then try to see if the issue disappears. If it still don't work you will need to replace it.
About OIS, I don't believe is that. OIS moves slightly the lenses to correct the movements of the hand, so the image is more stable. It has nothing to with autofocus. Both lenses on the Pixel 4 has it.
Let me know how it goes!

#mcl said:
Hey!
So the first thing you could do is factory reset the phone and uninstall all updates from Gcam. Try using Camera PX as well. If you still get the problem, then you may have a damage camera.
If you decide to open the phone, I would recommend you try to clean the camera it self, but don't be brute as they are very easy to break. I would use a cotton to clean up the lenses, and then try to see if the issue disappears. If it still don't work you will need to replace it.
About OIS, I don't believe is that. OIS moves slightly the lenses to correct the movements of the hand, so the image is more stable. It has nothing to with autofocus. Both lenses on the Pixel 4 has it.
Let me know how it goes!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am assuming that the phone is in great shape, no broken glass lenses and things like that. Also, no water damage, because if this isn't the case, then the problem can be other.

Related

Camera not focusing

Before fixing the screen the camera was fine. I have put the phone back together but noticed the camera doesn't focus. What is that little bit of metal that surrounds the camera, it kind of looks like and earth of some description. After fixing the back on, I have noticed that I forgot that part, the phone works apart from the camera.
sounds like you messed up somehow at installing the cam.
a) try another camera app, to figure out if it's a hard- or software failure.
b) if it still doesn't focus on the other app, you gotta open up your device again and find the faulty spot. Sadly, I do have not a clue what you mean by "earth of some description"

Camera switch problem

Hi.
Ever since I received the latest update (.153), my phone does not switch the camera to the 5x all the time. It only changes, 100% of the time, when I press on the 10x zoom.
I have a hard time explaining, basically what I want to say is: When I press the 5x zoom button the app stays on the main sensor and doesn't use the 5x one all the time, only sometimes.
Try to go to settings>apps>storage and then clear data, it should fix it, otherwise, go to the service center.
Or maybe your subject is too close or you do have a low light environment
Just checked mine and it works 100% okay, so it's not a "global" bug.
IamNumber25 said:
Try to go to settings>apps>storage and then clear data, it should fix it, otherwise, go to the service center.
Or maybe your subject is too close or you do have a low light environment
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it happens only in low light and also when its too close, but still, why?
When I tried outside(in the night) it still used the main sensor, but when I tried using the x10, it was sharper than the main sensor at x5, so I dont understand their logic.
Robert- said:
Well, it happens only in low light and also when its too close, but still, why?
When I tried outside(in the night) it still used the main sensor, but when I tried using the x10, it was sharper than the main sensor at x5, so I dont understand their logic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because focusing has minimum required distance, maybe at least 2m-3m when you use 5x optical zoom to properly focus on the subject (Even DSLR/Mirrorless lenses has it). Also, it will shift to main sensor at night because it has only 3.5 Aperture and it will be too dark if it will use it compared to 1.6 aperture of the main camera. Same how samsung uses its telephoto lens at night, it will automatically shift to main sensor.
In contrast, 10x zoom uses hybrid zoom which uses both the periscope lens and the main camera. So far, my device is good in lowlight even I use 5x zoom, I think you just need to focus it firmly before taking photos
I've noticed the very same issue after .153 with mine, I've cleaned data for camera and reset it to default which immediately fixed the issue, but now it's happening again... and not always, it seems like it just can't switch to other camera module... when needed (5x only) both for video or photo... really strange... Mine is from UAE...
Yeah, same here... But I can't even fix the issue.
It keeps struggling with 5x zoom.
When it starts focusing, often a noticable switch (different camera module?) to a much noisier image occurs.
Also with zooming in from 1,1x to 4,9x I have no image stabilization...
I hope they can sort this out with future updates.
For now I have to use 5,1x zoom or 10x zoom for a clean image with stabilization.
Can anyone confirm that behaviour?

