[Galaxy S II General] Burgscheinkerkdeiktraast:
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Please do no not ask how to check firmware?, what is the problem?, ect. For such questions visit thread mentioned below.

This thread is for people who know what is wrong.

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I decided to write this thread to sum up in short form all the most important informations regarding camera modules in Samsung Galaxy S II. Long version of thread where you can find various information is here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1098834&highlight=upgrade.

This thread is the try to make more pressure on Samsung about fixing their problem regarding camera modules.

1. Problem overview

1.1 General overview:

Samsung Galaxy S II has been released in many forms with different camera modules. So far the most problematic module is Samsung's sensor, identified as example:

SLSI_S5K3H2YX_M5MOLSwith firmware marked as SCEF02. (It needs to be told - Fujitsu is overall name of module, particular camera we identify via codes, SC, OM ect - then we can exactly say example Fujitsu\Samsung LSI (Samsung's sensor combined with Fujitsu [additional parts like firmware it is believed]), or Sony sensor). It is complicated way, this is why sometimes you can find some inaccuracies in detailed technical - but general overview is true).

Problematic issues haven't been revealed just now - the Community and users know these issues for long time. So does Samsung.

1.2 Technical overview

Problems with camera modules can be abbreviated to few things:

AutoFocus issues - as we know AutoFocus can greatly improve movies. It is nice feature which unfortunately doesn't work in SGS II as it should. Problems are related to the situations, where:

Often in daily situations AutoFocus works without any need of it. Video is already sharp, but AutoFocus tries to make it better. It just worsen the movie making unnecessary blurs;

In darker areas, nights or moving from dark to bright ground AutoFocus loses stability or even worse completely blurs the movie. Making movie then is completely useless.

AutoFocus is slow. Compared to other phones it is just slower, sometimes really slow - often you can forget making movie of fast moving objects like birds, planes and so on.

FPS issues - these problems are related to the general FPS of movies. SLSI_S5K3H2YX_M5MOLS records slower than it should be. It happens either day or night, depending on the conditions. These conditions are, example:

Moving camera from darker to brighter area and vice versa.

Recording at night.

Red pink spot - this problem makes the pictures and movies having pink, light circle. It happens when you take a photo on the solid grayish, white and other colors area.

Few words are need to be written - it is very interesting that phones equipped by Sony OMEF01 (IMX105) have less problems. Their FPS and general smoothness are better than in S5K3H2YX SCEF02 firmware. But this is not the end - some users in act of desperation and completely lack of Samsung's support loaded Camera firmware (SIEG03) from the other phone - Samsung i997 - which partially fixed problems regarding low frame rates!

These two examples may lead to the conclusion the problem is the only firmware which since phone release, hasn't been fixed for Samsung's module users.

2. Examples of problems

Many users recorded camera behaviour and uploaded it on YouTube. I post few movies to show what Samsung screwed up and didn't want to fix it.

Comparison of SLSI_S5K3H2YX_M5MOLS SCEF02 and Sony (IMX105) OMEF01.

[YOUTUBE]B1S_xf0yzr8[/YOUTUBE]

SCEF02

[YOUTUBE]3MuNX1iqX_0[/YOUTUBE]

OMEF01

[YOUTUBE]NP1kVHzcrBo[/YOUTUBE]

AutoFocus at night with low FPS - is it the way as it should be? For Samsung yes.

[YOUTUBE]Xel-Qn5HD8o[/YOUTUBE]

Comparison of default system camera (camcorder) and the commercial app.

[YOUTUBE]6JwtydW8veo[/YOUTUBE]

Here one word to be posted - please notice that the comparison of system application and lgCamera was made at SCEF02 firmware.

Even with such limits like camera firmware which is the bridge for hardware and user's camera software, the lgCamera amateur programmer (with all respect to its Author) could fix few problems and improve the camera!

Samsung is not able to fix it since months!

Also please notice lgCamera has much more functions than stock application - example snow, fall scenes for video mode. If lgCamera author could add working camera modes, what is stopping Samsung doing the same? Laziness.

3. Samsung's behaviour

Unfortunately Samsung Galaxy S II users can't say Samsung is the company which tries to care about customers. Many users have reported such issues long time ago, including myself where I've had replies which mostly were restricted to few laconically sounded sentences. In my case I've contacted Samsung Hotline, Samsung Main Service Center, Local Service Center department and Samsung LSI.

In all cases except Samsung LSI, where I was able to send only 1 mail (my next messages weren't delivered) I informed about issues regarding problems of SGS II. In all cases replies can be shortened, I present their answers:

"I think that you are mistaking us (Samsung Electro-Mechanics) for Fujitsu.,because you are complaining to Fujitsu (it had to be S5K3H2YX). I'd like to recommend that you enter the Fujitsu's website." - Well it is like pong game where everybody bounces the problem elsewhere. Who mounted Fujitsu (It had to be S5K3H2YX) module in the Galaxy? Who wrote the firmware? Samsung! I bought the phone from the Samsung, not Fujitsu, goddammit!

"In case of problems return phone to the service, and if we detect issues, we will replace or repair damaged part." - They are like robots. Everytime say such thing. This will NOT fix the problem because Samsung will just replace S5K3H2YX to another S5K3H2YX. Problem is not in the few users' phones. Problem exist either in ready to mount modules equipped with bad firmware which are delivered to the service centers or just alone firmware!

"We cannot mount the desired module in the phone. We replace things randomly. We're delivered by Samsung boxes with parts and they're not signed they're either Fujitsu (it had to be S5K3H2YX) or Sony." - This was an answer for my question about demand of Sony module replacement instead of faulty S5K3H2YX. Pity.

"All camera modules come to us and pass the Samsung requirements." - This can be reasonable. Technically S5K3H2YX module can be OK. But Samsung put to S5K3H2YX bad firmware which makes problems mentioned earlier!

Overall often I must have waited two weeks for any response. I am still waiting (1.5 month) for response from official Samsung department for my technical question.

Answers from the Main Service Center came to me after 7 days and only because I reminded them about my question and said their competences end at connecting charger to the phone.

It is to be mentioned Samsung released Camera Firmware Upgrade few times. But it didn't fix anything - completely nothing, null, zero. The last update marked at December 02 of 2011 also didn't bring anything.

Samsung just ignores the customers!

4. Possible solution and conclusions

I think more likely problems exist only in bad firmware. The answer ("All camera modules come to us and pass the Samsung requirements.") from the service center gives me to think so, which is reasonable, especially when we know after changing firmware to other problems are partially gone.

Samsung must understand:

What it has been screwed up, needs to be fixed.

Customers shouldn't be abandoned with problems for many long months. Samsung even didn't say a word about.

The longer they do this, the more likely people will turn back to other brands.

If they promoted SGS II as one of the best camera phones, they just lied. At least in current situation.

Such thread wouldn't have been created if Samsung had answered for many amount of complains about Camera work in SGS II.

ATTENTION - For anyone who wants to buy non-shutterning camera module for your own, you can do it. Look at this thread for info: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=28697558

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I hope now it will be easier to spread information about Samsung and its bad customers treat.

Notes:

1. This thread tries to sum up all the most important things related to problem and this thread http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1098834&highlight=upgrade .

2. If you have comments, propositions what I missed, or should add please post it yourself or write what I should add in my post (to save cleanness).

3. I hope we'll get what we have right to.:)

4. Instead of Fujistu we think about S5K3H2YX which is correct name of Samsung's faulty sensors it seems to.