[ap0kalipse]

I'm seeing a problem  with photo's taken in the dark on my N97, sometimes when the flash is used the left hand side of the image has a white bar running top to bottom. Looking closely at the lens there is a scratch running down the middle. Possible cause?

[jmoulding]

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=89745&id=695522042&l=bc2eada624

Like this,  check out the last few pages

[st_halcyon]

Thanks...  For a while I got lost checking out the pics of hot women that I forgot why I was even looking at your pictures!  =)  Sick party you throw!  Kudos!

[shaunmwatson]

Definetly not to do with the scratch I had exact same problem but had no scratches. I also found that it only occured when there was another light source in the picture.

I switched phones for a new N97 and no longer get the same problem.

[st_halcyon]

Although the problem is widespread, I'm pretty sure some phones are less fortunate than others in this regard.  Other users have reported that their white banding isn't so bad, and others are reporting really bad.  My first N97 was bearable.  The second one I received, well, is horrendous.  I have no idea what I'm going to do about it just yet...

[jmoulding]

Surely it must have something to do with the cover scratching the lens, haha hot women cheers for the kudos there.

You havent added me on there have you?

although im not complaining, ive just had a few random adds recently

[roz_n97]

The other fault is that because the flash is recessed inside the same clear plastic enclosure of the lens, the flash can be transmitted sideways, through the plastic (like fibreoptics) and onto the side of the photo, creating banding on the left hand side. I have "fixed" this with a solution I found elsewhere, which was to run a fine black permenant marker around the inside edge of the flash. This seems to have stopped the flash transmission.

Whoever designed the camera shoudl hang their head in shame. How can it go so wrong when they'd got it so right before???

[st_halcyon]

@jmoulding:  No, I usually don't add random people on Facebook.  And you shouldn't approve random people you don't know.  =)

[maxximuscool]

You are a party ANIMAL. lol.

[jmoulding]

Well i dont mind random friends, i have enough real friends on there so it doesnt really matter.

@maxximuscool, thanks

[ginz088]

Pardon for entering the fray late, but are you referring to the haziness in the left side of a flash image? If so, I've noticed this, along with generally poor flash photos unless the subject is quite close. How again did you fix this?

Thanks you.

Larry

[skywatcher77]

Hi, to everyone thats having the white banding problem, i experienced this a few months back also, after several forum searches i took the advice of a few people, and some pictures that were also posted. The thing to do is to take a thin felt black marker and draw around the whole outline of the flash area, a marker around 1mm thick is best. This fixed it for me instantly as the flash was hitting off the casing when activated, with the black ring round the casing the problem is fixed. 

[ginz088]

Thank you much. I've also noted that the indoor flash shots are generally poor. When a room is not well lit, the flash simply can't handle the illumination. Your observation as well?

Larry

[skywatcher77]

Yes, this happened in all shots that included the flash, day or night or in a total dark room. Poor design from Nokia

[alexisdover]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTvgV6uWkyA

My video will help all you guys sort out this problem for good. all you need is a black permanent marker pen. its a very easy fix

[ShaunP]

I checked with Nokia Care Australia [Pacific Highway, Sydney] on their current fix for this.

The fault is a design/production fault which they have a fix for: by changing the location of the flash in relation to the lens and an upgraded camera slider cover but a Nokia phone has no warranty if the phone was bought out of the current Nokia Care region. Which in the age of online retailers is probabely a lot of customers, its amazing where you phone comes from [Bought online in Ireland from an Irish store which is really run from Paris and where Nokia Care had sourced the phone has coming from a former French colony in Africa]

I am wondering how pressure should be applied to Nokia Care to fix a defective product as it seems there are lots of upset customers and I like Nokias and don't want to see the brand collapse?