Signal-android: Unsharp pictures with built in camera

[m-terlinde]

I have:

• [X] searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [x] read https://github.com/WhisperSystems/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports

Bug description

If I take pictures with the built in camera function the preview is very sharp, but if I take the picture it suddenly gets very unsharp.
A friend of mine has the same problem on a Samsung mobile phone.

Steps to reproduce

1. Try to take a picture (very clear picture)
2. Take the picture (unsharp)
   

   Device info

Model: Google Nexus 5

Android version: CyanogenMod 11-20150901-SNAPSHOT-XNG3CAO3G0 (4.4.4)

Signal version: 3.11.1

Link to debug log

https://gist.github.com/f72c35cd81f8941a661e

[2-4601]

Related #4637, though the devices are mostly Samsung (GSII) but there's one Nexus 6P.
Edit: And thanks for the great bug report!

[m-terlinde]

Okay, I dind't found that one.

If you need more logs or so on, please let me know!

Yeah, I read the instrucions, they are very clear ;).

[2-4601]

Hmm... there doesn't seem to be any camera activity in the log you posted. You could try capturing another log immediately after the focus has failed.

[m-terlinde]

I hope, this is better!

https://gist.github.com/83b1aeb86a595bf2a9dd

The first foto was sharp, the second wasn't!

Am 22. Februar 2016 02:28:10 MEZ, schrieb 2-4601 [email protected]:

Hmm... there doesn't seem to be any camera activity in the log you
posted. You could try capturing another log immediately after the focus
has failed.

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Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub:
https://github.com/WhisperSystems/Signal-Android/issues/5276#issuecomment-186961500

[Argafal]

On a related note, it's also not possible to select the focus point by taping a location in the screen, or to activate the flash.

[sashw]

I can confirm this behaviour on my Nexus 5 running CyanogenMod 12.1
With the built-in camera function everything is sharp, but once the picture is taken it's always blurred.

[ambiso]

Also have this issue on OnePlus One running Signal 3.14.2 on CM 11.

[jnns]

Same issue occurs on a Nexus 5 running Android 6.0.1.

Device info

Device: Google Nexus 5 (hammerhead)
Android version: 6.0.1 (2862625, MOB30M)
Signal version: 3.16.0

Link to debug log

https://gist.github.com/anonymous/5322546c0014d01c70cfe258099057e3

[m-terlinde]

I think there isn't a fix yet?
Does the developers know, whats the exact problem?

[2-4601]

If you can, you might want to try a newer version of cyanogenmod. See https://github.com/WhisperSystems/Signal-Android/issues/4637#issuecomment-241203827

[m-terlinde]

I'll give the new Snapshot a try and will report next week.

[merkste]

I experience the same problem on a Moto G 3rd gen. However, the preview image ist unsharp es well. The in-app camera does not focus. This also affects the ability to scan QR codes for linking and security numbers and makes this very hard. Would a debug log be useful?

Device Info

Model: Motorola Moto G3
Android version: Android 6.0.1 (from manufacturer)
Signal version: 3.23.0

[smichel17]

I'm on 3.24.1 and this still exists. Info for reproducing: this happens far less often when trying to take a picture of text or something else with sharp, bold lines.

Even if I can't choose a spot on my screen to focus on, it would be helpful (both to getting a nice picture and to dbugging) if tapping the image forced a refocus. Maybe that's also focused enough that a member of the community could submit a patch?

[m-terlinde]

If you can, you might want to try a newer version of cyanogenmod.

This exists with the newest release for the Nexus 5 aswell.

[jnns]

Tried this yesterday with CyanogenMod 14.1-20161212-NIGHTLY-hammerhead. The problem persists.

[m-terlinde]

The new CyanogenMod build didn't help as well.

[jhellen]

Still there :(

• Signal 3.26.2
• Motorola MotoG 3rd gen
• Android 6.0

[hynz]

I can confirm this behaviour for Nexus 5, Android 6.0.1 with Signal 3.29.6.

I would like to add that to me it seems as if the cameras auto-focus works. At least the preview of the picture is sharp before actually shooting the picture. As far as I get it, it is the moment of shooting a picture which seems to initiate a refocussing/unfocussing of the camera. In a lot of cases this then leads to a blurred shot (as already depicted in the first post).

The only workaround I see is to use the camera feature available from the "attachments"-Button, which works just fine.

[m-terlinde]

Luckily my new LG G5 doesn't have the autofocus problem.

Could this problem be limited to a few mobilephones?

Am 15. Februar 2017 15:23:02 MEZ schrieb hynz [e-mail]:

I can confirm this behaviour for Nexus 5, Android 6.0.1 with Signal
3.29.6.

I would like to add that to me it seems as if the cameras auto-focus
works. At least the in-app-preview of the picture is sharp. As far as I
get it, it is the moment of shooting a picture which seems to initiate
a refocussing/unfocussing of the camera. In a lot of cases this then
leads to a blurred shot (as already depicted in the first post).

The only workaround I see is to use the camera feature available from
the "attachments"-Button, which works just fine.

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[smichel17]

I can confirm it on a Galaxy S6. In my experience, it tends to happen more with close-up pictures. However, certain types are okay (ie, when I try to take pictures of text at a similar distance, I rarely have the issue).

My best guess it that when Signal has a hard time picking out text or other straight lines as a focal point, it just goes to a default focal point that is most often wrong. Here's an example of an amp. Granted, the lighting is also somewhat poor here.

Signal's version

A different camera app

[ngulden]

I no longer observe this issue on my Samsung Galaxy SII (GT-I9100) running LineageOS 14.1-20170307-NIGHTLY (Android 7.1.1) and Signal 3.30.4.

[hynz]

I cant observe the issue anymore either (Nexus 5, Stock Android 6.0.1), Signal 3.31.4). Great!

[jnns]

This problem does no longer occur for me as well since 3.31.4.

[m-terlinde]

I didn't have the problem with my new LG G5.
I can't confirm it for my old Nexus G5, because I don't use it any more.

Do you guys agree, that this issue is solved?

[Rondom]

I encountered this as well, but unfortunately my Nexus 5 is broken. Tthe fact that there has already been one Nexus-5-user (@hynz) who confirmed it working is a good sign :-)

It would be interesting what kind of change fixed it, though.

[merkste]

I still experience unsharp pictures in version 3.31.4. The camera does not seem to refocus at all.

[jhellen]

Still having this issue on Motorola Moto g 3rd gen 2015

[aidan-fitz]

I'm having this issue on my Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016).

[AlexandreBonneau]

With signal 4.14.9 on an old Samsung galaxy s2, the camera is blurred (Under Cyanogen 11).

Is there a workaround to link the devices without having to rely on the buggy camera? Perhaps by entering the code manually?

[AlexandreBonneau]

Note: I just upgraded to LineageOS 14.1-20171213-nightly-i9100, and the bug is still there.
It's a critical bug since it prevent using the desktop app altogether.

[jnns]

Still having this issue with updated system and Signal app:

Device | Google Nexus 5 (hammerhead)
------------------------|------------------------------------
Android version | 8.0.0 (2862625, MOB30M)
Signal version | 4.14.10
LineageOS version | 15.0.-20171204_082331-UNOFFICIAL-hammerhead
Kernel version | 3.4.0

[automated-signal]

GitHub Issue Cleanup:
See #7598 for more information.