[Q] My Camera Is Now Completely Useless. - Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

For some God forsaken reason, the camera in my N5 is a pile of crap. Let me list the issues:
(Note I'm using the stock Google Camera app and have tried CM Focal with identical results).
Switching from Rear to Front camera takes a stupid amount of time, usually winds up crashing the Camera app altogether.
Switching from Camera to Video results in a grey bar, 1/10th the width of the screen, spanning the entire length of the right side of the screen. The app usually crashes after this.
Videos usually can't record, the screen freezes, forcing me to hit the back or home button.
When videos do record, they're corrupt and cant be played on any windows machine or in any program.
Sound quality is laughable. (wasn't when I first bought the phone with 4.4.2 on it)
Snapchat usually can't even launch the camera and asks to restart the app. Usually results in me having to reboot the phone.
When the camera does work in Snapchat, pictures come out fine, but switching cameras usually reproduces the issue mentioned above. Videos, however record only 50% of the time. The times they dont, the screen freezes, resulting me having to restart the app.
When videos do actually record in Snapchat they have about a 50/50 of being unable to be played back, resulting in the error message: "Can't play this video".
On rare occasions, using the camera in Snapchat results in the screen flickering rapidly for a few seconds and then the phone reboots... The last time this occured it wiped all the data to Facebook, Snapchat, and EvolveSMS.
These symptoms exist in both Vanilla KitKat 4.4.4 and CM11 (Snapshot M8). Yes, I have reinstalled Snapchat. I've also tried toggling on/off HDR+ to no avail.
My Camera is basically useless and it's extremely annoying. It has even caused crashes that have wiped data from my phone. Hardware related? Software related? I'm really at a loss here... Any help is appreciated.

Well first try a complete fresh install to see if it's just software related
Sent from my Android L Nexus 5 via Tapatalk

Ben36 said:
Well first try a complete fresh install to see if it's just software related
Sent from my Android L Nexus 5 via Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset, wiped case and dalvik, freshly installed CM11 last night before bed. Same symptoms exist as they did before.

Related

Unfortunately Camera has stopped (4.2.2., stock)

EDIT: Well, I fixed it. I used Jishnu's Camera mod "return to stock" zip and it fixed things thankfully.
Thanks
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When attempting to use the standard camera app on my Nexus, I get this error. I've had a Nexus 5 since launch and had NO issues whatsoever with the camera until recently. No matter what I try to do, the camera app doesn't load. Not from the lockscreen, not from the app, etc.
What's odd is that I CAN use apps like camera zoom fx or the built in snapshot feature in the facebook app for example, and the camera works then. I can also use hangouts and I've verified the front facing camera works. Oddly though, using the camera within the Google+ app crashes the camera too.
I've tried clearing cache, dalvik cache, force stop camera, disabling and re-enabling and no dice. A friend of mine postulated that it could be the HDR mode messing up. I DID have HDR active the last time the camera worked. But with no way of resetting the application/toggling the HDR switch (because the camera won't load to that point), I'm SOL.
Here is a screen cap video I took demonstrating the issue. Don't mind the artifacting at the start of the video, I'm not sure what caused that.
My current phone build is in my sig, except I'm running the most up to date Franco Kernel (iirc r37).

[Q] Help, significant lag after update to the latest google camera

Hi folks, it seems to be a rare issue but it is drving me crazy every time I use the camera.
I am on stock not rooted kitkat 4.4.2, the issue is only seen after update the google camera to the latest version with the new ui change.
Now every time I launch the camera app, the phone could hang up for 1 to 3 seconds without doing anything (low possibility). There is a guarantee (100%) that the phone will lag for more than 2 seconds when I take the first two photos in normal mode (the screen just freeze at the time when the photo swiping animation takes place after hit the capture button). Also, it is very often to see the similar lag when I browse the recent photos in the camera app.
I tried to reinstall the latest update; clear the app data + cache, but neither works for me. Now I just go back to the old camera, all the freezes/lags are gone!
Please can anyone suggest some possible solutions? I really like the new camera ui. Thanks!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
My new camera app is pretty buggy too actually, random freezes, etc...
I think it'll get better with time.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

