Quick fix to improve Kaiser/Tilt's camera quality

[wakka092]

Hope this helps someone:
My Tilt has always taken crappy photos. Photos taken with the Kaiser/Tilt that I've seen are often washed out and overly bright. Earlier today I was taking a picture, and the back fell off. I was shocked to see the amazing (in comparison to the old) picture quality. Everything was so crisp. Like going from VGA to 3.0 megapixels. So I ripped off the plastic piece that said "3.0 Megapixels" to reveal the camera's face but left the silver bezel and speaker bezel on. Attached are before and after pics.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3571513866_5b4cfcfe9b.jpg
Before:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3571512886_a8598563e2.jpg
After:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3571513486_ebb138729a.jpg
Note that the camera face nor that plastic piece were dirty.

[ChumleyEX]

Most people just take the back off so that the camera is actually protected when not in service.

[denco7]

Most people just take the back off so that the camera is actually protected when not in service.

I was have trouble taking good pictures with my Nikon D90, then one day I decided to drill holes through the lens cap.

You have no idea how this improved the picture quality.:rolleyes:

[wakka092]

Well, your logic fails, because lens caps aren't fixed to the lens. :)

Tomorrow, I am planning on shaping a piece of Lucite (which is much more durable than the cheap plastic that was) to fit in that impression on the battery cover.

[-haze-]

This was posted a long while back but great info for those that don't realize it.

A hot soldering iron is the most effective method, IMO. That's what I used. You don't need to remove ALL of the plastic, just enough so the camera can "see".

[denco7]

Well, your logic fails, because lens caps aren't fixed to the lens. :)

Tomorrow, I am planning on shaping a piece of Lucite (which is much more durable than the cheap plastic that was) to fit in that impression on the battery cover.


My point exactly, neither is the back cover, you take the cover off to take a photo, you put it back on when you are done, that way you don't have to take a "soldering iron " to your $500 phone.

[matrix77]

You don't have to drill a hole, just take off the battery cover when you want better qality pictures.

[ChumleyEX]

Is there an echo in here?

[matrix77]

:))
Sorry

[wakka092]

This was posted a long while back but great info for those that don't realize it.

A hot soldering iron is the most effective method, IMO. That's what I used. You don't need to remove ALL of the plastic, just enough so the camera can "see".

I tried using a very, very small drill bit (1/16") but the plastic was so thin and fragile. I didn't think of that. I will try that on a piece of plexiglass to replace the old piece of plastic.

My point exactly, neither is the back cover, you take the cover off to take a photo, you put it back on when you are done, that way you don't have to take a "soldering iron " to your $500 phone.

That's a nice idea, but my back cover doesn't stay on well as-is. I don't want to exasperate the problem by repeatedly removing the cover when taking a photo.

[burtcom]

"OMG -- I have got to take a picture of that! That is the most amazing thing I ever saw!!!!"

/puts thumb under cover, pushes up, removes cover, places cover in pocket, lifts phone up to take picture...

Too late :)

Seriously -- I removed that garbage piece of plastic from my phone and the results are much better, and I don't have to take the time to pop the cover off whenever I want to take a pic.

Be slow and careful prying off the chrome part, then use some good adhesive _sparingly_ to put the chrome piece back on.

You DON'T have to keep the cover in pristine condition for service -- if you have to send your phone in they will tell you specifically to _not_ send in the back cover, SIM card, battery stylus and any microSD cards.

Besides, if you really screw up, you can get a replacement cover easy enough.

Here's the results of my minor surgery...
http://burtcom.com/pics/P1030595.JPG

[ChumleyEX]

"OMG -- I have got to take a picture of that! That is the most amazing thing I ever saw!!!!"

/puts thumb under cover, pushes up, removes cover, places cover in pocket, lifts phone up to take picture...

Too late :)

Seriously -- I removed that garbage piece of plastic from my phone and the results are much better, and I don't have to take the time to pop the cover off whenever I want to take a pic.

Be slow and careful prying off the chrome part, then use some good adhesive _sparingly_ to put the chrome piece back on.

You DON'T have to keep the cover in pristine condition for service -- if you have to send your phone in they will tell you specifically to _not_ send in the back cover, SIM card, battery stylus and any microSD cards.

Besides, if you really screw up, you can get a replacement cover easy enough.

Here's the results of my minor surgery...



Wow I didn't realize that taking the cover off takes other people 10 minutes. Mine can come off during that small delay after hitting the camera button.

[burtcom]

Perhaps because mine is newer -- it takes some effort to pop it off.

And I don't want to keep doing it and risk breaking the tabs on the cover.

Better to remove the clear plastic once and be done with it -- trust me :)

[Bobbic]

thanx,people for very useful thread.

[wallacewilliams]

Having just attempted the open surgery option (i.e. taking the chrome bit off carefully) and making a pigs ear of it, I can now recommend the laparoscopic approach instead (i.e. the soldering iron). Or alternatively heating a very small phillips head screwdriver with a lighter. I ended up putting the 'glass' bit back in and doing this because mine was white underneath and looked crap. The small hole in the 'glass' is much less noticeable.

Can't believe the difference in quality of the pics. Although I am slightly concerned that I'm much more likely to get dust and moisture into my PDA now. Time will tell I guess....

[diannescotty]

I tried using a very, very small drill bit (1/16") but the plastic was so thin and fragile. I didn't think of that. I will try that on a piece of plexiglass to replace the old piece of plastic.



That's a nice idea, but my back cover doesn't stay on well as-is. I don't want to exasperate the problem by repeatedly removing the cover when taking a photo.

When you buy an extended life battery on ebay it comes with a new back for your phone that has just a hole with no plexiglass. This fixes 2 problems.

[Blauvster]

I used some plastic polish and cleaned up the that piece of transparent plastic. Over time it gets banged up. Polishing it helped a bunch. Still not as good as removing the cover.

Having the lens exposed to dust and other crap doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Once the lens gets messed up there isn't much you can do. So drilling a hole or removing the plastic isn't a good alternative to removing the cover.

Replacing the transparent plastic with a lens cover of some sort would be a good mod. Something that can be removed or opened.