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Sometimes won't take a picture

Started Aug 12, 2020 | Discussions
Carey Brown
Carey Brown Senior Member • Posts: 2,630
Sometimes won't take a picture

I have a new Samsung A71 5G phone and the behavior of the camera & app baffles me. I'm not using any special camera settings, scenes, filters, HDR, etc.. Flash is off. Yet sometimes when I press the "shutter" I hear no "click" and there is no photo added to my gallery. I can try and take the same photo 5 times and only get 2 out the 5 shots. I have (photo) selected so I'm expecting it to take a single shot. This is very frustrating and I've lost a bunch of good shots.

Some thoughts I have as to why this might be happening:

  • Not enough light
  • Moving my finger as I press the shutter
  • A setting that I'm not aware of
  • Can't focus

I've tried to pay attention to see if I can find a pattern as to when this happens but so far I haven't found one.

Anyone have any suggestions? Is there documentation on this camera & app?

Thanks.

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I2K4
I2K4 Senior Member • Posts: 1,441
Re: Sometimes won't take a picture
1

Your best answer might come from another A71 owner, not me Google turns up some Samsung user forums, and possibly find a PDF manual for the phone as well. Typically cameras will not shoot if focus is not detected - depending on camera settings there is usually a focus box that turns green. Because the problem is inconsistent, that seems likely. You might change the Autofocus setting to Continuous focus or screen Touch focus if available.

SImilarly, as you note, especially in multi-shot HDR (e.g. low light) modes the camera must be held still and the shutter finger may shake it - often there's an on screen hand shake warning.  I like to set a 2 or 3 second delay when hand held to steady the phone.

If the app is glitchy or some user setting is causing trouble, a good cure is usually to go into Android Settings, locate the app and empty its caches and data - this will restore out of the box default condition. Restarting the phone after that can help.

If there's a hardware issue, you might confirm it by installing another camera app from the Play Store - Open Camera is free and works on most Android cameras, but these days it's difficult to recommend any third-party app for any particular model because of the plethora of lens and sensor configurations. If a second app has the same problems that suggests a mechanical issue and basis for returning the phone.  You might find a working third-party camera app you like better than Samsung's stock app - I've used the same apps over several phones, am familiar and rarely bother with the manufacturer's preinstalled ones.

BrianC Veteran Member • Posts: 4,779
Re: Sometimes won't take a picture

Evidently not uncommon as mine does the same thing. Sometimes I think I've got a photo only to find out it never took one.

I just added insurance to my phone just under the 30 day wire. At least I now have a Plan B if we can't find the reason.

BTW, what the heck is single take and what use does it have?

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Brian

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BruceyE New Member • Posts: 3
Re: Sometimes won't take a picture

That happens to me too. Where do you store your pics? If you have a removable storage and your files go there then you have to tweak your phone settings and let the photo app store straight to the phone storage.

BrianC Veteran Member • Posts: 4,779
Re: Sometimes won't take a picture
1

BruceyE wrote:

That happens to me too. Where do you store your pics? If you have a removable storage and your files go there then you have to tweak your phone settings and let the photo app store straight to the phone storage.

Just read your comment on the A71. I mentioned earlier I had the same problem so I started testing and I found that I was leaving my thumb on the shutter too long. It looks like it's taking a photo because the screen flashes a bit. When I did a quicker/lighter thumb press it took the picture each and every time. I've already missed the shot I wanted a number of times but now I have it figured out. Now, If I can only remember it........

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Brian

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