K750i Camera Lens Problem Options

[bringit]

Hi,

I recently bought a used k750i off someone on another forum and I noticed that there is a piece of dust or dirt or something under the lens of the camera. Wiping the lens does not clean it off. When you go into the camera mode there's a black dot on the picture now because of this.

I'm wondering if anyone knows how to clean this? I've never taken the housing off but from my understanding the camera lens isn't exposed.

Here's a pic:



Do I need to replace the camera? If so, is there somewhere I can buy the camera?

[_Sensible]

hmmm, interesting, how on earth did it get in there? Are you sure its not just a really stuborn piece of dirt?

[scotsboyuk]

@bringit

I suppose that at some point a piece of dust or dirt has gotten inside the case if you can't wipe it off. Taking it apart to get rid of the particle would seem the only option, unless that is, there was something wrong with it you could claim a new one under the warranty I suppose. Taking it apart will invalidate the warranty remember.

[MikLSP]

If you are going to take it apart then you should find these guides useful:

This one by gbrooks 3...

and

This one by rabvtec with lots of pictures.

[rabvtec]

Wow, now that IS weird! It actually looks like that it's UNDER the protective 'lens/face' of the camera. If this is the case, then stripping down the phone won't help as the camera unit is preassembled, as this example shows:



You might be able to open up the unit BUT you're definitely in uncharted territory there! :S Can you give us a clearer/closer picture of yours .. ?

[MikLSP]

I don't think the circled area would affect the image on the camera. Its too far over to be seen by the lens I think. And if you look at the picture just posted by rabvtec you'll see that area is black anyway so isn't leeting light into the lens from there.

An example of a photo with the mark you can see wouls be useful here too

[scotsboyuk]

@Mik

I thought that the particle wasn't in a position to affect the image quality either (no pun intended). However, perhaps it's affecting the incoming light in some way?

[stepdown]

Maybe it's just the angle of the shot that is confusing us?

[bringit]

Here are some more pics:



It makes a black spot on the image. On the LCD you can see a black dot so it's clearly in the view of the lens.



Thanks for the help guys.. after looking at the pics I don't think taking the housing apart will fix the problem.. I need to get under the lens.

[bringit]

Biggest pain in the ass is the warranty. SE Canada says that since the phone is not sold in north america yet they have to order parts from overseas and this may take up to 3 months to repair.

I'm going to HK in a few weeks, and the phone is from Singapore. Anyone know if they might fix this in SE HK?

Or if someone knows somewhere that sells the camera for cheap, maybe I'll just buy the part and replace it myself.

[rabvtec]

Ermm bringit, sorry but that ain't the best pic to try and show off this 'dot' that you see on images .. it just looks like the background! :omg: Could you do an outdoor shot for us, please. plus, I see another mark here, circled yellow ..

Have you (or do you know) if the last owner tampered with the phone?

[stepdown]

The dot looks more like a blur. More likely to be from where light is being blocked?

[bringit]

The yellow mark is a reflection.. it's tough to get that close.
As you can see on the LCD that black dot is always there..

[scotsboyuk]

@bringit

I wonder if your earlier thought is the way to go? It may just be simpler to replace the camera module than taking your existing camera module apart. I am quite sure that you will be able to find someone in Hong Kong to do this for you, of course it may not be someone who is authorised to do so and hence your warranty will be invalidated, but it is still an option.

[borisrabbit]

bringit, did you manage to fix it?

Have the exact same problem with a K750i, a blurry dark spot that appears on the view finder and on images, the dust seems to be on the inside of the camera as cleaning the outside has no effect whatsoever. Interestingly if I zoom in, the spot apperas to move outwards and eventually disappears....

Is it possible to disassemble the camera?

[scotsboyuk]

@borisrabbit



I'm not sure if disassembling the camera has been covered, but you might want to take a look at this thread and this thread. I imagine it would be a somewhat advanced and ill advised procedure unless you knew exactly what you were doing.

[aznpos531]

i wonder if the camera unit is available for sale by itself...

edit: just checked...it's not on cnn.cn. i'll check ebay
edit2: checked ebay...not available either...i searched the following:

-k750 camera unit
-k750i camera unit
-k750 camera module
-k750i camera module

and then repeated the searches with w800 in place of k750...nothing...only phones, the MXE-60 flash and the closest thing was a flex cable...

This post has been edited by aznpos531: 2006-03-17 19:04

[aksd]

1.I've opened up my camera. What you see is'nt actually the lens but a lens cover. On either side of the lens cover you see two slots, you can slip a small flat head screw driver under the slot, you know the ones used in watch shops those really tiny screw drivers and you can pry up the lens cover which is stuck with glue. Clean your lens cover and it can get stuck back on with the original glue.

2. Cnn.cn has the camera unit but it costs about 40USD.

Regards,
Akshay

[aznpos531]

they do have camera units for sale but i dnt see one for the k750/w800

[borisrabbit]

Eventually fixed my K750i camera "spot" problems. Firstly big thanks to the people who wrote the disassembly tutorials, fantastic job

I followed the instructions, stripped the phone down and had a go at cleaning the camera. I didn't feel confident about pulling the camera assembly apart so I used an "air duster" to blow air into the small holes in the assembly. After putting the phone back together I was disappointed to find the camera had totally stopped working - clicking the camera icon just flashed the icon.

Important: If you're pulling things apart they could end up in a worse state than when you started. If you can't do the time don't do the crime

After checking the ribbon connectors were fully pushed in, the camera was back working but I hadn't got rid of the spot However I was able to buy a broken phone(minus its PCB) on ebay, pull both phones apart (again!) switch the camera units and bingo I have a one fully working K750i, hooray!

If anyone's thinking of following the same process, couple of tips,

-Think about whether you're up to it, do your friends describe you as handy? Having said that I found the most difficult bit getting the front cover off.
-You need the right tools, microdrivers and a T6 headed screwdriver
-If you're just replacing the camera you don't need to unclip the back cover, it offers good protection to the microswitch while you struggle getting the other bits off.
-With the ribbon connectors, you can ease them off with a flat head screwdriver - little by little from end to end, but be sure you are prizing the right bits apart, once you've mastered one the rest are easy. Putting them back on make sure you press along all edges to make sure its fully connected, the camera connector is probably the hardest to line up.
-Have some cleaning tools handy, air duster, screen cleaners etc, every bit I took off was coated in dust.

Now that I have a "spare" camera unit (albeit with a big dust spot) i'll have a go at disassembling it when I get chance, see if i can get some pics of it...