Camera and Speaker Problems

I seem to be having some random hardware issues with my nexus 5. I've had it for about fourteen months with no problems, but in the last couple of weeks I've started having problems with the camera and the speaker.
About 40% of the time the camera works fine. 50% of the time the camera app fails with a "can't connect to the camera" error. The remaining 10% of the time, the camera app starts, but the image shown on screen is all one color, or it does the normal preview overlayed with bands of flashing colors. If I take a picture when it does the bands of color, the band of color are stored in the picture.
The speaker is about 50/50 as to whether it works or not. When the speaker is not working nothing works. No ringtones. No notifications. No touch sounds. No music. It will cut out and in during play sometimes. The other day when someone called, it finally started ringing in the middle of the ringtone. I once heard a single note in the middle of a notification.
Rebooting sometimes fixes both problems, but it's not a gauraunteed fix. I've tried several different ROMs including both stock Kit Kat and Lollipop, as well as others. The problem persists in all ROMs.
Anyone seem this before? It seems like it almost has to be a hardware issue because it persists their multiple ROMs.
hummer010 said:
I seem to be having some random hardware issues with my nexus 5. I've had it for about fourteen months with no problems, but in the last couple of weeks I've started having problems with the camera and the speaker.
About 40% of the time the camera works fine. 50% of the time the camera app fails with a "can't connect to the camera" error. The remaining 10% of the time, the camera app starts, but the image shown on screen is all one color, or it does the normal preview overlayed with bands of flashing colors. If I take a picture when it does the bands of color, the band of color are stored in the picture.
The speaker is about 50/50 as to whether it works or not. When the speaker is not working nothing works. No ringtones. No notifications. No touch sounds. No music. It will cut out and in during play sometimes. The other day when someone called, it finally started ringing in the middle of the ringtone. I once heard a single note in the middle of a notification.
Rebooting sometimes fixes both problems, but it's not a gauraunteed fix. I've tried several different ROMs including both stock Kit Kat and Lollipop, as well as others. The problem persists in all ROMs.
Anyone seem this before? It seems like it almost has to be a hardware issue because it persists their multiple ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The camera error is due to something else using the camera HAL (or something using it but then not releasing it properly afterwards). Culprits range from torch applications (which use the camera HAL to trigger a continuous flash) or various social media apps (video calls, instant photo sharing). I don't use anything of the sort, I only use my camera as a camera, and I don't have such issues - whereas the people that get this error almost always use such apps.
Your speaker issue could be a hardware issue if it happens regardless the software. Have you ever dropped your device or given it excessive shock?
hummer010 said:
I seem to be having some random hardware issues with my nexus 5. I've had it for about fourteen months with no problems, but in the last couple of weeks I've started having problems with the camera and the speaker.
About 40% of the time the camera works fine. 50% of the time the camera app fails with a "can't connect to the camera" error. The remaining 10% of the time, the camera app starts, but the image shown on screen is all one color, or it does the normal preview overlayed with bands of flashing colors. If I take a picture when it does the bands of color, the band of color are stored in the picture.
The speaker is about 50/50 as to whether it works or not. When the speaker is not working nothing works. No ringtones. No notifications. No touch sounds. No music. It will cut out and in during play sometimes. The other day when someone called, it finally started ringing in the middle of the ringtone. I once heard a single note in the middle of a notification.
Rebooting sometimes fixes both problems, but it's not a gauraunteed fix. I've tried several different ROMs including both stock Kit Kat and Lollipop, as well as others. The problem persists in all ROMs.
Anyone seem this before? It seems like it almost has to be a hardware issue because it persists their multiple ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same camera problem as you, no amount of clean wiping etc helped so I contacted Google and got an RMA, this is bearing in mind that I bought my phone in Nov 13.
I received a "refurbished" phone, but it was actually brand new and now it's working great.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Lethargy said:
The camera error is due to something else using the camera HAL (or something using it but then not releasing it properly afterwards). Culprits range from torch applications (which use the camera HAL to trigger a continuous flash) or various social media apps (video calls, instant photo sharing). I don't use anything of the sort, I only use my camera as a camera, and I don't have such issues - whereas the people that get this error almost always use such apps.
Your speaker issue could be a hardware issue if it happens regardless the software. Have you ever dropped your device or given it excessive shock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You were right about the Camera! My problem was the Google Messenger app. I removed it, and went back to the Kit Kat AOSP messenger app, and my camera has worked since.
One problem down, but I am still having the intermittent sound issue. My phone has been dropped and banged around some. Nothing significant that I can think of recently, but that is certainly a possibility. Truthfully, I can live with the sound problem a lot easier than the camera problem.
After a few weeks of no sound and no camera, I've finally solved the problem. I took my phone apart, and cleaned it out with compressed air. I polished up the contact points on all the spring type contacts to the back of the case. I put it back together and everything is working!
I seem to be having a very similar problem. If I just lightly touch the 'S' of the nexus logo on the back cover, the speaker kicks in. Let go, and it cuts out. But before I open it up, (hate doing this), looking at all the break down pics of the nexus 5, I don't see any contacts related to the speaker? The speaker is apparently a single unit at the bottom of the phone? Can anyone explain the contact points for the speaker as it relates to the back cover especially around the center of the phone?? Thank, much appreciated.
hummer010 said:
After a few weeks of no sound and no camera, I've finally solved the problem. I took my phone apart, and cleaned it out with compressed air. I polished up the contact points on all the spring type contacts to the back of the case. I put it back together and everything is working!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Unfortunately, Camera has stopped. [M Preview]

