Note 4 Camera/Focus Problem

[Haalcyon]

Just got my Note 4 last Friday and when I launch the camera it won't focus right away even when selecting an object for it to focus on. It takes about a good 10 seconds for it to finally start focusing and is then fine. I just uninstalled Instagram and launched the camera again and it focused right away, will have to keep an eye on it. I upgraded from an S5 as I wanted the larger screen and the focus on that phone was immediate and very responsive. I'm on AT&T.

This seems to be a common problem. I had to have my Note 4 exchanged.

 

[x5liang]

Found a silly solution. After opening Camera app on the Note 4, just give your phone a good shake, everything will be in focus. I don't know why but it works for my and another friend's Note 4.

Cheers,

 

[dmitri_sc]

Those who are facing the problem can try exchanging their phone for a newer version H/W Rev1.1

 

[Ed Maquiling]

I had the same problem (My note 4 is 3 weeks old). Read all the tips, tricks and solutions that people had in this thread and I tried everything (safe mode, shaking, tapping of the back camera lens, turning off and on different camera modes). I even decided to visit Samsung service center but I wasn't able to do it because I gave it a little time if I can fix it by myself and I did. Shaking and tapping are the ones that helped me resolve my problem though I did shake my phone most of the time. Give your note 4 a break for a while and it will just suddenly come back. Hope it helps.

 

[wookiee2cu]

As a last ditch effort I backed everything up and did a factory reset, for now it seems to have done the trick. Originally it would take my phone about 10 seconds to focus on anything regardless if I tapped on objects to focus on or let the phone try to focus by itself; now I launch the camera and it focuses within 1-2 seconds without taping the screen to select an object. I'll keep testing it over the next 2 days as tomorrow will be one week of owning the phone, if it's still wonky I'll go in and exchange it.

 

[mattopotamus]

I just returned mine for this very problem. I don't use my camera a lot, but it is a deal breaker until it is fixed. I shouldn't have to shake my camera to get it to work.

 

[LukinM26]

Hallo everyone,
I just bought my Note 4 in the Czech Republic - it´s Europe International version with Snapdragon processor branded as N910F and I have the same problems. Short distances are great sharp, but if I try to take a pic of some mountains (longer distances outside) or etc, the pictures are blurry. My previous Note 3 was 100% better. I tried everything - factory reset 2x, flashing firmware via Odin, all without success. I dont know, if its a software problem, I hope, it is. For my region there is only one version of firmware, so I can not flash the older/newer one and try it.

Did you try flash another firmware, if your region has more versions?

(My friend bought one at the same time in same shop and his camera is great)

 

[adock22096]

Hallo everyone,
I just bought my Note 4 in the Czech Republic - it´s Europe International version with Snapdragon processor branded as N910F and I have the same problems. Short distances are great sharp, but if I try to take a pic of some mountains (longer distances outside) or etc, the pictures are blurry. My previous Note 3 was 100% better. I tried everything - factory reset 2x, flashing firmware via Odin, all without success. I dont know, if its a software problem, I hope, it is. For my region there is only one version of firmware, so I can not flash the older/newer one and try it.

Did you try flash another firmware, if your region has more versions?

(My friend bought one at the same time in same shop and his camera is great)

I had the same problem with my first note 4. There's something causing the sensor to get stuck but only on some phones. I was able to get my cell carrier to replace mine after some complaining. The new one is perfect.

 

[z06mike]

Went back to the t-Mobile store. They told me they won't replace it since it is outside the 2 week window (4 weeks-I was very busy and thought it was me doing something wrong until I spent a lot of time researching it this weekend). The will ship it to Samsung but want $20 from me. I bought a lot of phones at this particular store in the last 8 months. Won't be going back there again. just got off the phone with Samsung and they sent me a label to ship it back. Won't be buying Samsung phones again either. This is a widespread problem and the people I have spoken with at Samsung have never heard of it. $750 for this phone :-(. Never again!

You have a 1 year warranty with Samsung and it should be replaced through T-mobile. I would say try a different store next time you have an issue. With Verizon, I can call the 800 number or go to a store and if they aren't able to fix the issue, they will send a new (refurb) phone out to me. I believe this is the same with all the major carriers. You may have just gotten a lazy individual.

 

[wookiee2cu]

I reset mine to factory yesterday and it seemed to be fine, I grabbed it this morning and opened up the camera and the problem was back. Decided to just go back to AT&T to exchange it, I showed the gal what it was doing and it took 11 seconds before the thing would lock focus. She reset the camera settings and told me I should try it for a few days to see if that did the trick since I have 14 days to return it. I explained I had already tried that and a factory reset and just wanted to exchange it. She was more than happy to help with the exchange and the new unit locks focus in one second, happy user now. If you are having issues and tried a factory reset just take it back for an exchange.

 

[Jane Zeok]

I have the same problem, no matter what I try. ONE time only, it finally focused clearly after about a million (well, maybe 10) tries. MOST annoying. I will go to my local ATT store and see if one of them can help.

 

[mkanet]

I was able to figure out a permanent fix. The solution requires root permissions to add an extra line in build.prop and reboot. See my post on the XDA forum thread for a little more detail..
This forum doesnt let me post urls.
//forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=58706377&postcount=32

 

[Matthew Campbell5]

I have tmobile as well and have the same problem. If I shake the phone repeatedly then it comes into focus

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[nasc2k]

Confirming what a previous poster in this thread mentioned, giving the camera a good shake seems to fix the gyroscope sensors and makes focus work properly.

 

[Haalcyon]

Confirming what a previous poster in this thread mentioned, giving the camera a good shake seems to fix the gyroscope sensors and makes focus work properly.

Yeah, but I wonder if constantly shaking the phone will eventually lead to some other problem.

from the venerable Note 3π

 

[Sadfasdf Sadfsadf]

i found the fix....simply tap the screen and a circle focus will show up, press and hold the center of that circle and the camera will be focus clearer and no more blurriness

 

[Ocacharro]

I was able to figure out a permanent fix. The solution requires root permissions to add an extra line in build.prop and reboot. See my post on the XDA forum thread for a little more detail..
This forum doesnt let me post urls.
//forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=58706377&postcount=32

Has anyone else verified if this method works with their Rooted Note 4?
1. Disabling sensor power saving by editing build.prop and entering ro.ril.sensor.sleep.control=0
2. Reboot
3. select camera "Manage Modes"; and, only select "Virtual Tour"

I would try this method, but I'm hesitant to root my phone unless I know this method works.

 

[bastien#WN]

I have tried it and it didn't work. I have the focusing issue on stock rom, stock rooted, cm 12 and any other rom I throw at it.

Now I reset my phone back to stock rom, unrooted, deleted everything off my phone getting it ready for T-Mobile and...

it now focuses instantly without any fixes.

I am going to take a wild guess and say that deleting a few GB's of photos did the trick. Who knows?

 

[wookiee2cu]

For some reason I envision the phone flying out of folks hands and cracking the screen. Honestly you shouldn't have to do this with a $600+ device, I'd take it to the store and show them and get it exchanged.

 

[Haalcyon]

For some reason I envision the phone flying out of folks hands and cracking the screen. Honestly you shouldn't have to do this with a $600+ device, I'd take it to the store and show them and get it exchanged.

This. I feel like nowhere near as many people should be having this issue on a device with this price tag. Fortunately, when my first Note 4 had this issue AT&T exchanged it for my current flawless unit without hesitation. I was NOT a happy camper at all when I first discovered the issue and how many other folks were having it. I mean, it's not like its a $50 device.

from the cutting Note Edge