Front Facing Camera Distortion

[PainFX]

i believe this is a lens issue.

 

[Relgoshan]

Finally, another person that see's what I am seeing! I posted a question up on xda forums on the 23rd of april and few had the problem, and a few did not know they had the problem because they did not know how to angle their camera properly to get this distortion. Some claimed it is because front facing camera is widescreen and it has a distorted effect on purpose.. I call bs... looks like a defect. Also when you change the front camera to 1.6 or 1 mp or even .3 MP you will not get this distortion...

What are we going to do about this? I am hoping that Samsung Will pick up on it and maybe roll out with an update.. But little know about this distortion problem.

the forum is forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2728906 if you would like to check it out.

The S5 front camera I believe does not use a perfect rescaler. I think on the lower rez you mayyy be using a smaller area of the sensor, which would avoid some edge distortion.

 

[Rev2010]

I have it too on mine. It appears to be typical barrel distortion (fisheye lens) to get a wider field of view. In the middle of the screen my face look normal but does stretch and warp at the top and bottom. For me it makes zero difference since 1) I don't take "selfies", 2) I wouldn't take a vertical pic, turn the thing landscape and you won't have the problem 3) I never really Skype on my phone and if I do I have no problem centering my face or holding it landscape and 4) You can reduce the warping affect by changing the picture size to something lower than the default 2 megapixels. I tried the other modes and they stretch a lot less. I would guess it's because the front lens is wide angle and when you use a lower resolution, just like in my GoPro camera, a smaller portion (ie. middle) of the sensor is used so there's less distortion. Anyhow, if you're taking selfies turning it sideways appears to work best.


Rev.

 

[Christopher David2]

I noticed this immediately while messing around with the phone after I first bought it, but didn't really care because I don't take tons of selfie's and depending on the angle the picture looked normal if you moved the phone around just so....

BUT now there is another issue that just developed. Again since I don't even really use the front facing camera often I just noticed it. A portion of the frame is blacked out now as if there is something blocking the lens. It is not the screen protector. The phone is less than three months old, it has a case protector on it, and I have not dropped the phone further than my lap to the floor.

 

[monicakm]

Christopher David, there is another thread on this forum where someone says a "ring" around the front facing camera has slipped and is partially covering the lens. I can't detect a "ring" around my front camera. He posted a picture and it seems this object is inside (under the screen) but it has slipped and is creating a partially blacked out image.
http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5/394754-galaxy-s5-front-camera-ring-piece-loose-defective.html

 

[tobbeboi]

Got my S5 today in discovered this, its extremely annoying and will return the phone if i there is more people that have normal cameras, otherwise perhaps change to a Sony Z2

 

[Relgoshan]

So I have examined several phones at multiple carrier stores now. Compared to previous models the S5 has a very large capture area similar to a security peephole. Because all of the parts are so tiny, they used a primitive micro wide angle lens to increase the viewport. There is nothing that can be done other than to use a lower quality and lower rez picture.

I am very grateful for my Flex's feature of using the rear camera to take a selfie or a couples' photo. Much higher quality than a front camera. The front camera on the Flex is more normal and covers a smaller area but without the edge distortion.

On the other hand I have no idea what HTC was thinking when they paired a 4mpix easily overexposed rear camera with a 5mpix grainy front camera....one has no margin left for zoom or edit and the other has compromised light sensitivity. I mean it plainly makes sense to use a fine sensor on the side with a lamp, and a more receptive low rez sensor on the side without a lamp.

I appreciate Sammy trying something new with the camera but I feel the next Galaxy S will have a narrower field on the front camera again....

 

[Nur Bayaa]

I believe this may be an issue on all devices. It seems like the issue is prominent when taking close up photos. The issue affects the top ~15% of the screen and the bottom ~15%. The only purpose of having a front facing camera is for the ease of selfie shots.

If you can provide photos of this NOT occurring, please let me know. If I can resolve this by replacing my unit, I will. View attachment 114831View attachment 114832

Put your front camera on, select settings on top left, scroll down to crop setting and select "regular"... Problem solved!

 

[Isabel Lieb]

I can't seem to find crop setting...

I know that if you put the picture size to 1:1, it's mostly normal, but I don't really want to take square pics every time.

 

[goaten]

I can't seem to find crop setting...

I know that if you put the picture size to 1:1, it's mostly normal, but I don't really want to take square pics every time.

Whaaaaat you use front facing camera for other things than instagram selfies???

On topic:
I have this extremely annoying issue on my HTC One M8 GPE as well. It is not nearly as bad as some of your hilarious results but overall my front facing pictures have this terrible fish-eye look to them.
Here are my results, I hope you don't mind the bad settings:

 

[Michele Conroy Robitaille]

Normal

Sent from my SM-G900T using AC Forums mobile app

 

[1Coopgt]

Oh dear .

 

[Delson Villamor]

did it work? or does it still distort? because i have the same problem and its my 2nd s5 also a friend of mine has it too

 

[Joli Banham]

Please help!!! My front camera is seriousky distorted on my sony xperia z2... Its been like it since the day i got.it and i only got it about a month ago. If anyone can help me to fix this it would be great

 

[Anna Zussinator]

i am dying of laughter I thought I was the only one. made my forehead HUGE LOL

 

[Abby Williams]

i had the same problem, but was able to fix it (sort of).

originally, the photo size in the settings was at the biggest option, making the pictures distorted.



when you click on the settings thing in the top left while your camera is open, picture size should be on the left. if you make it smaller, there's still a little bit of distortion but it's less obnoxious.

 

[SaltyDog85]

I just created an account to reply to your statement. This is the same exact thing I have. I am looking at the front facing camera and it looks great. I snap the photo and all of a sudden, the photo is distorted. It is completely frustrating.

 

[meowiartea]

I have the same problem!!!

 

[meowiartea]

Seriously. I should have returned the phone. Cant figure out how to fix this

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Guilherme Marques]

Same thing on my S5.
I hope they make an update with an option of having it wide or normal.
It really bothers me.