First off, I have not seen this anywhere else, but appologies if i've missed it!
Even on a completely clean install of the M preview, upon opening camera, and once passed the 'OK, GOT IT' button, camera closes. Every time. Regardless of what i do, clear cache, update, remove updates etc. Happens on Preview 1 and 2. Doesnt happen in 5.0/5.1/5.1.1. I thought it might be the fact the camera was damaged being reported in some new way to the system, forcing the closure (i ripped the cable slightly when repairing another part (i know, dumb, but i slipped)), but have since replaced with a new part and still have issues.
Has anyone else had this, and fixed it? Thanks!
Hello, I have the same problem. Unfortunately, my problem persists on older versions of android. My problem seems to be the front facing camera, because with a third party app, the rear camera works. I replaced the front camera, but it still does not work in any app, and the Camera app still does not start. Tried removing the front camera - app again stops working.
That is the same for me. Snapchat will use the rear camera fine, but doesn't register the phone as even having a front camera
ishamm said:
That is the same for me. Snapchat will use the rear camera fine, but doesn't register the phone as even having a front camera
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here! I can take photos through Tinder, and download them to my phone (although sometimes the Tinder app will crash too). But whenever I open the Camera app I get the "Unfortunately, Camera has stopped" message. I've tried multiple reboots, closing the app, not closing the app, resetting the cache, etc. Nothing works.
I believe this all started when I tried to take a "selfie" one time (I guess that's God's way of telling me never to do that again). When I switched to the front camera all hell broke loose. Now I'm guessing it's "stuck" on the front camera and I can't run the app even to switch it back!

Instagram stories and front camera problems [Lineage 15.1]

I've searched here and on other forums but can't find an answer to some camera related problems.
I'm using 15.1 Osprey June, 1st build on my Moto G3 2Gb Ram (XT1543).
PROBLEM 1: front camera not working.
This is happening for a long time, since I was using stock ROM (my phone came with 6.0, but that time both camera worked fine).
Don't know when this starts, cause i didn't use front camera very often, but when on 6.1 this already happened, the change camera icon simply disappeared.
I've tried all tricks, format the phone, boot on safe mode, clear chaces, etc.
I've used Lineage 14 for a while and now I've made a clean install of 15.1 and same thing.
Back camera works fine for photo and video using Footej Camera — the first time I opened this app, there was the change camera icon; I clicked and get that camera error message, and now the icon disappeared again. Installed MotoCamera_Mod_6.2.5.16 and same thing: back camera fully functional, front camera no icon or options.
Didn't drop my phone, but i'm considering some hardware problem.
Anyone has a link to a DIY fix (or at least try)?
Here in my country, the cost of the repair probably does not pay...
PROBLEM 2: Instagram stories not working
photos works fine, a click the button and can add to my story, but when I record video, after it's finished the buttons doesn't appear and the app freezes.
on "hands free" the image freezes during record, when try to make a boomerang "an error occurs" message appears and the **** goes like this...
I've removed and install back the app, have the last update, etc.
Is someone else having this problem?
thanks!
problem solved!
if someone else is having similar problems, here's the (obvious) solution:
just do a clean flash!
I did it and everything is working now (instagram stories, other camera apps functions and GPS).
except the front camera, probably due to some hardware stuff.

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