Why are there smudges on my photographs?

[Android Central Question]

Got battery replaced on my S10. When I got it back from the shop, I noticed the rear camera pictures have smudges. Took it back and they said they opened it up again, cleaned the lens, etc. but the smudges are still there! What could it be?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Can you show us some sample shots? You'll need to register in order to post images: Join the Android Central Community! - Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com

 

[Laura Knotek]

Do you see the smudges when you view the photos elsewhere, such as on a computer monitor?

 

[ranjit73]

I should have clarified that the smudges are present when I open the camera even before I take a pic. Only for the main camera, not the wide angle one. On further research, it looks like some dust may have got on to the image sensor. Hoping if it is opened back up it can be blown away. Does this make sense? I have set up an account here but I can't see how to post pics. I'm on the website. Do I need to download the app for that?

 

[ranjit73]

I set up link sharing from my phone (links valid until Sept 13) for 2 pics:
https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/eBkDf1zFh5Ru
https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/pHt9JRbyK8F3

 

[belodion]

A single dark smudge appeared in photos on one of my phones. I guessed it was a speck of dust or water on the back of the lens. I considered replacing the camera module, since I had a spare, but after some time, the speck, whatever it was, disappeared.

Opening a camera module to remove dust would be difficult; it would be easier to replace the module.

 

[ranjit73]

So it wouldn't be possible to blow air on to the image sensor by just opening the back cover of the phone? One would need to remove the camera module and open it to do this? That would certainly make it more difficult. I posted links to pictures a few hours ago, but they have not been published - a pop up came saying that they will need to be approved by a moderator. Is that the procedure for links in a post?

 

[B. Diddy]

I approved that post with the image links -- those kinds of links often trigger automatic flagging in the forum software.

I'd bring the phone back to the shop and show them the photos. Maybe the spots or debris are on the inside of the protective camera glass, rather than on the camera lens itself.

 

[smvim]

It might help determine just what is causing this 'smudging' issue if you look at the cameras in your S10 from a different perspective. They are not like a typical handheld camera we typically have used for decades, a camera module in a smartphone is essentially an electronic component, its specific purpose requiring in integral light sensor and fixed lens. This camera replacement guide on the iFixit site includes a lot of graphics that show the actual camera modules in your model:
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Samsung+Galaxy+S10+Rear-Facing+Camera+Module+Replacement/121825
It's not a matter of just taking the back off your phone and blowing on the lens. You need to disassemble your phone to just get to the camera modules, which is a project itself and it's vital to do this taking into account that reassembling your phone isn't a trivial task at all -- there are lots of glues and adhesive to work past in the tear-down process, those same glues and adhesives you have to reapply during the reassembly process. Plus you have waterproofing seals that need to be replaced in order to retain your S10's IP68 rating. But all that aside, you won't be just 'blowing dust off the sensor', it's an internal part of the module itself.

Odds are there's something else causing this problem. If you take a photo and post it here that might reveal something useful to determine what the problem might be.
Do you have your S10 in a case? Is the part the matches the camera location covered by anything (plastic or glass shield) or is it an actual opened gap?

 

[ranjit73]

Diddy: I did take the phone back to the shop and showed them the situation. They took it back in, said they opened it back again, cleaned both sides of the glass on the cover and the lens (i.e. everything that could be cleaned) and looked at it under a microscope. No change! Which is why I suspect it is on the image sensor. Though I am perplexed how anything could have got on to the image sensor (in the process of the battery being changed) if it is hard to reach .

SMvim: See pics in my post # 5 above. The lens is actually accessible (staring right at you!) when you open the back cover. You can see that in Step 9 of the link you provided. But I didn't know where the sensor was - if it's internal to the module, then it certainly is hard to access. But as I mentioned, how did dust or something get in there then? Yes, the phone is in a case with cut-out gap for the camera. I've taken it out of the case as well (to give it to the shop for the repair), so can safely rule out the case.

 

[belodion]

So it wouldn't be possible to blow air on to the image sensor by just opening the back cover of the phone? One would need to remove the camera module and open it to do this? That would certainly make it more difficult. I posted links to pictures a few hours ago, but they have not been published - a pop up came saying that they will need to be approved by a moderator. Is that the procedure for links in a post?

I hadn’t seen your pictures before I posted above. My black smudge was nothing like yours. I cannot now find the photo I have showing it clearly, but it wouldn’t help you anyway. Your smudges look watery. I can’t imagine what might cause that, unless perhaps a steamy environment or water immersion. They seem to be on the sensor itself. I think that replacement of the entire camera module would be the best cure.

In my case, tapping the phone smartly to dislodge the presumed speck, and warming the phone to evaporate it on the assumption that it might be a tiny water droplet, had no effect.

 

[ranjit73]

Definitely no water immersion. I was ruling out water/moisture because the marks have been there for 8 days now and haven't changed at all. Most of the marks look like circles, but one (left middle) looks like it's been rubbed. I wonder whether this means anything. One possibility that has come to my mind is whether heating the inside to remove the old adhesive stuck on there may have damaged the image sensor (but only on one of 3 cameras) in some way.

 

[belodion]

I think it would be worth seeking the opinion of either the device manufacturer, or the sensor manufacturer. If you decide to, please let us know what they say.

 

[smvim]

Ahhh, OK now I see your posted pics. My error.
Looking at those circular smudges, they do appear to be in a fixed location that's repeating. If they were randomly positioned or something like that it might be more of a software issue but this does look to be a physical, hardware issue with either the camera module in the phone or its lens. But whatever the cause, if you didn't have this smudging problem before you had it repaired and this all started only after you got your phone back from them, the repair is the service center's responsibility to fix. Hopefully they're not charging you anything extra to fix this.

 

[ranjit73]

Belodion: No idea how I can get in touch with the device (Samsung) or sensor (Samsung too?) manufacturer to ask them. Product is not under warranty (2 years old).
Smvim: The service shop said they've done what they could and need to research further to see what the issue may be. My working guess right now is that when they removed the old adhesive stuck inside, some bits/dust flew on to the image sensor (maybe they were trying to blow the crud away). They are not charging me extra, but at the same time I don't want them to hate me by having to incur a lot of extra time/expense to solve it. And from their point of view, it's not like I showed them the camera was working perfectly before I handed it in. I can still take pics by shifting to wide angle mode (0.5x) as that camera is unaffected.

 

[Mike Dee]

I set up link sharing from my phone (links valid until Sept 13) for 2 pics:
https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/eBkDf1zFh5Ru
https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/pHt9JRbyK8F3

That looks different than the images I have seen with dust on a sensor

 

[ranjit73]

@Mike Dee, thanks. Any idea what it may be then?

 

[Mike Dee]

@Mike Dee, thanks. Any idea what it may be then?

Not sure what it could be but trying to remove dust or other debris from sensors on conventional cameras with air doesn't usually work because you can introduce other debris when trying to blow it out. More than likely you need a new camera module. If it was caused during the battery replacement they should fix it for you. Not sure how you can prove it was OK prior to replacement unless you have photos on the phone dated before the replacement with no issues.

 

[ranjit73]

Yes, I do have photographs until a few days prior, but not until the moment I handed it in! I agree that replacing the camera module is looking like the solution, but it is not easy (see post #9 above for a link to the steps) and I have to weigh the risk of something else going wrong in that process. Alternative is to live with not having a usable main camera (can use wide angle camera if necessary) and then replace the phone with the latest/greatest (Pixel?) that comes out in the fall!