Galaxy S4 - "Camera Failed"

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MrG

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Picked up a S4 for myself today. Enjoying the phone.

There is one issue I am having at present. When opening an application that uses the camera I intermittently get a black blank screen, as if no visual input from camera, then a message "Camera Failed".

I am going to try check the firmware or something, but it is rather strange.

Anyone else have a similar experience?
 
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I'd suggest installing the latest software update and see if that fixes it, otherwise you'd have to try flashing newer software updates from other regions
 
Funnily enough I just got a new S4 today with exactly the same problem, camera worked, but now its just dead.
 
I've experienced something very similar to this now as well.
[video=youtube;TmzafL2ulEM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmzafL2ulEM[/video]

@Nduimiso: Will try a few things and see what I get right.

@Little-Mermaid: Let me know what you get right.
 
Apparently it's a hardware problem or there's a bug in the OS.

It's a pretty widespread problem, so I'm gonna go with bug in the OS.
 
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@NomNom: You think I should bother taking it back to Cell C tomorrow for a new unit? If my three colleagues aren't experiencing this issue then I presume it's considered an out of box failure of sorts?

If people think this would be resolved with firmware updates etc I don't mind hanging on. Just that I got the phone 12 hours ago and I am in the window to get an exchange if this is truly something more serious with my particular handset. :)
 
Consensus on xda and AndroidCentral forums are to replace - was just a quick search I'd done and not found any solutions.
Good luck
 
MrG said:
@NomNom: You think I should bother taking it back to Cell C tomorrow for a new unit? If my three colleagues aren't experiencing this issue then I presume it's considered an out of box failure of sorts?

If people think this would be resolved with firmware updates etc I don't mind hanging on. Just that I got the phone 12 hours ago and I am in the window to get an exchange if this is truly something more serious with my particular handset. :)
Click to expand...

According to the CPA you have 7 days in which to return the goods with everything involved in the packaging and purchase with 100% money back no questions asked. It is called a cooling off period.

I am tempted to suggest a Nokia Lumia 920 for you because it has a better camera, but I am afraid of the backlash from all the Android fans.

However, it does sound like a software problem.

Good luck.
 
McCrazieGoalz said:
According to the CPA you have 7 days in which to return the goods with everything involved in the packaging and purchase with 100% money back no questions asked. It is called a cooling off period.

I am tempted to suggest a Nokia Lumia 920 for you because it has a better camera, but I am afraid of the backlash from all the Android fans.

However, it does sound like a software problem.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

1st :p

There's always the XperiaZ with a better camera than that of the Lumia ;)

Comparison between the two.
 
McCrazieGoalz said:
According to the CPA you have 7 days in which to return the goods with everything involved in the packaging and purchase with 100% money back no questions asked. It is called a cooling off period.

I am tempted to suggest a Nokia Lumia 920 for you because it has a better camera, but I am afraid of the backlash from all the Android fans.

However, it does sound like a software problem.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
No, according to the CPA you have a 5 day cooling off period when it comes to direct marketing products. What you're thinking of I think is the seven day cooling off period in section 44 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002
 
Peder said:
+1!!
Click to expand...

The are a couple of Super Spar outlets that import a number of UK drinks, such as Dr. Pepper, Cherry, Coke, Vanilla Coke, Porridge, Sweets and more. Two I know that are selling this Retail Crossing (Cnr Hendrik Potgieter & Nic Diederichs St Strubensvalley) and Broadacres (Cnr Cedar & Valley Broadacres Sandton).
 
I haven't had any problems with mine - mine is the GT-i9500, works like the bomb.

Don't forget to register your phone for the 2 year spillage, and board warranty, and remember you get 1GB of data pm at any AlwaysOn Hotspot for 12 months.
 
Mine also giving problems after the 38mb update, worked fine before update.
Now when i select camera phone restarts:mad:
 
Thanks all for the great feedback and effort checking it out.

NomNom said:
Apparently it's a hardware problem or there's a bug in the OS.

It's a pretty widespread problem, so I'm gonna go with bug in the OS.
Click to expand...

Then I can just wait for updates or flash international firmware... but it's still a risk of potentially sitting with a bad device. Difficult decisions...

Shake&Bake said:
Consensus on xda and AndroidCentral forums are to replace - was just a quick search I'd done and not found any solutions.
Good luck
Click to expand...

Speedster said:
I'd take it back straight away.
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I've received mixed messages now if it's hardware and software... I don't want to swap it out for another unit and experience the exact same issue. :(

House said:
The are a couple of Super Spar outlets that import a number of UK drinks, such as Dr. Pepper, Cherry, Coke, Vanilla Coke, Porridge, Sweets and more. Two I know that are selling this Retail Crossing (Cnr Hendrik Potgieter & Nic Diederichs St Strubensvalley) and Broadacres (Cnr Cedar & Valley Broadacres Sandton).
Click to expand...

I picked a six pack up (1.75L) from UK Emporium for R136.00

FlatspinZA said:
I haven't had any problems with mine - mine is the GT-i9500, works like the bomb.

Don't forget to register your phone for the 2 year spillage, and board warranty, and remember you get 1GB of data pm at any AlwaysOn Hotspot for 12 months.
Click to expand...

I registered it for the 2 year, but havn't done the WiFi. :)

Glue said:
Mine also giving problems after the 38mb update, worked fine before update.
Now when i select camera phone restarts:mad:
Click to expand...

I did this update. (I think) - OTA when I get those phone.
 
I'm now on my 4th fw revision on the S4 LTE (1 OTA + 2 flash) and have observed that none of the updates were 100% perfect, always some little glitch or lag or something. I think Samsung's Android 4.2.2 has now got so complex that they're battling to cater for every user configuration state during updates.

The solution, although a ballache, works every time ... Reset to Factory Defaults -> Erase Everything (+ format internal & external SD cards). Then re-setup your phone from scratch re-downloading all apps from Play Store.
 
Also did the update, but honestly it seems like a hardware problem if it was software more people would have experienced it. Went to MTN today and they said they will replace it when they have stock on Tuesday. If the new one also breaks then Ill repeat the cycle indefinitely :P

Edit, I did a hard reset, restarts and even re installed 4.2.2 using Odin and nothing.
 
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