Z5 Compact - Camera problems since Marshmallow update

[dubla2dl]

Is there a planned fix in the works for the camera? Presently, the video camera is useless as it stutters and lags horribly. The only video mode that doesn't stutter is Mms which is grainy and low res.

Whenever I run the camera, I ensure all other apps are closed; in case it is a memory issue. I've tried rebooting it and disabling services to no avail.

The still camera also has issues now too. The camera never properly focuses. Each time I try to take a picture, the camera properly focuses in the viewfinder and then takes a blurry picture.

The camera worked fine prior to the last update. I've tried using Google's camera which records okay video, but had the same trouble taking still pictures.

Please help!

[Rickard]

@dubla2dl

I'm very sorry to hear about your experience with your phone

If your camera still only records one frame every few seconds even after a software repair, i'm afraid this sounds hardware related.

But just to make sure, have you tested the camera without the SD card (taken it out) after the software repair?

About the picture you posted earlier, this is actually normal. Our diagnostics app only tests if the camera works. It doesn't store and display a high resolution picture so after you take the picture wth Xperia Diagnostics, you see a low resolution picture. When you take a picture using the camera app it should however not look like that of course.

[dubla2dl]

Rickard,

I'm surprised to hear that it is considered normal to take blurry pictures on a 20+ mp camera. I used the diagnostic app as an example. The quality of pictures taken on my phone through the regular camera app and third party camera apps are always poor. The image is always crystal clear in the viewfinder until the shutter button is pressed. At that time, the auto-focus will blur the image and then take a fuzzy picture. I have cleaned the lens, removed the SD card, cleared the app data and it continues to be a problem. My bank has a 3rd party app that uses the camera to take pictures of checks for deposits. When I attempt to take pictures of the checks from an approximate 40 cm distance, the camera's focus begins going in and out and cycles approximately four times before taking a blurry, useless image. This app from my bank worked just fine on my old LG phone.

As for the video camera feature, it is completely useless. The framerate is so poor that unless I use MMS mode, it will show one frame for every five or so seconds of capture and the device gets hot while trying to do so. I've just come to terms with the fact that this device will not record video.

If it is hardware, please let me know how you guys can send me a new phone and I will return this one to you once I verify that the new one does not have the same issues. I do not want to send mine in and receive another one to find out the same problem still exists. I've tried factory resetting this thing and performing a software repair at the direction of your tech support several times now. I'm tired of having to reconfigure my phone and I just want it to work. This was too expensive of a device to be this much trouble.

[dubla2dl]

As for it not being an isolated incident to just me, the following posts are from many other owners experiencing the same issues. If it is hardware, it is likely a major engineering or manufacturing defect that will require recall on many devices.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/help/problems-camera-focus-t3371924

http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/general/xperia-z5-awful-camera-problems-regret-t3330094

http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-Z5-Z5-Compact-Z5-Premium/God-awful-camera-on-Z5-premium/m-p/106...

http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/general/hideous-image-processing-t3374726

[ghencea-RO]

A little off topic but the camera menu is very bad. Lollipop was a lot better. Very hard to use it now.

[Abrez]

After the marshmallow update the camera has become laggy. It clicks n keeps processing for about 7-8 seconds before being able to click again. Have checked all the settings and done the software repair but nothing seem to be of any help. It happens with both the front as well as the rear camera. Plz help.

[GerryC]

Hey guys i also have a phone where everything was working perfectly, and after the .32 version of Marshmallow update, the Camera Video stutters and only records maybe 1 frame per second.  If you set it to MMS then it is ok.

I was actually able to resolve this for myself by Unlocking the Bootloader using the "Sony Mobile Flasher by AndroxyDe". (http://www.flashtool.net/downloads.php)

The video preview screen no longer lags, and now records at 60FPS absolutely fine.

Of course I cannot explain why this resolved it for me, but happy it did.

Instructions:

1. Get into Developer Mode on your phone

2. Go into Developer Options and set USB debugging to ON

3. Open the Sony Mobile Flasher by AndroxyDe

4. Click BLU and follow the instructions for 2012 devices (unplug device, power off, hold volume down, connect cable.. wait

Would love to know if this helps others too.

See below for app details. 

[Ayadrix]

GerryC

Thank you for your help. You helped way more that the no help at all from the noobs at sony.

Cheers

[LourencoJML]

This is not a hardware problem because other camera apps perform well. The Android/Sony camera does not. This happened to me also on the same day as the update. I have so far reset it via PC and still the problem persists. I know of others with the same issue.