Camera app not working on Fairphone 2

Rob_S · 22 Aug 2020, 20:54

Hi. I have recently obtained a Fairphone 2 second hand, and installed Ubuntu on it, but cannot get the camera to work at all. There seem to be a few people out there with similar problems. This post for example is recent, but is about a Pinephone, and not a FP2: https://forums.ubports.com/topic/4679/how-to-allow-camera-app-to-use-the-camera

The symptoms on my phone are the same as the above topic, "When starting the camera app, the image stays black (controls are visible). The system security shows that 0 apps are allowed to use the camera, but there is no option to change this."

I'm wondering if this is common behaviour for the FP2 - for the camera not to be working? I would be grateful for any tips on how to resolve this.

I saw somewhere on github that the option to change permissions for the camera app has not been developed yet, since it is standard to automatically add this permission upon installation of the app, which explains why there is no option to change the permissions, but why aren't they getting set upon installation.

I've tried reinstalling the camera app a couple of time now.

3T_Ed · 22 Aug 2020, 21:35

Same here, using Oneplus 3T.

The only camera app for UT devices in the Open Store should be fully functional for all UT devices. Lacking of the native camera feature is a very unpleasant surprise for those switching to Ubuntu Touch, having to resort to a GStreamer-droid based camera support in Ubuntu Touch for Halium 7.1 based port.

That may seem like a viable alternative to skilled users, not so for newcommers. Besides that, based on the comments, using the alternative camera option may disrupt regular updates. Not something a new user is looking forward to and the idea of not having an essential app like this available does not convince people to move to UT and have their device not reliable as a daily driver, not even an outdated device.

Keneda · 23 Aug 2020, 06:29

I had a similar issue a couple time on MX4 when i activated HDR, trying to take a picture, camera app hangs up, then i closed app, and next camera launch, the image stays black. The system security (pop up in camera app) says that app isn't allowed to use the camera, but there is no option to change this, and if i go in security system settings, camera app is still allowed to use camera...

Had to reboot to solve, but the issue came back quick.

Then i deactivated HDR and now no more issue.

Rob_S · 23 Aug 2020, 07:16

@Keneda What is HDR, and how do you enable / disable it?

Rob_S · 23 Aug 2020, 07:34

@Keneda It's OK I have found it. Turning it off did not fix the problem though.

A Former User · 23 Aug 2020, 08:25

@Rob_S Hi, had same issues with camera app (photo & video) on the VollaPhone (GigaSet). So, it does not look like an issue related to a specific phone.

Even uninstallation did not help on my device.

After initial installation of UT I was able to take pictures but was never able to create a video at all, (mp4 file was created but seems to be empty). This was with UT version 55. I point this out because around Ubuntu Touch Version 76 I realized the app stopped working completely.

Yesterday ( 8/22/2020) I uninstalled the app (also removed entries in .cache & .config) and raised a defect.
Today (8/23/2020) I updated to UT Version 85 and now I can take pictures again. Video is still not working.

Changing of HDR etc. did not help.

Maybe an update would fix issues on your phone as well.

Any idea how to activate a trace/log? To help the developers with more specific input? Could not find anything w.r.t. camera in log viewer.

Greets,
T.

3T_Ed · 23 Aug 2020, 08:39

Uninstalling, minimizing image/pixel size, updating, or changing any other parameter do not get the 3T camera to take and store pictures either. It's not device specific

AppLee · 23 Aug 2020, 09:48

@3T_Ed said in Camera app not working on Fairphone 2:

Uninstalling, minimizing image/pixel size, updating, or changing any other parameter do not get the 3T camera to take and store pictures either. It's not device specific

The OnePlus 3T's camera is not fully supported: https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/oneplus3t/
It requires gst-droid
But it seems there are some issues : https://forums.ubports.com/topic/3257/how-to-test-gstreamer-droid-based-camera-support-in-ubuntu-touch-for-halium-7-1-based-port/105

Well the 3T is not fully supported and still needs some love...

AppLee · 23 Aug 2020, 09:51

@3T_Ed said in Camera app not working on Fairphone 2:

Lacking of the native camera feature is a very unpleasant surprise

No surprise here everything is stated on the devices page.
If you wanted the best experience, you could have targeted the N5, OPO, M10 tablet, ... but they all got some minor issues or inconvenience.

3T_Ed · 23 Aug 2020, 09:58

@AppLee

Thanks.

What does seem like an easy workaround, it is not. Especially not when one is new to UT. Essential apps need to work upon installation of UT, period. Not requiring its and bits from the many Linux caves where codes are stored and mastered to those knowledgeable and know how not accidentally brick a phone.

First have all essential apps working to get the platform go mainstream, then have the fun to play around with terminal commands and discover the true magic that separates UT from Android and iPhone. Not the other way around.

Apart from dev time, what does it take to have the native camera app working on all devices? It's called native for a reason.

AppLee · 23 Aug 2020, 10:12

@3T_Ed said in Camera app not working on Fairphone 2:

Essential apps need to work upon installation of UT, period.

Using the same argument, my answer is : No, period.

