Sony Z3 Compact Camera Will Not Focus

[TafThorne]

I have had a Sony Z3 Compact for several months now and initially was very pleased with quality and sharpness of the images its camera produces.  However I have noticed recently that the camera will sometimes refuse to focus.  Instead the centre of the image seems to distort back and forward but not focus. 

I tried looking on the support and community forums for suggestions about what to do but I did not find much help there. 

I have discovered that sometimes pressing on the lens or gently tapping on the area of the case with the lens will temporarily solve the issue.  For those reasons I suspect something has come loose or moved in the focusing system.  Is that possible on this model?

Further I have tried several alternative camera apps to see if they all experience the same problem.  In addition to the stock camera app I have tried; Google Camera, A Better Camera, Open Camera and Instagram.  All experience the same focusing issue.  The only thing that seems to bring the image back into focus for them all is a gentle tap or pressure applied to the lens (one or the other).

I have managed to use the record screen facility to capture the camera not focusing:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD5DGF3gWJ4
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUfRTdZfAZg
The second video better demonstrates the fish eye lens like effect I am seeing when it does not seem to focus.   

Is there anything that I may be able to do to more permanently fix the problem with the focus? 

Is this an issue which has been seen with other phones and could be repaired if I return the phone to a service center?

Do other people experiance an issue like this? 

[Samuel1 · Accepted solution]

I suggest that you try to repair the phone software using PC Companion, to rule out software issues.

Before repairing your device you may want to backup your information first. Check out this topic for more information on how to.
How to backup?

If the issue should still remain I think that this needs to be examined and fixed at a repair center. For more information about how to submit your phone for repair and where, contact your local support team.

[TafThorne]

Thank you Samuel.  I have backed up my phone using the PC Companion software.  

I think went into the Support Zone, chose Tablet / Phone Software update and was provided with a notice stating that "Your phone / tablet is up to date".  I was then able to click a link to "repair my phone / tablet".  I proceeded through some menus showing warnings about person data being lost.  As I had already backed up these details I proceeded.  

When the software repair is complete, I will see if my phone camera is improved or not and report back.  

[TafThorne]

Phone is still working after the repair and reboot.  The camera was OK before the restore although it had displayed the problem in the morning.  It recieved the usual tap work around and began focusing agian.  After the reboot the camera was still working and has continued to do so for the past few hours.  

I will avoid restoring all of my software or updating any applications until tomorrow.  If the camera is still working at that time, it might suggest a software problem, as it idoes not usually continue working for more than a few hours (although I tend to take a few photos in a day, then nothing for a while so exact reproduction rate is hard to quantify).  After I am confident the problem is not repeating, I will try and update the apps on my phone, then add the dynamic case software back in, then add my Android Wear device, then finally restore the phone.  I will try to leave things a few hours or days between each step, to give a resonable chance of pinning down the circumstances that trigger the issue.  

[TafThorne]

The issue reoccured this morning.  That was before I had performed a restor of my old backup.  I guess it is time for me to find a local repair center.  Thank you for your help.  

[TafThorne]

Having exhausted the other routes I filled a repair request.  This was accepted and the phone went off for repair.  Two weeks later it came back, repaired under warrantnty with a note saying that the case had been replaced.  I assume the camera or lense is integrated into the case and that is why the assembly had to be changed.  

I am very pleased with the service.  If anyone else hits this issue, repair center seems to be the way to go.  

[akkithebatman]

I am facing same problem with my Xperia Z3 plus, I repaired my phone problem solved but after few days facing same problem again!

[tlsty]

hi guys,

same issue here. camera focus worked fine. then, i had my phone serviced:

- front panel replacement due to partial loss of touch

- battery replaced

- back panel replaced

As i received the phone from service, the camera focus was gone. This is the sample picture after the defect appeared. i tested also with Open Camera - same issue. is it really necessary to have the camera module replaced? i already spent 100 EUR on the previous repair...