In all intents, and purposes, the one thing fitted to the N97 to actually protect it, is actually causing more harm than good. Im talking about the N97 Main Camera Cover. The smooth, positive sliding protective cover, that even has a soft blue cleaning pad fitted to the underside of it, which is supposed to wipe the camera glass clean of any finger prints, dust, or dirt each time you open, and close it, is actually being reported to scratch the main camera lens cover, and not protect it.
Even my very own White N97 has harmed itself, in my case, sometime inbetween my N97 review, where I took photos of the N97, to actually taking just one photo using the N97. Inbetween these times, the phone had not been exposed to any dusty, dirty environments, in fact, it had not left the house, or table in the space of a couple of hours.
This is obviously caused by some of this dirt, and dust building up over time, and not having anywhere to dispurse. Why is this glass/hard plastic, not anti scratch material anyways? I can only recommend that either you try not to apply down pressure when opening, and closing your N97 camera cover, trying to gently flick it open, and close instead, or clean it out daily, using a can of compressed air, the type of stuff you use on a computer, to clean its keyboard etc.
Now, begs the question. "Are people being too fussy about this?", or is this an actual design flaw on Nokia's part? You decide while taking a look at the collection of photos on the next page, and judge for yourselves. There are photos, and complaints turning up on the internet from several sources so far, from Nokia Discussions, to Nokiausers, and Howardforums.
First photo is that of a Nokia Discussions member, maulim, showing his Black N97 baring a scratch to its main camera glass, caused by the protective cover.
The photo below is of my very own White N97 main camera, my scratch is not that noticable, but its scratched nevertheless, and who knows if its going to get even worse?
The next from Nokiausers member Mein_fury, showing his Black N97 scratched just after one week of normal usage.
Photo below from Howardforums member TekYodi showing his White N97 Scratch
So there you have it, a few examples so far what N97 owners are up against. Are we/they being too fussy, or do you think this is not acceptable? Please let us know your thoughts on this, because after all, the asking price of the N97 is not exactly cheap, and being a Flagship, should we expect better?
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Comments (34)
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Eina
said:
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... "Are people being too fussy?" Not at all! I was one of the early purchasers of the Nokia E90 which suffers from a scratched internal display due to the keyboard being too high. Here in Malaysia they would not replace the screen under warranty despite it being a very clear & documented design flaw and having Nokia do replacements for free in other countries. It certainly spoilt my view of Nokia quality control as this wasn't a cheap phone. I am considering getting an N97 but refuse to be the early adopter/guinea pig this time. These are the kinds of articles that I will be making my purchase decisions from. |
Juanma0602
said:
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.... Mi Nokia N97 es fabricado en China y también tiene el problema de la lente rayada. Se encuentra igual que el usuario mein_fury de Nokiausers. Opte en dejar el cobertor abierto de manera permanente para no hacerle mas daño al lente. Esta de mas decir la frustración al descubrir los horrores de este dispositivo. |
Giridhar
said:
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I spotted this in a demo device I wanted to go for N97 mainly because my N95 8GB lens has scratches and nokia would not replace it even if was ready to pay for it.... when i saw the demo piece of N97, i spotted this issue and immediately backed out. photos from scratched lens is very bad quality and the light is so much diffused and sharpness is lost. check out my blog post... http://www.gnetiks.com/gblog/?p=846 |
sameer chavan
said:
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i want to send you my mobile picture with scratch I have the same problem for my Nokia N97 lid. I have found a workaround to reduce these scratches. http://www.flickr.com/photos/s...20144223/ |
sameer chavan
said:
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Bad Flash picture quality I have been taking pictures and i have noticed that the flash(toy LEDs) flood light on left side and the picture is diffused on left side. I will post sample pictures soon. |
jared Eldredge
said:
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i want sameer's advice on reducing the scratches! 90% of the reason i bought my n95-1 was for a good camera in my phone. yay, i got it, but was plagued with RAM issues. i upgraded to the N97 after 2 years, why? 90% of my decision was based on having a good camera (there are better, N82 and N86 comes to mind) other 10% wanted the other features - yay for touch screens and keyboards. now, after a week with it my camera lens is scratched? are you kidding me? i've taken 79 pictures so far. 79 total. even if i opened and closed once for each shot (didnt happen) that's 158 slides of the lens cover. that's it! and the lens is scratched. i'm seriously upset about this. i'm $700USD poorer and the #1 reason i wanted this phone is quickly wearing away into a dull opaque reminder that i'll be disappointed for the coming 2 years. (yeah - i upgrade once every 2 years, but out of contract because AT&T won't subsidize a decent phone). |
Anarchi
said:
