S4 Camera tips thread

AdmSuvvuk said:

Then I realized that there was a clear plastic film over the lens to protect it during shipping. Now I have crystal clear shots. The tip? Remove all the packaging first!

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Adm, did it completely cover the lens? My phone was shipped from sprint, and has a fairly rigid square film with a circular cutout over the lens glass. The film cover the lens glass that is already opaque (painted black) while allowing the lens to "see". I'm just wondering if (unlike mine) your protective film covered the lens entirely?

AdmSuvvuk said:

Yes. Mine is also a sprint model, and it came with the rigid plastic that was somewhat like a cling screen protector on both the front and the back. Mine had an additional flexible plastic circular square -- rounded corners (similar in feel to a zagg screen protector) that fit directly over the lens inside the boundaries of the silver bezel around the lens. It was clear, and the camera could see through it but it affected the focusing sensors. I had to pick at the edges a bit to get it to lift up, then it just peeled off.

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I see what you're saying. I removed the thin cling-wrap style film but left the rigid protector on for now. Pictures seem decent.

LookSir said:

Anybody have any info on what the purpose of this piece of plastic is? Can we remove it safely?

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I'm live-chatting with Samsung support right now. They indicate that it is simply a protective lens cover to prevent scratching. (I'll post the whole transcript when I'm done.)

To be honest it's actually hard to see the cover at first -- it's not applied like removable shipping protectors are normally applied, where the protector is very clearly there and applied in such a way as to make removal obvious and easy. To remove the lens cover you need to get a fingernail right there at the outer edge of the silver bezel until you feel the rigid plastic square lift off.

The full transcript is below, but here is the executive summary:

1) There is a rigid plastic lens protector on the back lens of the S4.

2) It's just there to protect the lens from scratches it might gather from day-to-day use.

3) Samsung recommends you leave it on for protection, but removing the lens cover will not void your manufacturer's warranty.

4) Some users report better photo quality with the cover removed, but this hasn't been proven with careful testing.

Transcript below. Note that the CSR initially misunderstands me and thinks I'm asking about removing the lens itself, when I meant the lens cover only.

Please wait for a Samsung Agent to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Sophee'. There will be a brief survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.
Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK11179020773X


Sophee: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?


Visitor: I have a question about the S4's camera lens.


Sophee: Sure, please go ahead with your query.


Visitor: There is a square piece of adhesive film on the lens.


Visitor: That film has a circular cut-out to allow the lens to see through it without harming image quality.


Visitor: Some users have removed that square lens protector (it's made of a rigid clear plastic) and found that their pictures improved.


Sophee: Please give me 3 minutes while i go through the inquiry.


Visitor: My question is whether or not that lens-protecting plastic square can be safely removed, or if it should be left in place? It peels away easily enough but I was reluctant to remove it if it is not recommended.


Sophee: Thank you for holding.


Sophee: I do understand your concern. I will be glad to assist you by providing you with the information.


Visitor: Great, thanks.


Sophee: I would like to inform you that the protective lens cover is to protect the lens from scratches.


Visitor: So I can remove that cover as long as I am willing to take the risk that the lens might be more easily scratched without it?


Sophee: I am sorry for the delay.


Visitor: That's OK.


Sophee: Please do not remove the cover as it protects from the scratches.


Visitor: Will removing the protective lens cover void the Samsung warranty?


Sophee: I will surely help you with this.


Sophee: Yes, please do not remove the cover.


Visitor: Will that void the warranty or not?


Sophee: I do understand your concern.


Sophee: I will guide you in this regard.


Sophee: Limited Warranty is conditioned upon proper use of the Product. This Limited Warranty does not cover if / when defects or damage resulting from the use of Product in conjunction or connection with accessories, products, or ancillary/peripheral equipment not furnished or approved by SAMSUNG. Also, defects or damage resulting from improper testing, operation, maintenance, installation, service, or adjustment not furnished or approved by SAMSUNG.


Visitor: OK, that seems to be the official language of the warranty, and I assume you mean that removing the lens cover would constitute "...improper testing, operation, maintenance..." and so removing the lens cover WOULD void the warranty. Correct?


Sophee: No, it would void the warranty of the phone.


Visitor: OK, I appreciate your help. It sounds like Samsung recommends that we leave the lens cover on our S4, and if we remove it the warranty is voided.


Visitor: Is that right?


Sophee: Yes, it is correct.


Sophee: I would like to inform you that removing the protective cover on the lens will not void the warranty but removing the lens voids the warranty.


Visitor: Oh, that makes a big difference! Thank you for clarifying. I don't think anyone would remove the Lens. I was only curious about the lens cover. If we can remove the lens cover without voiding the warranty I think many users would consider doing that.


Sophee: I do understand your concern.


Sophee: Have I answered your query?


Visitor: Yes, and thanks again.


Sophee: You're welcome.

LookSir said:

My other issue is the fact it looks tacky and ugly.

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The phone, or the lens cover?

I'll probably leave it on. I can already see the lens cover has absorbed some scratches that otherwise might have dinged the black glass around the lens. If someone posts a really conclusive comparison of photos with and without the cover demonstrating that going without it improves image quality, I'll reevaluate.

dlphnfn said:

Thank you for the tip on voice commands for shooting pics! It is one of the biggest drawbacks of moving from the HTC EVO 3D and LTE. They both have a camera button. I've always found it inconvenient and UN steady to tap the screen to shoot a pic.
Now I can take pics with one hand again!

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Yeah, I hate tapping the screen too. The phone takes a great picture only if you can hold it perfectly still! Note also that in settings you can change the volume control from a zoom button to a shutter button. I find that taking the photo with a physical button helps me hold everything more still.

LookSir said:

hey thanks for posting that


but it sounds like she said it WILL void the warranty, but then she said it WOULDN'T void the warranty.. so, um... what does everybody else gather from that?

Sophee sounds like a robot lol

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She initially thought I was talking about removing the actual lens of the camera, which certainly would have voided the warranty. But then she made that very clear statement which I put in bold, above. I think she had a manager helping her out who advised her to correct the misstatement.

And yes, there seemed to be some language issues. No worries, she tried hard to help and I appreciated it.