Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Hi guys

I've noticed recently the focus on my N900 seems not to be working - using the standard camera app when I half press the camera button (to start the autofocus) the usually focusing signs are given, i.e. the reticle flashes and either turns green or red, but the image is constantly out of focus regardless.

I tried used fcamera to alter the focus manually, but nothing changes despite what value I choose.

This all leads me to think it's a hardware fault, is it possible to break just the "focusing" part of the phone's camera? As the camera still actually takes and saves photos...they're just all out of focus!

Any advice/ideas on how to fix it?

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Update - All other functions (ISO, WB) save focus work in FCam, and I've tried uninstalling FCam/BlessN900 which didn't help either.

My N900 is over 18 months old now (am I correct to assume the warranty is only 12 months?) so I guess I'll have to deal with blurry photos!

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

mine started doing this roughly a month ago, works fine in fcam and bless however the fine focus on the default seems to be missing.

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Kracken, just check the guaranty. In many cases, it's 24 months./

Anyway, I follow this thread since beginning - like, I suppose, many other people do - but, unfortunately, I can't help. I've never heard about such a problem on N900. At last resort, You could try restoring backup from state where it worked (via backupmenu, stock bakcuping utility wont do and it's just a waste of time), or re-flashing completely. Usualy I don't recommend this, but your problem seems hardware'ish - would be good to filter out possible software issued, before proceeding with hardware.

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

I've got this problem too , if with BlessN900 works fine and with default camera application not , then it's a software problem . Any idea ?

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Try to cleaning the lens, might be worth removing the back cover first and then clean it.

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

24 month warranty

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

If I remember correctly, Kracken told us already that using fCam libraries (on which BlessN900 is also based on) doesn't allow him to focus.

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Thanks for the advice Estel, I was unaware that backupmenu offered advantages over the inbuilt back up option.

I'll make sure to install it after I reflash for future situations!

And thanks again (and to corduroysack) I didn't know the warranty lasted 2 years! Mine is still within that period, so if the reflash does not work I shall send it for repairs.

Will reply with update after I've reflashed completey

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Just flashed my phone...and sadly camera problem is still present, can't focus at all.

Looks like I'll be sending it in - will update again when I've done so, in case anyone is still interested.

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Of course we are - please report here about outcome. It's no much things more irritating, that "report" being abandoned, when reported think she/he can't get any more useful info from other members ;)

Personally, I really like to gather info/knowledge from other experiences, especially with N900 hardware.

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Got phone returned today - sadly it seems it was unrepairable and I've been given a E7 in return...

Going to try and get a new N900 instead, but from what I've read not everyone has been successful. Thanks for your helps guys nonetheless

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Sell E7, buy second market N900 in ideal condition, stay happy with working N900 + not small amount of money left after transaction. Rinse, and repeat ;)

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Help! My N900 doesn't open its camera. When i open camera lens cover, camera doesn't start and yellow message "invalid command" or something, in finnish (my N900's language is finnish) "toiminto epäonnistui" appears on the screen. What should cause that? Overclocking? (i have overclocked my N900 with cpufrequi at same times). Anyone have same problem?

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

After a heavy rain storm, I can't focus either, or use the focussing button to use the tweak of zooming out to the thumbnails of all open applications. When soft pressing. A hard press works to make a photo, which is out of focus now..

Not sure if it is the button itself I took it apart and alcohol-rubbed it.
But after using Live focus with the keyboard, that works.
So it must be the button, which makes more sense since it is more on the outside. Will dip that again in alcohol and leave in a bucket of rice and update later..

Preferring not to take the lens out...but perhaps I should?

Edit: perhaps I should put it in the oven as I did with the last N900 whose SIM was not working until baking it but that is LAST RESORT

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

Hmm. You might examine the lens closely to see if perhaps some foreign object is blocking it from moving... (For example, a bit of dust or grit stuck in the mechanism.)

Re: Help with N900 Camera - focusing problem
 

1 - dissaembled the N900
2 - pressed with a screwdriver on the metal hedges that are under the shutter button, pressing them a bit more firmly into place
3 - took a q-tip, richly dipped in 96% percent alcohol from the drugstore and dropped some of the fluid around the lens and dipped the part of the motherboard with the shutter button in a cup filled with the liquid.

4 - put it in a box of rice to dry.

5 - being impatient, put the oven on 100 degrees celsius and stuck the motherboard in for 5 minutes (above 130 the plastic keyboard
and the plastic connector around the camera system can and will melt)

6 - took it out, burned a finger, let it cool down

7 - reassembled, stuck a battery in, boot, start camera app

8 - miraculously it works again.