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Mine is new and already scratched Mine has a large scratch already, and Ive only had my N97 for less than a week  I have only opened the lens cover about 15 times - its rarely been used. Plus I take very good care of it, I use the bundled Nokia pocket case to protect the phone, and I dont apply excessive pressure to the lens cover. Luckily its between the flash and lens, but imagine it after a year! Obviously its caused by foreign dust/dirt entering the lens area, but its a mobile phone - it should be designed to accept a certain amount of dust and not damage itself during normal usage. Its not designed to be kept in an air tight plastic bag 99% of the time. Nokia need to accept that this is a design fault, and offer a free fix (i.e. replace that blue foam pad under the cover with one that doesn't come in direct contact with the lens surface. |
oz
said:
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scratch i have the exact same scratch on my n97 as your white n97, its in exactly the same place and almost the same length.... i think its a flaw with the design, not dust, as i have been keeping the n97 in a pouch and have hardly used the camera |
ltomovski
said:
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... same problem here ... after just one week of using .. I can not imagine whay will happen after one or two months  |
simonjbingham
said:
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Soon to be 2 I have 2 N97 (yes I know you are thinking "show off") one has the scratch top to bottom and one does not however looking at the comments above I think it will soon be 2 with scratches. |
Sean
said:
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2 days.. got my replacement 2 days ago after having issues witht he phone.. and its already scratched..  |
Micky
said:
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... Please post your photos in this thread within the forums please, and cast your votes too, stating where your N97 was made please. http://www.nokiausers.net/forum/nokia-n97/28878-your-n97-camera-glass-being-marked-slide-cover-pics-damage-only-here-2.html |
Kurt A. Hinds
said:
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same prob here... i realised the best way to open it is using my nail so as to minimize pressure on the "protector" still is a strange and cheap design.... |
firstknight
said:
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Me too... I have the same problem too.. but i got nokia care to change it... they were kind enough to change it for me under category though.... hehe... lucky me... Thank god for that... now i have to be super careful... stupid quality control.... |
Joel
said:
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Silly Nokia... Lens covers are for protecting the lens... Multiple scratches on my first one... Sent it back for exchange, now 2 scratches on my 2nd one. I don't know if it's due to the scratches or the way the lens is put together but the flash floods the left side of every photo I take with the flash on (on both my 1st and 2nd unit). Every Nokia rep I've spoken with (6 so far) tell me "This is the first I've heard of this issue." I'll keep sending them back until there is a resolution to the issue. |
Ericles
said:
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My N86 I have a Nokia N86. And it has the same opening-closing the N97. I expect the same disastrous results? because my N86 is made in China too. I'm from Spain, took 4 days with the N86, and I still have not seen signs of scratches. Seeing your opinions, I am a little worried. |
Jon
said:
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Partial fix To prevent any more scratches from happening, I no longer shut the len cover. If I want to take picture I blow out the dust from the lens, wipe with a cloth and press the shutter button; this will start the camera app, then press the 'User main camera' screen button to switch to the main camera. Once I have finished with the camera I just press the exit button. Scratches have got not worse. |
AM
said:
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After 4days... I had the first scratches on my lens. Absolute not acceptable. The first impression was: good they installed a cover for the lens. But know this cover make the problems. I hope really Nokia will give the same good support as usual. |
Luke Johnson
said:
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Camera Lens Scratches... Design Flaw.. ****************NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE************ I have the exact same problem after having the phone one week. No dust or anything under the cover it was new from the box, and after using the camera seven times it has developed scratches over the lens (directly in the middle) and you can tell as this shows on pictures when the flash is used. ******************************************************* ******************** I would not recommend MACRO mode with flash if detail is required. ******************************************************* ******************** Would not recommend the N97 to until nokia recal and deal with this problem. Infact under current UK Trading Standards Law I would go as far as saying this phone is not Fit For Purpose!! Maybe important to note that although the scratches are not deep when you tilt the phone to varying angles your can see the minute scratches, and when used with flash it gives the impression of minute shards of light when looked closely. Now I once had the same problem with a pair of very expensive glasses, and after return to the laboratory they had to completely change the lenses!!!! Just a thought!! |
Giri
said:
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Scratch Noticed just now Guys i got the nokia n97 last week and am already having 2 scratches, will it affect the picture quality badly because so far it has not affected any picture quality?? pls tell me in this regard |
Site
said:
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Same here Hi, I have the same issue with my UK Nokia N97 - 3 scratches on the lense? Will Nokia Recall these? |