Telephoto camera issue

Hello Guys,
I seem to have a strange "software" issue when taking photos with the camera in live focus mode or phtoto at 2x optical zoom, a strange mark seems to appear when using the telephoto lens, see attached photo.
I know there no stain on my lens as the mark seems to disappear when rotating phone downwards and would appear again once phone is rotated to original position!
Anyone else have this issue?
I am on latest july security update (noticed on June update as well) on UK firmware, XEU.
Issue resolved after performing a factory reset.
I can only presume that the issue may have occurred due to dirty flashing the monthly updates with substratum overlays?
android_htc said:
Issue resolved after performing a factory reset.
I can only presume that the issue may have occurred due to dirty flashing the monthly updates with substratum overlays?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suspect a dirty lens more than that a dirty flash(lol).
you might have something under the lense glass... and it just went away. if you shake ure phone maybe it will come back?
bober10113 said:
I suspect a dirty lens more than that a dirty flash(lol).
you might have something under the lense glass... and it just went away. if you shake ure phone maybe it will come back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As detailed in the original post, I called it a "software" issue as the mark would temporarily disappear if I pointed the phone downwards and re-appear in exactly the same spot.
Edit: first reaction was obviously to thoroughly clean the lens and issue was still there!
But anyway, all good now after the reset.
It's likely that your phone switched back to the primary lens due to a change in lighting conditions when you pointed it downward, which made the speck of dirt on the telephoto lens temporarily disappear from view.
android_htc said:
As detailed in the original post, I called it a "software" issue as the mark would temporarily disappear if I pointed the phone downwards and re-appear in exactly the same spot.
Edit: first reaction was obviously to thoroughly clean the lens and issue was still there!
But anyway, all good now after the reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i did say UNDER the lens glass so cleaning it would mean opening the device. but it really looks like some sort of plastic. the lense is actualy loose if you shake your phone a bit with the camera off, you will feel it move. so either the lense housing had some sort of plastic flake from the molding during fabrication that wasn't cleant properly or some other foreign object is in there and is moving around.if it would have been a digital thing, i wouldn't have expected a shape that is rounded like that and isbjustbin one spot instead of a whole line or lines. but anyways if its gone now then good. if it comes back consider you might have a floatie in the device.
I have had the phone for 9-10 months and only noticed the issue after the last two security updates.
I am convinced that it was a software issue. For example, if I am not wrong, the telephoto lens is used during 2x optical zoom and in live focus mode only. During testing the mark would temporarily disappear when pointing the phone in a downward or upward motion, and then it would re-appear after a few seconds (2x mode mode only).
Also, the mark would re-appear only after a few second when it was back in normal position in 2x optical mode.
Strangely, in live focus mode the mark would not disappear and it was there all the time.
I should have recorded a video to show the behaviour, but since I did not get any response initially, I decided to do a factory reset to confirm if my suspicion was correct.
Note: The mark disappeared straight away after a software factory reset which involved just holding the phone in my hands and going through the software process...prior to that the mark would not disappear no matter what I did!
Anyway, thank you for your responses.

How fix Face ID after replace front camera?

Hello. How to get FaceID to work after replacing the camera module. Are there ways?
I didn't think the front camera had anything to do with face unlock, it's the Soli module that does face unlock.
m+a+r+k said:
I didn't think the front camera had anything to do with face unlock, it's the Soli module that does face unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's just that the module changes entirely)
OEM Front Camera for Google Pixel 4 XL
OEM Front Camera for Google Pixel 4 XL -Brand new and original Front Camera replacement. -Compatible with Google Pixel 4 XL only. -If you suffer problems of not working, blurry, out of focus, camera flash or stopped working, you need to get a new secondary camera for replacement. Here this new...
www.witrigs.com
Front camera work now. soli work. But face id broken (Certificate expired)
I have seen records that after replacing the camera module or motherboard, such a problem arises. But there are not many of them, either people do not bother, or there is a way to restore everything) It is desirable without sending to Google
I suppose you've done a factory reset?
Clear system cache on boot menu.
Do a hard reboot (not reset!)
Clear data of all associated apks including probably Android Services.
blackhawk said:
Clear system cache on boot menu.
Do a hard reboot (not reset!)
Clear data of all associated apks including probably Android Services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but please you can write detailed instructions? I try factory reset, i try flash android 10 march, may, android 11 December, but any firmware certificate expired (
maksimbl4 said:
Thanks, but please you can write detailed instructions? I try factory reset, i try flash android 10 march, may, android 11 December, but any firmware certificate expired (
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you did a hard reset than what I said is irrelevant.
blackhawk said:
If you did a hard reset than what I said is irrelevant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a pity(
So the cam module's firmware version isn't compatible with the system firmware version?
Sounds like the damn modular car computer systems... a horror story.
I teardown my 4xl and replace rear camera module. After assembling it again, rear camera worked fine, but front camera and faceid cannot work. My phone cannot detect front camera. It show black screen when flipping from rear to front camera.
WHAT I DID:
1. Factory reset -> not work
2. Flash various factory firmware-> not work
3. Changed another whole front camera + sensor module -> not work.
Please help.
Thanks.
kisirong2501 said:
I teardown my 4xl and replace rear camera module. After assembling it again, rear camera worked fine, but front camera and faceid cannot work. My phone cannot detect front camera. It show black screen when flipping from rear to front camera.
WHAT I DID:
1. Factory reset -> not work
2. Flash various factory firmware-> not work
3. Changed another whole front camera + sensor module -> not work.
Please help.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems the problem is physical... hopefully.
Closely inspect the ribbon cables and contacts of the front cam for damage or misalignment.
Use magnification as needed.
Make sure any ground points to this module were not overlooked. A longer screw perhaps?
The chassis is aluminum so that is a potential grounding point for mounted components like the front cam.
You did disconnect the battery first, right?
I looked at the tear down vid... I feel your pain.
Just like iPhones parts
pixels parts are married to the motherboard each part has a special SN number the motherboard will require
replacing them may cause a problem
coliotte said:
Just like iPhones parts
pixels parts are married to the motherboard each part has a special SN number the motherboard will require
replacing them may cause a problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So where's it stored? Firmware?
Or does the cam module need to be flashed?
Or both?
The 2006 Dodge Caravan nightmare all over...

