topic Re: Error! Camera not Available! in Z Series

Error! Camera not Available!

lchmiel — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 22:53:57 GMT

My phone frequently returns a message "Error! Camera not Available!" when opening any application which uses a camera. This happens specially when the applicatons that scan barcodes are used ("AT&T Code Scanner", "OK Scan"), but not exclusively. Among the apps bringing the camera to a crash there are some of good reputation, like for example "Perfectly Clear". In the emergency mode the camera works OK.

The issue is the same as in this thread for Z1, however it disappoints me that the same happens in Z3 which is so much newer.

The support adviced me to clear the data for the camera (Applications menu) and restart the phone. This did not help much, so they adviced to reset the phone to factory defaults. I did it twice, due to after the first time I found exactly which apps caused the problem. It took me a day to restore everything to the original state :smileyworried:.

Afterwards, the camera was stuck by "Perfectly Clear", a decent app written by a "Best programmer". I was depressed.

However, there is a solution: simply clearing all the apps running in the background (["three permanent keys in the bottom" | "two rectangles" | clear all], or [an icon with a green brush]). This helps without a restart.

I hope Sony issues a correction for Z3 analogical to that of this post for Z1 as soon as possible.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

_alexdon_ — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 23:07:42 GMT

Have you seen the topics about google now being related to this?

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

lchmiel — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 23:13:02 GMT

Please give an example.

In fact, I don't use and do not wish to use Google Now.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

_alexdon_ — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 23:22:11 GMT

/t5/Xperia-Z3-Z3-Dual/error-message-pops-up-when-opening-camera/m-p/845023#M450

/t5/Xperia-Z3-Z3-Dual/Sony-Xperia-Z3-Camera-Error-Prompt/m-p/840637/highlight/true#M267

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

lchmiel — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 23:31:09 GMT

OK, yes, I have seen these. In my case the error message is different - it simply states that the camera is not available, without any reference to other apps. This is why I started a new thread.

The sad thing is that I was adviced to reset to factory defults, which is disastrous when a phone is vastly customised to my needs, while there exists a much more friendly solution.

[Edit] Some lettering errors corrected.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

_alexdon_ — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 05:21:17 GMT

Sorry to hear that.In this case,you should have the device examined.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

lchmiel — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 19:24:49 GMT

I think a kind of a tentative solution is outlined by myself in the last two paragraphs of the first message in this topic.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

lchmiel — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 21:43:18 GMT

Hmm... After an update to 23.0.1.A.5.77 the problem did not change at all.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

RAHAlpha — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 02:15:23 GMT

Have had the same problem. Very frustrating and a rediculous problem to have with a Sony phone. Really weird to read that the problem has been around since the Z1 and Sony hasn't fixed it. Funny too that a full restart won't fix it either but it won't on my Z3v.

That said, though I can't fix it, I can make it go away quickly when it occurs. I use a program called Clean Master; basically a pretty good app killer for all those useless running apps. It comes with a widget too for quick "sweeping". When I get the dreaded "Error. Camera not available." I just hit the Clean Master widget and, when it's finished (maybe 5 seconds) the camera works again. Not exactly a quick and permenant solution (which Sony should find quickly before I send the Z3 back) when you want a quick pic, but it helps for the moment.

I heard the Droid Turbo has virtually the same camera, less bloat, and no such problems. I might have to go look at that.

RAHAlpha

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

mr_xzibit — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 09:46:19 GMT

Sony are not responsible for a 3rd party app that causes the camera to not function. Which sounds like the problem you are both having. Contact the app development team.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

mrguybonescan — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 03:39:01 GMT

Xzibit. The fact that you are a moderator is disappointing. People Have a legitimate concern and a flawed kitkat build and you tell them to go to the app developers?

For those who are contributing to this forum....

I get the same error seemingly at random. Usually with nothing running and trying to Add a picture within Messaging. Very disappointing....especially considering the camera is actually all that makes this Z3 worth even close to its asking price. Second phone after USB charging port burnt a spot on my screen.

