Trying to Fix Auto-Focus

**lieman** · 01-15-2011, 10:33 AM

Unfortunately, the auto-focus on my Torch just doesn't work, and I'm well outside the DOA period for my phone, so I'm hoping I can fix it myself (I'd rather not send it in and risk getting a refurbished unit).
Just wondering if anyone has the tech experience to know if I can just order a new camera and replace it myself and have that fix the problem or not? I'm more than competent when it comes to performing physical repairs, but if it isn't possible to fix with such a repair then I'll bit the bullet and send my phone away.
Thanks in advance for the help.

**Shadow_S2K** · 01-15-2011, 11:02 AM

Is your auto focus set to single shot? You can change it by going into your camera oj your phone, then click the BB button and see if your auto focus set to single shot.

Also sites like - 3G, Sony, Panasonic, LG, SonyEricsson, Nokia, Tools, BlackBerry, BenQ-Siemens - Cellular sells parts for the Torch. You have to buy the whole plate section that comes with the camera etc but I can be replaced.

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**newcollector** · 01-15-2011, 11:53 AM

+1 on setting the auto-focus to single shot.

**lieman** · 01-15-2011, 06:25 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, I double-checked and it is set to single-shot. Tried switching it off and back on and no difference; the box is there that appears when it tries to auto-focus, but the lens doesn't seem to move at all. I'll check out those websites for parts though, thanks!

**jessassej** · 01-16-2011, 08:31 AM

This occurred to me when I just got my torch and I had to do an exchange as apparently there's no auto focus in that torch at all. Goodluck in finding the parts and fixing it! I know the pain!

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**bhk8743** · 03-03-2011, 12:09 PM

I had something weird happen to the back of my torch, there was a small rubbery-plastic piece that slipped in front of my camera lens, completely blocking it. I pulled off my battery door and gently lifted up the plastic 'plate' on top of the camera lens. I then had to use tweezers to pull off this plastic square (with a hole in the middle of it the lens shot pictures through). Now my camera does not auto focus, and it does not take sharp pictures at close range at all. I can't scan QR codes, and it does not do the cool 'adjusting' of the focus when I hold the camera button down half way. I have tried using single focus, continuous, close (macro/text) mode, as well as all the settings on the video camera (event using the QR code reader in blackberry app world).

Any advice on this would be helpful. I might have to buy this part: Blackberry Torch 9800 OEM Black camera lens - Torch - - Cellular Accessories | Mobile Accessories | to see if it fixes anything...

Any help with this is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Kevan

**gbsn** · 03-03-2011, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by bhk8743

I had something weird happen to the back of my torch, there was a small rubbery-plastic piece that slipped in front of my camera lens, completely blocking it. I pulled off my battery door and gently lifted up the plastic 'plate' on top of the camera lens. I then had to use tweezers to pull off this plastic square (with a hole in the middle of it the lens shot pictures through). Now my camera does not auto focus, and it does not take sharp pictures at close range at all. I can't scan QR codes, and it does not do the cool 'adjusting' of the focus when I hold the camera button down half way. I have tried using single focus, continuous, close (macro/text) mode, as well as all the settings on the video camera (event using the QR code reader in blackberry app world).

Any advice on this would be helpful. I might have to buy this part: Blackberry Torch 9800 OEM Black camera lens - Torch - - Cellular Accessories | Mobile Accessories | to see if it fixes anything...

Any help with this is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Kevan

From my understanding, the plastic plate is just a protective part, that serves two purposes, protect the actual camera lens (internal) from impact/scratches and provide aesthetics. The camera should work perfectly without it as that is part of the "housing" and not the camera itself.

I havent disassembled the torch, so im just shooting a guess here. Was the plastic plate glued?

You may want to try pushing the camera towards the inside with tweezers so it makes more contact with the motherboard. Probably the rubber thing was supposed to go between the plastic plate and the base of the camera providing that extra pressure towards the inside. Or was the rubber piece part of the plastic plate?

**BBRYCnvnedMe** · 03-03-2011, 02:23 PM

My Torch had that piece of trim come unglued. I went ahead and dis-assembled mine to pull that piece out. It seemed to make no difference to mine; asthetics only. I guess a shock from dropping it (grrr) broke loose the glue. But, my auto-focus has never worked very well, and only rarely can mine read QR Barcodes. It was this way before and after the piece of trim came loose. I do not know whether it is a hardware problem, or something to do with the software. I am gonna replace my housing soon, so I am gonna look to see if it needs to be re-attached better, or what. The camera still works, and at a distance, very well. But compared to my mom's (and sister's) 9700, at macro, it's shocking, the difference is. The Bold has no problem whatsoever with QR's.

**dictoresno** · 03-03-2011, 02:29 PM

http://forums.crackberry.com/f209/ca...y-pics-589930/

its a hardware problem, i just replaced my phone. you may be able to disassemble and replace the camera module on your own. the Torch has not been out for a year yet, so it should still be covered under the 1 yrs manufacturers warranty.

**BBRYCnvnedMe** · 03-03-2011, 02:39 PM

So, if I just ordered this:
Blackberry Torch 9800 OEM camera module - - Cellular Accessories | Mobile Accessories | Cell Phone

or this
Blackberry Torch 9800 Camera Module Replacement*::*Camera/Webcam*::*Truesupplier - Blackberry Accessories,iPhone Accessories & HTC Accessories wholesale Co.

Would it would fix my Auto-Focus?

I know one is more expensive. Just putting more than one out there...

**bhk8743** · 03-03-2011, 03:23 PM

Blackberry Torch 9800 OEM camera module - - Cellular Accessories | Mobile Accessories | Cell Phone

The grey rubber square surround on the top of this is exactly what came loose. Any chance it could be the problem?

**BBRYCnvnedMe** · 03-03-2011, 03:37 PM

That is what came off of my lens. My camera was acting up (no auto-focus) before and after that came off. It seemed to make no difference. To me, anyway.

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**gbsn** · 03-03-2011, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by bhk8743

Blackberry Torch 9800 OEM camera module - - Cellular Accessories | Mobile Accessories | Cell Phone

The grey rubber square surround on the top of this is exactly what came loose. Any chance it could be the problem?

Probably, if the camera has actual circuit lines below the rubber, and when the rubber tore, it ripped something off, or its just missing pressure towards the motherboard. Or the camera module is just broken.
You may want to try using the warranty, or you could spend that extra money in replacing the camera module to see if that works.

**bhk8743** · 03-07-2011, 03:30 PM

Yeah, I will probably get the part because I don't want to send my phone away for warranty... especially since it was a 'promo' phone and doesnt have a carrier's warranty on it; I'd have to deal with BB directly - which could take weeks, and delivery costs, and corporate communication....you get the point.

I'll report back when I get the part installed!

Add me to BBM 2324BDBA!

**kromedge** · 04-21-2012, 01:44 PM

I had the same problem with my 9800. I removed the camera module, cleaned the contacts on both the module itself and the phone, then put it all back together and everything has been working fine ever since.