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ToddTode Author

Level 1

0 points

Camera shutter issue

I saw some people said they have the same issue that is the shutter closed and cannot make any move.
this issue happened when I trying to switch the back camera to front camera.
So I do not even know if my front camera works

iPad, iOS 4, iPod

Posted on Sep 27, 2010 9:00 PM

91 replies

Jan 26, 2011 5:16 PM in response to ToddTode

Hi all, I am from New Zealand and I had exactly the same issue with my iPod Touch 4G 32GB.

Having switched from backside camera to front one ONCE, the camera (or camera app) stopped working properly. Restoration (4.2.1) with and without backup did not fix it. I tried reboot, all setting reset, third party camera apps etc, but nothing fixed the problem.

Today, I took the iPod back to where I purchased it 15 days ago (Dick Smith). I explained this to the guys at the store. These guys were helpful but they had to ask me to call Apple Support from the store and get an RA number from Apple (a code for the store to get a replacement from Apple later on - apparently). So I spoke with an Apple lady on the phone and explained the problem to her. She asked for my ID, email address etc and put me on hold for 10 seconds or so, and then came back with an answer. To summarize what she told me - Apple apparently recognise this as a hardware issue and there is no user/software level solution for it. So she happily gave the store an RA number, and the store gave me a brand new iPod. Yes!

I don't know if this applies to everyone's problem here, but taking it back to your purchase store seems to be the easiest way to tackle this problem (for now anyway).

I am going to try my second iPod in the next couple of days and hopefully it won't happen again.

Good luck guys.

P.S.
The store also told me that I could have called Apple Support from home before I took it to the store.

jilly123

Level 1

0 points

Jan 27, 2011 12:28 PM in response to ToddTode

Same issue. G4 32GB bought October 2010 (one of a pair bought from amazon). 2 days ago (25thJan) the camera shutter stopped opening and I have no visuals on FaceTime. However, I can get the back camera to work if I access the camera through FaceBook. I'm worried about the number of units this is affecting - and if our other one is about to do the same thing. Not attempted a full reset yet, from the other posts, i'm not expecting this to work...

NZ Chap

Level 1

0 points

Feb 2, 2011 2:40 AM in response to ToddTode

I also have an issue with my 32GB I touch 4
Once I get to the camera screen I can not do anything else except view the photos (which I have none as I have not been able to take any yet) The whole screen is frozen.
Looks like it is quite common after reading all these posts. I tryed resetting All settings but it made no difference plus all my restrictions are off.

Looks like I will have to return it for a replacement
- The camera was a feature I wanted and convinved me to purchase this ipod

NZ Chap

Level 1

0 points

Feb 2, 2011 2:43 AM in response to skywalker.nz

Hi

Did your replacement ipod camera work?

Feb 2, 2011 5:48 PM in response to skywalker.nz

wow that was great, no idea exactly what it did, but that fixed me problem, thanks man.

Feb 2, 2011 7:23 PM in response to NZ Chap

It's been a week since my replacement iPod touch arrived, and the front and back cameras are both working OK on Apple's camera app and also on Camera+ app (in both still camera mode and video camera mode). I have been trying to test the cameras at least once a day.

I am so far grateful that my new iPod works OK, but I just keep thinking I shouldn't have to test it like this every day and worry everyday that my device might stop working again. But I still like Apple products and I haven't lost confidence in their products because I never had any! (my first Mac bought many many years ago was more expensive than a car and they had to replace the whole thing in less than a week - getting better, aren't they?)

My original iPod (purchased on 11th Jan 2011) had iOS 4.1 pre-loaded, but my new one has 4.2.1 pre-loaded, and this is the only difference I have noticed so far.

Cheers

Feb 4, 2011 10:50 PM in response to JimHdk

Yes this works as long as one is not trying to use the front camera ! The moment I try to change to front camera, Camera app freezes & its back to the place from where one had started corrective action !

