"Can't connect to the camera" on CM/AOKP roms - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I always use AOKP roms on my devices and since I have the i9300 I start to get "Can't connect to the camera" occasionally when I open the camera app. I have to restart the device to use the camera (or the torch) again.
I suppose it was a rom related problem, but while upgrading from 4.1.2 to 4.2.1 (so new camera app) I saw the problem remain identical and I start investigate.
The problem is on the camera firmware, that is not placed on the filesystem, so it didn't changes between flashes.
EDIT: the problem is not completely solved, but is seems less frequent than before...
The only way to change it seems to flash a samsung stock rom (or a based one) and follow this steps:
dial *#34971539# in stock dialer
check your camera vendor using "Phone/CAM FW Ver Check" (the first two letter of "Cam FW Ver")
if you have a ZD* firmware download this file: View attachment ZDFF03.zip (thanks to GrayJack)
if you don't have a ZD* firmware you have to try yourself downloading from here or here (please report your results and I will update this post)
unzip the file SlimISP.bin in the root of your internal memory
dial *#34971539# again
upgrade yur camera fw using "Phone to CAM FW Write (Rear)"
restore your favorite rom
optional: press thanks/donate button :good:
Here's my tests on ZD camera + 4.2.1 AOKP
ZDFE02: frequent "Can't connect to the camera"
ZDFF03: good
ZDFI02: this is the most recent, but camera force closes

---

Hi,
i'm having the same issue, and I made a topic about it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=37325700#post37325700
Any idea of what I'm doing wrong? I followed your instructions, but the FW write button stays disabled?

---

you have a ZH* firmware? which file you try to use?
the one attached in my post is for ZD* cameras and in the GrayJack/4PDA threads there is no trace of this vendor.
maybe there's a compatibilty check that keep the flash butto disabled and maybe you have a new hardware that didn't have an older firmware to flash?

---

It Works!
Heya, just wanted to let you know that this FW really fixed the camera issues on my S3.
I was running ZDFE02 and after updating to ZDFF03 all problems were gone.
Running CM10.1 now with Camera 4.2 and Photo Sphere.
Thank you for your great work!

---

c3k said:
I always use AOKP roms on my devices and since I have the i9300 I start to get "Can't connect to the camera" occasionally when I open the camera app. I have to restart the device to use the camera (or the torch again).
I suppose it was a rom related problem, but while upgrading from 4.1.2 to 4.2.1 (so new camera app) I saw the problem remain identical and I start investigate.
The problem is on the camera firmware, that is not placed on the filesystem, so it didn't changes between flashes.
The only way to change it seems to flash a samsung stock rom (or a based one) and follow this steps:
dial *#34971539# in stock dialer
check your camera vendor using "Phone/CAM FW Ver Check" (the first two letter of "Cam FW Ver")
if you have a ZD* firmware download this file: View attachment 1669083 (thanks to GrayJack)
if you don't have a ZD* firmware you have to try yourself downloading from here (please report your results and I will update this post)
unzip the file SlimISP.bin in the root of your internal memory
dial *#34971539# again
upgrade yur camera fw using "Phone to CAM FW Write (Rear)"
restore your favorite rom
optional: press thanks/donate button :good:
Here's my tests on ZD camera + 4.2.1 AOKP
ZDFE02: "Can't connect to the camera"
ZDFF03: perfect (until now)
ZDFI02: this is the most recent, but camera force closes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
my problem is that I flashed the stock rom ( as you mentioned) an I´m not able to start the check because, after dailed *#34971539# the check don´t start and after 3-4 Second check stopt....
The camera doesn´t work with no ROM....
Do you have any Idea what to do?

---

have you flash through odin?
is it the latest available version at samfirmware?

---

c3k said:
have you flash through odin?
is it the latest available version at samfirmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I going to try again I hope this is the right one: Germany 2012 December 4.1.2 I9300XXELL4 I9300DBTELL1

---

It doesn´t work with my GS3. I flashed the stock with odin and the camera isn´t working. I can not manage to go to service. after taking *#34971539# I get: "Camera firmware standard" on the top of the screen and then "Factory Test stopt"....
Any help out there......

---

slyk2203 said:
Hi,
my problem is that I flashed the stock rom ( as you mentioned) an I´m not able to start the check because, after dailed *#34971539# the check don´t start and after 3-4 Second check stopt....
The camera doesn´t work with no ROM....
Do you have any Idea what to do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here...:crying:

---

Re: [SOLVED] "Can't connect to the camera" on CM/AOKP roms
When you say that with the FW trick the camera works perfect, does it include touch to focus with flash enabled?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

---

hi there,
first a big thx for you @c3k for finding the time to investigate the issue for all the no SAMMY roms which the cam is most likely the only disadvantage over the SAMMY firmware !
i've flashed stock rom dialed the no. and got an earlier cam+phone firmware GDFE02 on both cam+phone FW, i've applied the update at the thread you linked to and now i'm running both phone and cam FW with: ZDFF03.
i've restored my jellybam nand but unfortunately the issue persists "as usual".
i tried to clear data and dalvik cache+fix the permissions and clear the gallery(aka camera app) data as well.
after rebooting i'm still getting the problem.
i guess it the fix doesn't work at every phone for some reason(i have the i9300 off course).
if anyone have any suggestions i'd love to hear
cheers

---

i try to dial *#34971539# in stock dialer but my GS3 return nothing.
Any ideas?

