HTC Desire - scratched camera lens cover

atmasters · Oct 7, 2010

Otterbox has Desire cases now that is what I am getting. Is there any tricks when using Tooth past or just put it on and buff it off ? mine is not that bad and it is always on the table but would like to get it new again lol.

OFI · Oct 7, 2010

Think i'm getting this problem now. Photos have become noticeably worse :-/

kerwin · Oct 10, 2010

A little tip, get a good quality screen protector (doesn't matter what for) and a paper hole punch,
empty out the hole punch first, punch a hole in the screen protector, and collect the perfectly circular screen protector from the punch.
Apply to the lens, it should be centred, it covers the clear section of the plastic lens with room to spare.

Kerwin.

Surferjr1999 · Oct 25, 2010

I've seen a link somewhere suggesting this lense as a replacement for the poor plastic lense on the back cover. Has anyone tried this yet? Seems to be a good solution. This is the link:

Optics, Imaging, and Photonics Technology - Edmund Optics

The product code is NT43-629 UK price

OFI · Oct 25, 2010

Surferjr1999 said:
I've seen a link somewhere suggesting this lense as a replacement for the poor plastic lense on the back cover. Has anyone tried this yet? Seems to be a good solution. This is the link:

Optics, Imaging, and Photonics Technology - Edmund Optics

The product code is NT43-629 UK price

Harry2 · Oct 26, 2010

The result is excellent after replacing the plastic lens cover with sapphire glass

- Photos are good like without back cover.
- Sapphire glass is for the eternity: No scratches anymore.
But the shipping costs are not appropriate: You have to decide for yourself ...

Cost in EURO (purchased in UK from Germany):
sapphire glass: 16.63
postage: 20.00
tax (17.5%): 6.41
total:43.04

Harry

OFI · Nov 4, 2010

That cost is ridiculous. I'll go to the local watch maker or something..

Will-1000 · Nov 13, 2010

I have noticed, even with a new cover, the quality of the photos is much better if you completely remove the back. I.e take a photo with the back off. It begs the question, is there a third party back for this phone with a decent lens cover that doesn't reduce the photo quality. Because the standard back has a pretty poor lens.

zomc · Nov 16, 2010

paintpot said:
I've had the same problem with my Desire, but used Brasso (metal polish) to polish the lens cover and this has been very effective.

My pics were starting to really be affected by lens scratches, and I agree on this to be a design flaw from HTC. Was thinking of a new rear cover, until I saw this thread...
I tried with metal polish :eek:

, applied on a q-tip w/ a drop of water to it, and I can highly recommend this cheap solution! Lens is as new again!

Really effective!
Can be repeated until no plastic lens left, I guess ..

stoody · Dec 17, 2010

Hi all!
My photos where looking terrible, washed out foggy over exposed looking.

It was time to do something...

I made a new lens cover from a piece of microscope slide cover glass.

First pop of the back cover then.....

I popped out the old lens cover. You just push it from the inside of the back cover.

I cut up a little square of glass which I put on the inside of the back cover. Their is a little recess that you can put it in.

I secured it in place with a small piece of sticky tape. I made a hole in the tape first by folding it in half and cutting out a small v, about the size of the hole through the HTC back cover.

Now I have a glass lens cover that is recessed and not as likely to get scratched anyway. Its glass and much harder to scratch. The tape protects the actual camera lens from rubbing by the microscope cover glass.

I am pretty happy and say goodbye to those misty washed out pictures

Cheers

robogo · Dec 17, 2010

Lovely piece of engineering, stoody

Rainbowscotia · Dec 19, 2010

Cheers for the Brasso tip. Worked a treat

ukzen · Dec 19, 2010

Martin Fields screen protector includes a protector for the lens ,well worth the money.

soonguy · Jan 9, 2011

I'm glad to know that it is possible to remove the clear plastic window in the Desire back and will do this. I have a leather case to which I have added, over the area in front of the lens, a thin sheet of black plastic with a rectangle cut in it just big enough to not impinge on the photo image. This acts as both a lens hood to prevent stray light shining on the lens, and additional protection. In addition, I have added a black plastic slider on a pivot in front of this, which is only moved when I need to take a picture. I've also put a divider in the case between the lens area and the flash, so that light does not shine up onto the reverse side of the 'lens cap' sheet and wash out a photo.

I'm surprised that HTC don't use a hardened optical glass sheet for the lens protector in the phone back. Despite using my case almost all the time, somehow the lens cover got scratched anyway.

CaptainBeaky · Jan 10, 2011

Harry2 said:
The result is excellent after replacing the plastic lens cover with sapphire glass
- Photos are good like without back cover.
- Sapphire glass is for the eternity: No scratches anymore.
But the shipping costs are not appropriate: You have to decide for yourself ...

Cost in EURO (purchased in UK from Germany):
sapphire glass: 16.63
postage: 20.00
tax (17.5%): 6.41
total:43.04

Harry

If you're in the UK, you can buy it in the UK = Edmund Optics are in Leeds IIRC.

And yes, replacing the lens protector with the sapphire glass gives results indistinguishable from having no cover at all.
Still a bit pricy - just over

Nozspark · Jan 14, 2011

Surferjr1999 said:
I've seen a link somewhere suggesting this lense as a replacement for the poor plastic lense on the back cover. Has anyone tried this yet? Seems to be a good solution. This is the link:

Optics, Imaging, and Photonics Technology - Edmund Optics

The product code is NT43-629 UK price

ceider · Mar 27, 2011

Any advice for a cracked lens?

MIne has a small t shaped crack just below the main lens

lucky it is where it is but I worry that it might extend if knocked again.

LECTER · Mar 27, 2011

ceider said:
Any advice for a cracked lens?

MIne has a small t shaped crack just below the main lens lucky it is where it is but I worry that it might extend if knocked again.

Lens or lens cover?

ceider · Mar 27, 2011

I really am not sure. It looks like the lens itself. Is there a particular way of being certain?

LECTER · Mar 27, 2011

ceider said:
I really am not sure. It looks like the lens itself. Is there a particular way of being certain?

Take the back cover off.

Phenomenological · Mar 27, 2011

By lens we mean 'Cheap bit of glass on the actual camera that probably has no lens-like properties at all and is more likely a cover.'

By cover we mean 'Even cheaper bit of plastic attached to the detachable back of the phone that is mostly worthless but there to give consumers peace of mind.'

Hope that clarifies it.

ceider · Mar 27, 2011

Thanks, that sorts it, it's the outer cover that's cracked. So, no real harm done

LECTER · Mar 27, 2011

ceider said:
Thanks, that sorts it, it's the outer cover that's cracked. So, no real harm done

Punch it out, you will be amazed at the quality!

turbohobbit · Mar 28, 2011

You sure will be.

I'm tempted to go for the sapphire glass if i can get my bootup problem fixed - I'm going to have my Desire for at least another 15 months so I may as well make it as nice as possible!

SUroot · Mar 28, 2011

I was going to get the glass but it was too expensive really. So I just have no cover and had no problems.

HTC Desire - scratched camera lens cover

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