Feb 22, 2011 2:27 PM in response to ToddTode

I have the same type of issue but this time with switching between capturing video and capturing photos. When I switch to video it just does not work with the shutter not opening but when I switch back to capturing photos I can easily take as many photos as I like. HELP ME PLEASE 

Eric2287

Level 1

0 points

Apr 26, 2011 3:18 PM in response to ToddTode

Also Having the same problem. shutter is froze. ive done everything reset, restore, and updated. Just wasted money for Apple to give me a pile of crap.

May 1, 2011 5:01 AM in response to skywalker.nz

Hi there skywalker.nz

Im from NZ as well! and im having the same issues you had regarding your ipod touch! Ive my ipod in Dick Smith as well on xmas time last year. The front facing time was working before as i remebered that i used it once with my friend to facetime in germany. but then this week i was just "exploring" my ipod and i tried to open the front facing camera but then it decided not work.. so ive tried reseting the ipod itself, putting it in dfu mode and restore it back to factory settings but it didnt work.

so i decided to take back at Dicksmith today and i told the guy the issues im having with it. So he tried reseting the ipod but off course it didnt work as ive tried it a million times.. he told me that what i could do is pay a $50 bond and he could send my ipod touch for repair.. and so i did.

Do you think they will be able to fix it? or will they just give me a new ipod? and also do you think i shouldve just called apple support centre first before i brougt my ipod for repair?

did they make you pay the $50 bond as well?

thank oyu very much!

Olivv

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2011 3:29 PM in response to ToddTode

Same problem here:(:(.... Apple please fix this problem!:(

May 23, 2011 11:13 PM in response to danielfrommanukau

Hi danielfrommanukau,

I take it you are from Auckland, so am I.

I am sorry that you are in this awful situation with Dick Smith/Apple, and that I didn't get back to you sooner.

But you are obviously not alone on this if this makes you feel a bit more comfortable.

To be perfectly honest with you, I don't know whether Apple will go ahead and fix your device. They might repair the hardware if they determine it as being a hardware problem and they have a means for economically repairing it. But I have a feeling they will simply replace your device. I am saying this only because the Apple lady I spoke with didn't even sound like "repair" was an option when I spoke with her. As soon as she heard symptoms of my device, she disappeared for 10 seconds, and came back to offer a full replacement.

I know this is probably not what you want to hear and I don't even know how they may decide things like this, but they may replace your device with another refurbished device as your cooling-off period expired several months ago. But I believe your replacement will still be in good working order even if they replace it with refurbished one.

Also we can't rule out the possibility of Apple having a secret software level method for complete factory reset etc which magically brings your device back to life. Personally, I wouldn't mind this type of scenario.

As for $50 bond, no, nobody asked for $50 bond when I brought my iPod in. Well, they didn't have to you see - they replaced my iPod rather than repairing it. I don't think they would do anything dodgy and I think you will get the bond back eventually, but you might want to check with authorities (consumer affair perhaps?) if you are really worried and think you are being ripped off.

You may have already received your device/replacement, but, I wish you good luck if you haven't.

Jun 10, 2011 1:11 PM in response to skywalker.nz

Bought my iTouch 4gen in Sep 2010 UK, same issue with camera, Spoke to Apple, they suggested to factory reset and restore, failing that replace the device.

I tried all remedies described here, no luck. resetting makes camera work for a couple of times before freezing the shutter again. So now I will get back to Apple to replace the device, my tuppence

Jun 14, 2011 9:51 AM in response to ToddTode

I have this problem now. I open the camera app (the Apple one that comes with the iTouch iOS) and it opens the shutter to the back camera. I tap the icon to switch to the front camera and the shutter closes and that is all I get. Does not open to the front camera and then I can't reverse back to the back camera either unless I fully close down the app. I notice that when the shutter closes to switch to the front camera, the bottom right icons for still or video camera and that slider bar are blinking at fast speed. I hope there is a solution for this problem! I have only had my iPod Touch for about 3 weeks, was working fine but all of sudden stopped working during last week.

Jun 15, 2011 2:15 AM in response to justfrombrentwood

I am sorry you are now one of us. Getting back to Apple seems to be the only and best choice so far. I hope you'll get your replacement soon.

Camera shutter issue