Shockingly poor front camera quality

Hi all,
I recently purchased S20 FE 5g (Snapdragon, india) few days back for my wife. The screen of her previous phone Redmi k20 broke after a fall and screen was not available (and even if so it was going to cost around 50-60% of phone's original purchased value. So instead we decided to buy new phone. And after lot of back and forth we settled for S20 FE.
The main camera is good. But the front camera and selfie is really poor for this kind of phone and price. In fact Redmi K20 which was almost half of the price of this one had better front camera.
The photos are grainy and blurry half of the times. And smoothening effect even after turning off all filters. This doesn't have autofocus I am aware. But most of the phones do not have for front camera.
Night mode and Gcam improves it somewhat but overall very disappointing front camera.
I checked with service centre and they mentioned there are no hardware or software issues. So I cannot get any return or refund as well.
Shockingly very few reviewers mentioned the issues with front camera and overall camera reviews were good. Now after doing some research see many users complaining about front camera. Seen some posts here and many on reddit as well. My 3 years old Pixel 3xl takes miles better photos and even almost 2.5 years old Redmi K20 was better in front camera marginally which was almost half of the price.
Given S20 FE was released almost 1 and half years back I do not have any hope of fixing the front camera by software updates from Samsung (they would have already done by now)
Or if anyone here have any idea if the front camera can be improved by some tweaks? (already tried night mode and gcam which are better but anything for normal shots?)
Have a look at Open Camera .... https://opencamera.org.uk/
Thread here :
[APP][4.0.3+] Open Camera
Open Camera is an Open Source camera app for Android that I've been working on. Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.sourceforge.opencamera Or install APK directly from...
forum.xda-developers.com
xabu said:
Have a look at Open Camera .... https://opencamera.org.uk/
Thread here :
[APP][4.0.3+] Open Camera
Open Camera is an Open Source camera app for Android that I've been working on. Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.sourceforge.opencamera Or install APK directly from...
forum.xda-developers.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it better than the stock camera?
stock camera and stock camera app are two completely different things. Sometimes custom apps perform better.
You should look at it, then you can decide. I have the luck that I did not buy the same phone..
I bought the S20 FE and back then there was a screen bug that was enough for the seller to take the phone back - you'd have to search for the thread but it involves multi-touch on the screen.
There's an app you can DL to check it but it shows as when you do multi-touch swipes the screen malfunctions. Might work with your retailer as a faulty phone?
I would return it.
Try clearing the system cache and cam data first.
If the cam app has been updated, roll back to factory loaded version.
Also try in safe mode to rule out a 3rd party app causing the issue.
Journyman16 said:
I bought the S20 FE and back then there was a screen bug that was enough for the seller to take the phone back - you'd have to search for the thread but it involves multi-touch on the screen.
There's an app you can DL to check it but it shows as when you do multi-touch swipes the screen malfunctions. Might work with your retailer as a faulty phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. I am unable to find out the app. Could you share the link?
blackhawk said:
I would return it.
Try clearing the system cache and cam data first.
If the cam app has been updated, roll back to factory loaded version.
Also try in safe mode to rule out a 3rd party app causing the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried the first and 3rd suggestions but same result. Second one means factory reset?
rockrahul said:
Tried the first and 3rd suggestions but same result. Second one means factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's better to find the root cause. A factory reset is the last option. It's used after a major firmware upgrade, if a poorly written app alters hidden user settings or in the case of malware.
Problem being is you never learn what the root cause was... if the issue reappears in the future.
In the long run a conservative troubleshooting approach wastes less of your time. Use factory reset as a last ditch option. Always clear the system cache before you go full nuke as it can fix many strange glitches.
Also try a hard reboot (simulates pulling battery).
Did you do any firmware upgrades?
Did you use SmartSwitch to help load this phone?
If so factory reset. Do Not use SmartSwitch on the next load...
rockrahul said:
Ok. I am unable to find out the app. Could you share the link?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's called Touch Screen Test - there's a thread on Reddit about it here...
NOTE: Put a www. in front of the addresses and copy them to your browser - if I put the link it posts the entire threads in this post, which seems a bit impolite for others.
reddit.com/r/Galaxy_S20/comments/j6cdu0/s20_fe_5g_smg781bds_has_a_touchscreen_hardware/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
I found another thread that claims it was fixed in updates so check you have the latest firmware also.
reddit.com/r/Galaxy_S20/comments/jau31s/s20_fe_touchscreen_issue_thread/
For me i found that i get the touchscreen issue, more like the glide keyboard plays up
Reboot always fixes it.
And its usually after phone has been on continually for days on end that it acts up
As for the front camera, I agree its poor.
I find i have to add colour to the images and chuck on the warm filter to full to get warmth.
I had the same bad luck of buying this phone. Have been facing the same issue. But there is something surprising I have found in the front camera of this device (S20 FE). See the difference between the photo mode and video mode of Front camera. I found the difference quite noticeable. This confirms that there is nothing wrong with the front camera of this device but definitely with its software. In video mode of Front Camera I see no lag as in photo mode and the camera is as smooth as it could be. Kindly see the difference and do let me know.
Regards
Robin Arora

Categories

Resources