P.S. Contacting the 'app development team's is Sony. But good luck with that.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

mrguybonescan — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 03:44:40 GMT

Edit. Lollipop

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

mr_xzibit — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 05:00:51 GMT

I'm no mod mate. Just a user like yourself

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

metcaelfe — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 07:37:29 GMT

Hmmm.... you say the camera is worth the price?

then along comes the blob!

Great in well lit, can't say the same in an absence of natural light...

Whether a known issue or not, if this error ever occurs then it is 9 times outta 10 caused by an app which has a lock on the camera resource (or however you would say that in android speak, instantiated the class first?).

Some apps may manifest incompatibility through Runtime exceptions in the "Camera.java" class - specifically with the autoFocus methods. You can really only get that kind of info if it is a major exception which invokes the error reporting - then you can view the System Information to understand what went wrong.

Nevertheless, if the camera worked and now it doesn't, you did something, not the phone.

Reset to factory and test - IF IT STILL FAILS AFTER FACTORY RESTORE: then you are entitled to complain about it as it may well be that 1 time outta 10 where you can blame the manufacturer.

IF IT WORKS AFTER FACTORY RESTORE, but then fails after updating to the latest OS, well then the problem obviously lies therein.

Troubleshooting is not that difficult if you think about it as a process of elimination - I mean, why do you think OSs and other plug in oriented applications have a safe mode?

If you wanna check Safe Mode on your Z3, do this:

Power off the device as per normal.
Power on the device - as soon as it vibrates, release the power button: phone will show "SONY", "Xperia", "Powered By Android" and such - once these branding screens go away, the moving coloured sony motif appears.
At this point (moving coloured background boot screen on display) repeatedly press the [Volume Down] key, you can do this comfortably you don't have to rush or feverishly press it, just repeatedly.
If you successfully completed the above steps (which really isn't that hard if you think about it) then you boot to "SAFE MODE" and you can test the functions.

You can enter the Service Menu by going to "Phone" and to the dialling keypad and entering: *#*#7378423#*#*

(*#*#SERVICE#*#*)

Once the Service Menu loads, tap "Service Tests" to see all the tests you can run.

Treat it like an app, to exit, simply tap Back a few times, or Home...

good luck!

(PS, you can back your phone up with the PC Companion as you know...)

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

mrguybonescan — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 21:49:30 GMT

It is intermittent on the stock build. Has happened on two separate phones. It's also very random, so safe mode is moot. Frustrating as it isn't a recreatable bug.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

lchmiel — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 08:08:58 GMT

In Android 4 a remedy for the problem with the camera was to clear the memory before each start of any application using the camera. In Android 5 this does not work.

However, it helps if the flash light is put on and off (I do this with a torch aplication). Afterwards, the camera works perfectly until the next system start.

So, the problem lies somewhere in the flash light.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

LLM — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 05:27:07 GMT

Not sure if this can help:

Go to setting > apps > all > there are two "camera" and "cameras", disable the "cameras"

It works on my Z3 compact

Hope this will help.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

lchmiel — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 16:11:10 GMT

No, it did not work, but thank you. Btw, in my wife's Z3 Compact the problem does not arise at all.

Since then, I have had my camera replaced with a new one by Sony due to this problem. Unfortunately, the new one has the same... So I start the day with switching the flash lamp on and off and this helps.

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

fabyous — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 05:48:48 GMT

It didn work for me either! It's not an hardware problem. It seems entirely software. I also noticed the issue with the flash light. Once turned on it does not goes off. Perhaps a software problem....will try a clean install but very annoying and disappointing. Kind of make me miss my old iphone and its sandbox structure

Re: Error! Camera not Available!

fabyous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 01:50:57 GMT

I also performed a "factory reset" and did not work either. The phone was reset to 5.1.1 so it is possible that the factory reset also include some patch that might have affected the camera. At this point it might be an hardware issue. Not the sensor! I also tried changing it. Either this is an hardware issue or a software one. In both case, given the number of people complaining about this, it denounce a very poor built and or engineering for the phone. Really disappointed.