iPhone 4S - Camera Already Broken

[Katalysis]

That was quick. Phone was activated for roughly three hours, and now the camera won't work, and it appears to be a reproducable software issue.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BRICK YOUR IPHONE, DON'T DO THIS:
1) Open camera app
2) Turn on grid
3) Press camera switch button

BAM - camera locked. Only shows the shutter graphic. If you close it and restart it, you get a black screen. If you close it again, you get a black screen with a grid. Tried resetting a dozen times, and nothing happens.

I took the phone to AT&T (unfortunately, like an idiot, I ordered from Apple.com) and a simple reset fixed it and the guy looked at me like I was a moron. Then, I say, well, hit those buttons, and BAM, locked again. Resets have not undone it. I am going to try an itunes restore right now.

Anyone else having camera issues?

 

[MrWaffles]

I just posted in the other thread about my flash not being timed right. It seems to go too early so it doesn't affect the shot at all.

 

[FetalSage]

Doesn't break for me. Might be a hardware issue?

 

[Katalysis]

Doesn't break for me. Might be a hardware issue?

We shall see. I am restoring the phone right now. The only Apple store is 4 hours away, so I guess I am screwed. Hopefully they can reactivate my 3GS.

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Edit: It has to be software. I restored it, set up as a new iPhone, hit the grid, hit the camera reverse, and it locked again.

Maybe my front camera is broken?

 

[greytmom]

I followed those steps as well and it didn't happen for me either. I hope your restore will clear things up.

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[/COLOR]Edit: It has to be software. I restored it, set up as a new iPhone, hit the grid, hit the camera reverse, and it locked again.

Maybe my front camera is broken?

Easy way to check - if you can get it to unlock again, switch to front camera without turning on the grid. If it happens again, I would say it's a front camera issue.

 

[Katalysis]

I followed those steps as well and it didn't happen for me either. I hope your restore will clear things up.

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Easy way to check - if you can get it to unlock again, switch to front camera without turning on the grid. If it happens again, I would say it's a front camera issue.

Restored, tried the front camera, and it locked. It's just a front camera issue, because a restore will allow the rear camera to function.

Great. Now I either have an 8 hour round trip drive or deal with shipping my phone back. I am guessing there is literally no chance of them sending me a brand new one and then I send back the bad one?

 

[outz]

Restored, tried the front camera, and it locked. It's just a front camera issue, because a restore will allow the rear camera to function.

Great. Now I either have an 8 hour round trip drive or deal with shipping my phone back. I am guessing there is literally no chance of them sending me a brand new one and then I send back the bad one?

they will most likely do that if you give them a cc to bill if you don't return the broken one. i doubt they would want a customer to be without a working phone. call and ask...

 

[lnferno]

I had this exact same issue (only the front camera, rear facing worked fine). It was stuck with that black shutter screen. I left it like that for about 15-20 minutes (had to do some other things in the house), rebooted the device (held the lock and home screen for 10 seconds) and it magically cleared up the issue.

 

[Katalysis]

I had this exact same issue (only the front camera, rear facing worked fine). It was stuck with that black shutter screen. I left it like that for about 15-20 minutes (had to do some other things in the house), rebooted the device (held the lock and home screen for 10 seconds) and it magically cleared up the issue.

I sent up a call with a customer support for later this week. I also went to post on the Apple forums and there are a ton of people with the same or similar problem. Could this be a software issue? I really doubt there could be that many camera modules gone bad.

https://discussions.apple.com/message/16377123#16377123

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3389693?tstart=0

 

[everlong44]

Same here

I just starting have this problem. When you press the camera flip button, it locks up the camera app for good and will only show either a shutter picture or a black screen. A restore fixes it, but if your press the flip button, it happens all over again... Anyone find a fix yet???

 

[204353]

This is very strange. I just tried what you described several times with my 4S and it works perfectly. In fact, I never noticed how quickly it switches cameras until now!

If it keeps happening, I reckon it's a hardware issue and you should take it in.