When I started playing with my new Droid (4409) I saw that it had the same auto-focus issues that everyone else complained about. Setting the unit to action made it focus at infinity, so somewhat better but I couldn't get shopsavy to recognize any barcodes. I cleaned the lens even though it didn't seem dirty and now Shopsavy locks onto bar codes and the unit seems to Auto-focus with just about 100% lock (green corners). Could some of the problems people are having just be be caused by lens placement and skin oils?
Good God! Green Corners! I've never seen those before! You're right! I just took ~15 pics in a row all got green corners. Then tried the barcode scanner, got it on the first focus every time!
Guys, keep votiing on this one, I think it may need to become a sticky under tips...
What is the 12/11 SW fix? If there's an oily spot on the lens and they make it lock by averaging the edge detection algorithm, the picture will still look like the devil (I've had that issue on higher end cameras).
I'm hoping that the SW fix (whatever it is) includes a lower setting for the Flashas well since it causes the photo's to wash out. They're still a bit grainy and focus still doesn't approach the quality of my Lumix cameras, but face it, these optics are pretty limited.
Make sure you set the focus back to AUTO in the settings. You should hear the stepper motor click a few times as it figures out focus then get green corners!
I've also been playing with the camera pixel settings and fineness to improve the shopsavy recognition. ShopSavy Seems to work pretty well now whereas it didn't work at all this afternoon....
Last edited by cpetku; November 17th, 2009 at 06:05 PM.
Worked for me as well...kind of. I do get green corners, but most of the pictures are not focused great. But much better overall, thanks for the tip. This along with the software update and maybe this will be a decent to good camera.
And all this time we thought it was a software issue... Now I'm actually getting amazing quality photos! Thank you so much! And to think that this "problem" went as far as to Verizon and Google planning to fix this non-existent auto-focus problem in December's OTA update
This is f'n incredible. I cleaned it and now I get green corners....which I never got out of the box.
Yet...I cant image that it's the cleaning of the lens. Maybe it is the pressure on the lens that is applied while cleaning it that made it function better???
And all this time we thought it was a software issue... Now I'm actually getting amazing quality photos! Thank you so much! And to think that this "problem" went as far as to Verizon and Google planning to fix this non-existent auto-focus problem in December's OTA update
Regardless of the green corners or not, I don't believe that the camera focuses correctly. It's still a software issue imo.
When I started playing with my new Droid (4409) I saw that it had the same auto-focus issues that everyone else complained about. Setting the unit to action made it focus at infinity, so somewhat better but I couldn't get shopsavy to recognize any barcodes. I cleaned the lens even though it didn't seem dirty and now Shopsavy locks onto bar codes and the unit seems to Auto-focus with just about 100% lock (green corners). Could some of the problems people are having just be be caused by lens placement and skin oils?
When I started playing with my new Droid (4409) I saw that it had the same auto-focus issues that everyone else complained about. Setting the unit to action made it focus at infinity, so somewhat better but I couldn't get shopsavy to recognize any barcodes. I cleaned the lens even though it didn't seem dirty and now Shopsavy locks onto bar codes and the unit seems to Auto-focus with just about 100% lock (green corners). Could some of the problems people are having just be be caused by lens placement and skin oils?
This is something I always do before using the camera phone or my SLR. The camera will focus on the spot/smug and giving a hard time if you set your camera to auto.
This is something I always do before using the camera phone or my SLR. The camera will focus on the spot/smug and giving a hard time if you set your camera to auto.
I'm absolutely obsessive about keeping my SLR's lens clean, but it didn't even occur to me to clean the one on my phone. I guess I just read so much about everyone else's autofocus issues that I just took it for granted that that was a firmware problem. Heh.
Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX by way of Long Island, NY
Posts: 337
Device(s): HTC Incredible
Thanks: 5
Thanked 59 Times in 36 Posts
Is it possible that an update, or temporary fix was pushed out to droids? My phone was cleaned thoroughly prior to putting Phantom Skinz on, and wiped down completely after. I tried cleaning the lens and was met with camera issues prior to today. I don't know how those updates work, but is it a possibility?
The Amazon app has a barcode scanner as well. I have found it to be more reliable in scanning barcodes - but you are stuck with buying the product on amazon.com - which is not a problem for me really!
Well this must have been some crazy timing, but the reason everyone's camera is auto focusing a lot better isn't because of cleaning the lens. VZW/Moto did a silent OTA sometime in the past 24-48 hours which is why our cameras seem to be working a lot better now.
__________________ So I'm guessin' there's questions that need addressin' like how he fresh in the adolescence and wreckin em' Rules & Guidelines, Zero Tolerance Policy.
See Nicks88 link above to Engadget. It wasn't a OTA update. Its a date timed bug that will basically cause red corners again on 12/11, but hopefully the Android update will release that day and it will correct this issue to avoid the time date issues with the camera.
Couldn't have timed that one better if I tried. It must have rolled over in my camera between the living and home office last night when I was playing with Shop Savvy and the camera went from not working to being usable the same time I cleaned the lens. Guess next time I'll wait a few days before I post any suggestions...
Last edited by cpetku; November 17th, 2009 at 06:18 PM.
I've been taking photos outside and inside with my Droid and I have to say the photos I am taking aren't no where near as bad as people try to say.
From what I have noticed, when you are actually using the camera app and the photo snaps, the pictures look fuzzy a tad but when I actually open the photo I just took in the gallery it looks not fuzzy at all and looks clear as a bell.
Here are some photos I took just this weekend!.
Here is the last one with indoor lighting.
Sorry if the post is gigantic but these are straight from what the camera took. Just so everyone can see the quality right from the phone.
The camera is quality is amazing on the Droid. Liek said before. cleaning the lens helps make a difference. Also, when it comes to photography, lighting is the most important thing, then equipment. Just tinker aroudn with your light settings, and keep your camera still when taking photos. I took this photo with my Droid and edited on my droid using the picsay app.
The Motorola Droid - the first ever Verizon Android Phone - exploded onto the mobile market with an incredibly successful ad campaign that brough Android to the masses. With a huge and vibrant touchscreen, solid metal body, full QWERTY keyboard, 5M... Read More
Clean the camera lens
So obvious even I didn't think of it. 