joe barry
said:
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joe i have just got of the phone to nokia they give me a number for a repair centre and then i rung them and they told me to bring it down if they cant repair they will send it of to nokia for a week and i should get it repaired or a new phone , hope this helps |
antony
said:
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less than 1 week old scratched lens!!! iv also got the scratched lens after less than 1 week of light use!!! not very happy and because of this stupid design fall im guessing if they do decide to fix it im going to be without a mobile for quite some time very inconvenient what the hell is the world coming too when this gets past quality control and tests when being made?? please let me know if this can be fixed i will be wanting to use my camera a lot on my phone. |
Those scratches will never affect camera, Low-rated comment [Show]
Micky
said:
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Photos Thats the thing, many photos are being effected by these scratches, when the flash is used in-particular in low light level conditions. The scratch shows a white area on the photos. This is due to the scratch causing flash flood. |
Richard Barley
said:
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Loads of scratches. This is so bad I've had my N97 for a couple of months ( bought direct from Nokia France) and have always tried to keep the lens as clean as possible. This weekend though I noticed a big bleed-through from the flash while taking some shots in the evening. Upon investigation I saw a lot of scratches right across the lens.  Now, when I had my trusty N95 i only used to give the lens a wipe every so often and it never gave me any trouble. Perhaps I should go back...? |
Chris Newte
said:
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Scratched and impaired photos Mine self harmed, with a scratch over the lens. Under normal light conditions it is okay, but with the flash the whole left hand side of the photo is washed out. It is a real shame, now I'm stuck with the phone for the next 2 years. This combined with all the bugs, memory issues and problems with the firmware is a bit too much considering the hefty price paid. |
mvk
said:
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Nokia N97 quick review. I bought N97 so did a few friend of mine a month back in India. Out of the box and it hangs on its first boot up. There after always hanging. 3 patches updated but no use. My friends with similar issue. Its a very hurriedly put up phone that was long overdue in 2008 so features are out dated compared to smarter phones announced in past 3 months. Nothing is impressive. You better have a 20/20 vision bcos this phone has very small (micro) icons and name tags on icons are not readable with magnifying glass. I am kicking myself for buying this phone at Indian Rupees 33K. ( approx US$690/-) I BEG YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM NOKIA N97. Unless someone lets you have a test drive for free on N97 you dont even touch it. |
1 day only
said:
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MY GOD Had the nokia n97 for 1 day only and i took many photo's because i bought it at Queensland AU and i wanted to remember the trip, 5 hours later of opening the cover and closing and i get long white lines through 3/4 of pics. NOKIA THAT IS JUST NOT RIGHT. 5 HOURS ONLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  i FORBID ANY 1 TO TOUCH THE NOKIA N97, IT MAY LLOK COOL AND YOU SEE IT HERE AND THERE BUT ITS STILL NOT WORTH IT!!!! though good idea on the widgets, thats somen that nokia should build a phone from.  NOT A CAMERA COVER!!!!! |
SAMMSH
said:
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MR I USED MY N97 FOR ONLY 3 MONTHS AND I NOTICED THE SCRATCH RIGHT AT THE MIDDLE OF THE LENS. THIS LED TO FLASH FLOODING OF ALL PICTURES TAKEN. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST NOKIA STORE AND I WAS TOLD BY A NOKIA STAFF TO TAKE IT TO CARPHONE WAREHOUSE WHO FIX ON THEIR BEHALF. I WAS TOLD THEY WILL NEED TO CHECK IF IT CAN BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND COULD TAKE UP TO 28 DAYS. IS THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR THE LENS TO BE REPLACED OR FIXED BY NOKIA? |
Kepler Oliveira
said:
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Professor I have had the same flash flooding due to bad scratches since the first flash pictures I got. |
Nicola
said:
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... I always get that flash flood as well and had no idea why. thanks all for explaining! looked at my lense and sure enuf, scratches. I had no idea!!! will this be covered under warranty? should be aye? when it is obvious that the scratches are in the direction on the cover opening and closing. even if it can be repaired, its just goin to keep happening. correct? so is there any point in even keeping the phone? quite dissapointed. |
German
said:
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Raya en el lente, con 1 mes de usado Hola, soy de Costa Rica me ha pasado lo mismo, a tan solo un mes de comprado descubri la raya en el lente, hace que las fotos con flash salgan borrosas, ya con dos meses de uso le he vendido y estoy completamente decepcionado con Nokia, primero pense que habia sido mi culpa y ahora encontre este blog y me doy cuenta de la realidad, esta mañana le he vendido, RIP Nokia N97 |
gtwod
said:
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I have just sent minr off to be repaired. Once i get it back, I will not use it it is going striaght on ebay. Been a nokia fanboy since 1999, but the current batch of smartphones are simply ordinary compared to andriod phones. Might be tempted by one more dance with n900. |
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