According to a Finnish website [translated link], Nokia has now formally acknowledged that the camera lens problem, which I wrote about here, is indeed real and not a figment of the user’s over-active imagination. This was a problem where the lens cover would actually permanently scratch the camera lens, and of course we all know what happens when there are scratches on the lens, right? You’ll get pictures which are probably unusable, thereby throwing out one of the reasons why you bought the phone in the first place out the window.
So, this is a phone defect and should be covered by the standard warranty. Unfortunately, I could not find a link to an official press release or something to that effect in the post reporting the news, so I guess we’ll have to take this with a pinch of salt. In any case, if you’re affected, do bring it back to the service centre, and demand that they change the camera lens as it is your right as a consumer. If that fails, I advise you to lodge a report with the Consumers’ Association or the Consumer Claims Tribunal to try to get your money back – but whether you will get all of it back is another question!
Does the scratch actually occur in an area that affects photo taking?
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Jack Lee Reply:
September 8th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Yes its possible. Depends on where the speck of dirt that caused the scratch is. It is pretty random. Its not the cover itself that causes the scratch, but dirt that may get caught under the cover that causes it.
If the scratch is over the part where the camera lense is, then yes, it may affect the photo taken. If the scratch is over the part where the flash is, it may also affect the photo taken when you use the flash as the scratch may cause the light from the flash to be distorted or refracted, thereby spoiling your photo.
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Ken Reply:
September 8th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
So the moral of the story is?
Bad cover…..shoo….
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 8th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
@Ken, the moral of the story is that…errr…I don’t really know, except don’t assume premium flagship products are error/defect free?
Why you shoo-ing the bad cover like a mongrel?
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 8th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
@Jack, the lens area is so small that if there is even a tiny scratch, I think it will have an impact on the photo?
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Jack Lee Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I had a scratch right in between the lens area and the flash area. Photos were ok still.
I use “had” as I have gotten rid of the phone!
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The Nokia 5800 has a camera cover problem.
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Ken Reply:
September 8th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Didn’t know the 5800 had a camera cover…..Unless you’re talking about the battery cover?
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 8th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
@Ken, yep, he’s talking about the entire back cover for the phone – some have tested with the cover off, and it takes noticeably better quality pictures…
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Jack Lee Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Really? I wonder how it affects it?
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 10:17 am
@Jack, no idea, but that protective plastic part over the lens may be defective? I honestly don’t know, after a couple of weeks, my 5800 went back into the drawer to gather dust
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Tell me more.
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yup, I got the scratched lens too… but currently its just outside the lens perimeter.
but the RM64,000,00.00 questions is —- how many time can one go to NCC to replace the lens or lens cover?
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Jack Lee Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 10:03 am
True true true….
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 10:04 am
@anordin, until they fix it permanently? Imagine if you bought a car that couldn’t go past the second gear and they keep changing it but the problem is still there – will you be happy?
If you want to get your money back, every time you change the cover, keep the receipt, and after the third try where the problem is still not resolved, go to the Consumer Claims Tribunal and get your money back!
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