---

slyk2203 said:
It doesn´t work with my GS3. I flashed the stock with odin and the camera isn´t working. I can not manage to go to service. after taking *#34971539# I get: "Camera firmware standard" on the top of the screen and then "Factory Test stopt"....
Any help out there......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
niaze_farda said:
same here...:crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think samsung may have changed the S3 camera in lastest hw versions, and maybe it has no more an upgradable firmware.
If this is correct the only way is work on the aosp source to have a better comunication with this new hardware, but I don't know how hard it is, if is possible and how many i9300 camera vendor / version exists,,,
When and where you buy your device? (is it i9300, right?)
lluis.lsm said:
When you say that with the FW trick the camera works perfect, does it include touch to focus with flash enabled?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what you're talking about, but I've just take some photo on low lights / touch to focus with flash enabled whitout problems.
eytan123 said:
hi there,
first a big thx for you @c3k for finding the time to investigate the issue for all the no SAMMY roms which the cam is most likely the only disadvantage over the SAMMY firmware !
i've flashed stock rom dialed the no. and got an earlier cam+phone firmware GDFE02 on both cam+phone FW, i've applied the update at the thread you linked to and now i'm running both phone and cam FW with: ZDFF03.
i've restored my jellybam nand but unfortunately the issue persists "as usual".
i tried to clear data and dalvik cache+fix the permissions and clear the gallery(aka camera app) data as well.
after rebooting i'm still getting the problem.
i guess it the fix doesn't work at every phone for some reason(i have the i9300 off course).
if anyone have any suggestions i'd love to hear
cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you had a GD* firmware, you need to use a GD* update.
strange your camera still works...
read again my post and try the ZD* fw from the linked post
vitormateus said:
i try to dial *#34971539# in stock dialer but my GS3 return nothing.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try most recent rom, same slyk2203's hardware?

---

c3k said:
I think samsung may have changed the S3 camera in lastest hw versions, and maybe it has no more an upgradable firmware.
If this is correct the only way is work on the aosp source to have a better comunication with this new hardware, but I don't know how hard it is, if is possible and how many i9300 camera vendor / version exists,,,
When and where you buy your device? (is it i9300, right?)
Not sure what you're talking about, but I've just take some photo on low lights / touch to focus with flash enabled whitout problems.
if you had a GD* firmware, you need to use a GD* update.
strange your camera still works...
read again my post and try the ZD* fw from the linked post
Try most recent rom, same slyk2203's hardware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This seems to be a f.... Nightmare... A smartphone with quadcore without camera.... I bought it 7 days ago...
I tried today the latest stock rom jb from febr. 2013 and the cam doesnot work....
Is there a chance to delete the whole system and make a newstart ?
I have the first backup after the phone was routed...

---

This was my problem in the past too, so didn't go for AOKP it still has issues atm. back then i just flash other rom do full wipe and camera works again. flashed dav cache and format system?

---

lyxtian said:
This was my problem in the past too, so didn't go for AOKP it still has issues atm. back then i just flash other rom do full wipe and camera works again. flashed dav cache and format system?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you explain step by step.
Which rom are you using now?
Thanks

---

Can someone help to fix the camera on my galaxy s3?

---

Same problem here
I'm glad I'm not the only one having this problem.
This camera issue happens on every ROM I flash with the exception of the Stock ROMs.
I am now re-flashing my AOKP 4.2.1 ROM that I had running a little while ago. It seems the problem is with every ROM but the stock ones, which is a shame considering I'm not the biggest touchwiz fan and I love AOKP.
So does anyone know of any fix? the error only happens when I take a picture. I really dont know what to do. I am open to any suggestions.
Thanks, as always.

---

joshuagalipeau said:
I'm glad I'm not the only one having this problem.
This camera issue happens on every ROM I flash with the exception of the Stock ROMs.
I am now re-flashing my AOKP 4.2.1 ROM that I had running a little while ago. It seems the problem is with every ROM but the stock ones, which is a shame considering I'm not the biggest touchwiz fan and I love AOKP.
So does anyone know of any fix? the error only happens when I take a picture. I really dont know what to do. I am open to any suggestions.
Thanks, as always.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my galaxy s3 the camera does not work on stock too...:crying: it seems to be totaly broken.....:crying: I can not take pictures of my son he is 17 months old tomorrow....

---

Damn, that sucks
slyk2203 said:
On my galaxy s3 the camera does not work on stock too...:crying: it seems to be totaly broken.....:crying: I can not take pictures of my son he is 17 months old tomorrow....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jeez, I'm really sorry! I would help you if I could but I'm not sure how much i could do!
have you tried any camera apps?
or try this!!!!
search "4.2 camera" on google and find the androidpolice one, download and flash!
Works perfectly for me, plus you get photosphere!
I just can't get the camera working on 4.2 :crying::crying::crying::crying:
hope it helps!!