Detecting lack of rear camera

Question

My app has functionality that requires a rear camera. Whether there is a front camera or not is irrelevant to my needs. Putting together a robust routine to detect whether or not a rear camera exists, in all circumstances, is proving tricky. For example, a user with an HTC Evo 3D has complained that the app says there's no rear camera (there clearly is), and I've had a number of similar complaints from other users.

This is a tricky thing to test, as despite having a number of devices I don't have a device with only a front camera, such as the Nexus 7, or any of the models mentioned by the users.

Here's what I have, and this was taken from code on other answers on this site:

boolean rearCameraFound = false;
    if(BUILD_VERSION > 8){
        int cameraCount = 0;
        Camera cam = null;
        Camera.CameraInfo cameraInfo = new Camera.CameraInfo();
        cameraCount = Camera.getNumberOfCameras();
        for ( int camIdx = 0; camIdx < cameraCount; camIdx++ ) {
            Camera.getCameraInfo( camIdx, cameraInfo );
            if ( cameraInfo.facing == Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_BACK  ) {
                try {
                    cam = Camera.open( camIdx );
                    Log.d("TAG", "Rear camera detected");
                    rearCameraFound = true;
                } catch (RuntimeException e) {
                    Log.e("TAG", "Camera failed to open: " + e.getLocalizedMessage());
                }
            }
            if ( cameraInfo.facing == Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_FRONT ) {
                Log.d("TAG", "Front camera detected");
            }
        }
        return rearCameraFound;
    }else{
        if (context.getPackageManager().hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_CAMERA)){
            // this device has a camera
            return true;
        } else {
            // no camera on this device
            return false;
        }
    }

I've now replaced this code with this much simpler version:

PackageManager pm = context.getPackageManager();
return pm.hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_CAMERA);

However, I don't know what would happen on the Nexus 7 for example, with only a front camera. Would this return true?

I'm looking for code that will tell me for sure if there's a rear camera or not!

FYI, this code returns false on a Nexus 7 running stock JB 4.2 — Raghav Sood, Jan 18 '13 at 12:54
Sahil - in the past I've tried to do this but was informed I didn't have enough reputation to do so. I think I now have, so shall certainly go through my questions and ensure this is done, thanks. — androidneil, Jan 18 '13 at 13:06

score 9 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:47

9

Nexus 7 (which has only one frontal camera) returns false to FEATURE_CAMERA, Instead of it, you can use FEATURE_CAMERA_FRONT. Check out this discussion.

Now, by using the above, you could make sure that there is atleast one camera. So now, you can check the number of camera's present in the phone, if it is greater than one, then there will be surely a rear camera.

import android.hardware.Camera;

int numCameras = Camera.getNumberOfCameras();
if (numCameras > 1) {
  rearCamera = true;
}

This is quite tricky. But that's all, I can now think of. Just give it a try.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:47

Community

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answered Jan 18 '13 at 12:54

Sahil Mahajan Mj

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So it seems that my newer, simpler, code could be all that is required, if I only want to know about the rear camera. All I can do is try and wait user feedback I guess. – androidneil Jan 18 '13 at 13:13
4

This does not work for the case only rear camera is available. – Tran Hoang Duy Anh Dec 13 '14 at 11:00
@TranHoangDuyAnh what you exactly want to do ? – Sahil Mahajan Mj Dec 15 '14 at 09:31
@SahilMahajanMj There are devices those only have rear camera, no front camera. In that case, the numCameras = 1. – Tran Hoang Duy Anh Dec 16 '14 at 09:52
@TranHoangDuyAnh that I got. but now wat u want ? do u want to know whether a front camera is present or wat ? – Sahil Mahajan Mj Dec 19 '14 at 07:02
@SahilMahajanMj yes, I would like to know whether a front camera is present (and sorry for late response, merry Christmas) – Tran Hoang Duy Anh Dec 25 '14 at 18:12
@TranHoangDuyAnh : ***FEATURE_CAMERA*** or ***FEATURE_CAMERA_FRONT*** doesnt work ? – Sahil Mahajan Mj Jan 01 '15 at 10:46

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 13 '14 at 08:34

Use this snippet. Note this only works for API 9 or higher.

private static boolean checkCameraFacing(final int facing) {
    if (getSdkVersion() < Build.VERSION_CODES.GINGERBREAD) {
        return false;
    }
    final int cameraCount = Camera.getNumberOfCameras();
    CameraInfo info = new CameraInfo();
    for (int i = 0; i < cameraCount; i++) {
        Camera.getCameraInfo(i, info);
        if (facing == info.facing) {
            return true;
        }
    }
    return false;
}

public static boolean hasBackFacingCamera() {
    final int CAMERA_FACING_BACK = 0;
    return checkCameraFacing(CAMERA_FACING_BACK);
}

public static boolean hasFrontFacingCamera() {
    final int CAMERA_FACING_BACK = 1;
    return checkCameraFacing(CAMERA_FACING_BACK);
}

public static int getSdkVersion() {
    return android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT;
}

And this is no need to open the camera.

Rafique Mohammed · Answer 3 · 2014-11-06T09:04:51.787

For front camera

Context context = this; //If its Activity

// Context context=getActivity(); If its a Fragment

PackageManager packageManager = context.getPackageManager();

if (packageManager.hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_CAMERA_FRONT)) {

    Log.i("CameraLog", "Front Camera Available");

} else {

    Log.i("CameraLog", "No Front Camera Available");
      }

for back camera

Context context = this; //If its an Activity

// Context context=getActivity(); If its a fragments 

PackageManager packageManager = context.getPackageManager();

if (packageManager.hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_CAMERA)) {

    Log.i("CameraLog", "Back Camera is Available");

} else {

    Log.i("CameraLog", "No Back Camera Available");

      }

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 18 '15 at 22:24

If device has one camera only, it can have back camera only, or the front camera only, first check if back camera exists:

Check if front camera exists, but devices with two cameras has front camera obviously
Check if device has one camera only, but it can have back or front camera
Final result: If device has the front camera and it has one camera only, back camera no exists

private boolean backCameraExists() {
    boolean isFrontExists = getApplicationContext().getPackageManager().hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_CAMERA_FRONT);
    if (isFrontExists && (Camera.getNumberOfCameras()<2)) {
        return false;
    }
    return true;
}

Detecting lack of rear camera

4 Answers4

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