cracked camera lens?

[smileshappy]

So I was looking over my Evo and cleaning the camera lens...

I noticed there is a hairline crack on the lens!! I have it in a bodyglove case. The lens is not resting on any thing. Been very gentle with it. Not really sure how this happened. Has not ben dropped but once(everything was fine then). It's only maybe 2 weeks old..

It doesn't seem to be effecting picture quality or video at all.

Has anyone else had any isues with their camera lens?

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I haven't seen anything else on here like that, but if it's not affecting your picture quality I wouldn't worry about it. Maybe it's a scratch and not a crack.

 

[smileshappy]

Well I took a pic in direct sunlight. No notice in the pic. That is a good thing.

 

[smileshappy]

It is a crack for sure. But the wierd thing is... it looks like it is cracked from the inside. Smooth on the glass if I run my finger over it. This is very wierd. There ia no visible sign of impact. Maybe when it was in my pants pocket I bumped something?
But you would think it would show in the pictures.. It does not. I even took pics of the lights. Thinking the light would refract or something like that. I was going to take to a sprint store... but I think I will hold out.. Seeing how the wait for Evo's are still so long. See if it gets any worse.

 

[DougB541#CB]

heat crack maybe? Don't worry about it, doesn't hurt the pictures.

 

[franky_402]

same here, happened about a week after i got it, sprint told me i damaged my phone i was so pissed off... i didnt just drop 325 to ruin my phone its been babied to hell

 

[smileshappy]

same here, happened about a week after i got it, sprint told me i damaged my phone i was so pissed off... i didnt just drop 325 to ruin my phone its been babied to hell

Has it affected the quality of your pictures any?

 

[DEEmery]

Cheap clear rear lens protect - DESIGN FLAW

This is obviously going to turn into a case where a high percentage of HTC EVOs have a crack in the cheap thin clear plastic lens protector, what were they thinking?

Since getting my Evo, I have been as careful as possible, putting a protective case on my phone along with a shield. I have always done as best a possible to make sure not to have anything sharp in the same pocket as my Evo. I was always worried about the main screen and not getting scratches that I didn't think this would be so vulnerable. Of course it is almost impossible to not end up accidentally getting it in a pocket with keys but then I immediately get them away from the phone. I carried an LG Rumor in my pocket for years with no problem at all.

I noticed a small crack on my rear camera clear cover. When I push down on it a little you can feel it give and realize how actually cheap and flimsy this clear cover is, it isn't even like a tempered glass. This plastic lens cover is so cheap that any minor pressure can and will crack it. I can almost bet you if yours isn't cracked already it will be especially because it protrudes out so far from the case.

I wrote HTC and this was their reponse.


Dear XXXXXXX,

Dear XXXXXXX, Thank you for contacting HTC! We apologize for the issue you are experiencing regarding the rear camera lenses cover being cracked to your EVO device as well as for the quality of the clear covering. We have confirmed that we support your phone for repair and per your serial number you are still within 12 month MFG warranty period.

Our technicians will diagnose your device and determine if repairs needed are in or out of warranty. We can tell you this type of issue is cosmetic and may not be covered under warranty then if so there would be a cost associated that would be approx $75 unless LCD or MB needs replaced then would be more. Please keep in mind our tech will make the final determination if in or out of warranty for repair needed.

Please feel free to contact our Customer Care at 1-877-293-0807 for explanation of repair process and to set up an RMA for repair if desired. When and if you call please have your serial number and DEC number available so we can further assist you. These numbers can be located on a sticker inside the phone after removing the battery in case you were unaware where to find.

Sincerely, HTC Customer Care M-F, 8am ? 8pm EST

I called them and they told me the turn around time is 3 to 4 weeks!!!!! No phone for that long, maybe only to find out they might charge me. I am trying to decide my next move because that is not going to work. I have time because it is under warranty but I think those with EVO's need to make a bit more of a stink about this in every forum.

If you have any luck with a solution please let me know.

 

[motox450r]

I work for a sprint corporate store and it also has a tech center. The camera lens is integrated with the red cover around the battery and we had that piece, because I remember having to get that replaced for a customer, so I would check with a corp sprint store w/ a tech center.

 

[Darth Mo]

It is a crack for sure. But the wierd thing is... it looks like it is cracked from the inside. Smooth on the glass if I run my finger over it. This is very wierd. There ia no visible sign of impact. Maybe when it was in my pants pocket I bumped something?
But you would think it would show in the pictures.. It does not. I even took pics of the lights. Thinking the light would refract or something like that. I was going to take to a sprint store... but I think I will hold out.. Seeing how the wait for Evo's are still so long. See if it gets any worse.

The plastic thing isn't actually part of the lens, it's just a protector. The actual lens is the the little circle inside that's ~1/8" wide.

But front element cracks/scratches/dust in lenses generally don't affect the image on most cameras. This is an "infamous" case:

LensRentals.com - Front Element Scratches

 

[smileshappy]

So far has not gotten any worse. No notice in pic quality.

At this point just annoys me knowing it is there.

 

[franky_402]

same here, if anything it seems like it doesnt always want to auto focus the best, sometimes i actually have to tell it where to focus depending on the conditions!!! that could just be normal tho

 

[sprintgirl]

If a service and repair center doesnt fix it for free i saw this really cool trick on youtube where the guy went to wallyworld and asked for a used disposable camera and harvested the lense from it since the store just throws them away they don't mind handing them out. He said he used a bench grinder to resize it and some clear tape to hold it in place. I'm sure if you search you will find it and this other guy's crafty idea to use an old watch battery packaging as a "lense protector" ...not my ideas but thought this information might be helpful in your situation.

 

[rem_kujawa]

If you find a back on eBay you could just use that lens and ring, you can just peel them off with a finger nail.

 

[2johnt]

PROTECT YOUR CAMERA LENS FROM CRACKS........
I purchased the Seidio HEV4 carrying case and then went to Home Depot and purchased a black rubber #10 "O" ring in the plumbing department. The "O" rings come in a pack of ten for $2.39. I took superglue and glued the "O" ring to the back of my phone. The #10 size "O" ring fits perfectly around the camera lens. Also the Seidio HEV4 case is the only case I have found that will then fit perfectly around the "O" ring. The "O" ring barely sticks out beyond the camera lens and Seidio HEV4 case so now when I lay my phone down, the "O" ring keeps the camera lens from touching. With the "O" ring being made of black rubber, it looks like part of the case. I have had several people tell me that it looks like it came from HTC. Looks GREAT & works GREAT!

 

[smileshappy]

I wonder what kind of pictures our camera would take with that cheap plastic lens cover off? Maybe be better?

 

[packerbacker]

same here, happened about a week after i got it, sprint told me i damaged my phone i was so pissed off...

I went through 6 hardware failures on my Moto Droids and every time I went in there I got lectured like a 6 year old about how I didn't know how to take care of my phone, until they tried to fix it and were like, "Oh. This is a hardware failure. Sorry." I paid good money for my first Droid and there's no way I don't take care of it. Every single time my phone broke it was a hardware malfunction caused by NOTHING that I did. I know how that feels. People in the retail stores are jerks. Sprint and Verizon.

 

[derek5l]

that sucks