The camera app works on any UbuntuTouch device.
BUT the OS is not fully ported on every device with remaining issues with some drivers camera, GPS, ...
A port is added when most features are working or if some workaround exists so people can knowingly choose a device.

There is no obligation upon the foundation and many ports like the 3T are from the community.
Here people do their best to deliver the best experience possible, but we have so little man power that what we have is already a huge achievement.

You cannot expect more from UBports then what you expect from Google, Apple or Microsoft.
And I'm sure that none of their latest OS will work flawlessly on a 6 year old device and you pay them big money for their "services".

Aloys · 23 Aug 2020, 10:54

@Rob_S Hi,
the camera works on my FP2 but it is not reactive. It takes about 10s to open, then when I take a picture or a video, it takes about 2s to be effective. With such a slow reaction, usability is really bad.
I am using stable OTA 12. And I did not do specific action to have the camera working like this. That's all I can tell, I have no idea why it would work a bit on a FP2 and not at all on another...

Emphrath · 23 Aug 2020, 11:46

Hey everyone ! My camera on FP2 works with native app and always has. That said, a few indications: first off, FP2 is flawed in many regards, and hardware keeps on failing. You must be knowing that if you had the thing for a while. Presently, it's my SD port which is failing. I lost the habit of blaming UT for hardware-related bugs since most of the times I reverted to Android, the issue was still there. So you might want to check... Hopefully most of these issues can be fixed by cleaning the contacts / applying cardboard on relevant parts... The joys and despairs of having a modular phone. Then I have to say I had the same message popping up sometimes and I solved it with a bit of voodoo: have the menu with "allowed apps" opened, run the app (and obviously be patient) close it, reopen it, reboot the phone, reboot unity and so on - eventually you'll get the option to allow the app. At least that's what happened for me. Finally something might have gone wrong in your installation and I see no reason why a fresh install wouldn't fix it.

Keneda · 23 Aug 2020, 21:33

@AppLee said in Camera app not working on Fairphone 2:

No surprise here everything is stated on the devices page.

No it's not, as i already stated here, an "orange bar more or less filled" doesn't tell nothing about what works and not.

https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/

My MX4, legacy, is far from full bar and i don't even know what shouln't work, all i know, and i learned it on this forum, not on device page, is i don't have native flashlight feature in indicator bar, but even on canonical uTouch i didn't have, then i use uTorch from the beginning, five years ago.

Rob_S · 24 Aug 2020, 07:04

@Tellina I tried uninstalling it, deleting the .cache content, and the relevant .config folder. Rebooted it, and reinstalled it. No luck. I switched it from the Stable channel to Edge (took a while), then repeated the process. Still not working.

Perhaps it is not the Camera-app software that is the problem. I wonder what the best way is to check that the camera drivers are working properly and / or the camera hardware is working? If I use the command:

ls -ltrh /dev/video*

.. then a whole load of camera devices are listed:

/dev/video0
/dev/video1
/dev/video2
/dev/video32
/dev/video33
/dev/video34
/dev/video35
/dev/video38
/dev/video39

This doesn't look right to me.

AppLee · 24 Aug 2020, 07:53

@Keneda
I was referring to the OnePLus 3T, each device's page is different.
Sure it could be more consistent, but my post reffered to my previous one about the 3T.

In this case, the camera issue is clearly stated with the know workaround.

But we're getting off topic.
The OP was about the FP2, what's strange is that not every devices have the same behavior, so I tend to point to a hardware problem.

Keneda · 24 Aug 2020, 10:18

@AppLee
Hardware behavior depends on software driving it, whatever software it is (firmware, os, driver, app, etc... whatever)
I don't say it's easy to make it work properly, i'm just saying.

AppLee · 24 Aug 2020, 11:45

@Keneda
For end users it's always: "I don't care it has to work"
But when we're dealing with blobs we can't do anything, so impossible exists in this case and your logic is reverse...

The hardware gives options to the upper layer and so on. Not the other way around.

A Former User · 24 Aug 2020, 11:52

@Rob_S . Hi, I failed to create a video by using the CAMERA app. It was similar to your descrition.

Then I opened the media player "MEDIENWIEDERGABE" and selected the CAMERA app.

First I noticed: Picture did not freeze.
Second: Was able to record a video by pressing the red button.
Third: Video was saved, and could be replayed.
Fourth: I was also able to create now a video in the CAMERA app.

So it seems to me it was at least on my side it was an issue with permissions & by choosing the camera app in the media player solved this.
Maybe you can also try it this way. Good luck.

@Keneda: Many thanks for your input how to retrieve a log.

Update:
Issue solved for VollaPhone. (UT: 2020-10-17/2, channel: dev)

Camera app is working for photos and videos.
Flashlight is working as well.
Zoom is working

Keneda · 24 Aug 2020, 14:14

@AppLee said in Camera app not working on Fairphone 2:

@Keneda
For end users it's always: "I don't care it has to work"

I'm not that kind, in other way uTouch wouldn't be my only phone os since five years now.

But when we're dealing with blobs we can't do anything, so impossible exists in this case and your logic is reverse..

Blob is software, ok it's closed source crap, but software.

The hardware gives options to the upper layer and so on. Not the other way around.

The manufacturer crap hardware closed drivers "gives you options" here.