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CAMERA HELP NOTE 3 SM-N900HA3G

Comprehensive Camera Help Guide for Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N900 (ha3g)

We understand the frustration that comes with installing a custom ROM on a legacy device like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N900 (ha3g). The Resurrection Remix ROM offers incredible customization and breathes new life into older hardware, but the loss of stock camera functionality is a common hurdle. The proprietary Samsung camera drivers and image processing algorithms are often difficult to replicate in open-source Android builds, leading to the degraded image quality and bugs you are experiencing.

This guide is dedicated to restoring your device’s camera capabilities to their full potential. We will explore a variety of methods, ranging from advanced software configuration and Magisk Module implementations to kernel-level adjustments and alternative application suites. Since you mentioned removing root access to install Resurrection Remix, we will first address how to regain root capabilities, which are essential for the most effective solutions.

Understanding the Camera Limitations on Custom ROMs

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3, codenamed ha3g (international Exynos variant), utilizes a specific set of hardware components that require proprietary vendor libraries to function correctly. The stock Samsung TouchWiz firmware includes these libraries, but most AOSP-based custom ROMs like Resurrection Remix rely on open-source drivers.

The Role of Vendor Blobs

Vendor blobs are binary blobs provided by the manufacturer (Samsung) that allow the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) to communicate with hardware. For the camera, these blobs handle image signal processing (ISP), autofocus, noise reduction, and color correction. When these are missing or improperly configured, you experience:

Resurrection Remix Configuration

Resurrection Remix often includes device-specific settings that can toggle between open-source implementations and proprietary Samsung frameworks. We need to investigate these settings first.

Checking ROM Settings

Navigate to Settings > Resurrection Remix Settings > Misc Interface. Look for a sub-menu labeled Camera or Hardware Keys. Depending on the specific build version of Resurrection Remix you are running (e.g., RR-N-v5.8.5), there may be a toggle for “Stock Camera HAL” or “Samsung Framework Support.”

Regaining Root Access via Magisk

You mentioned that you removed root access to install Resurrection Remix. To utilize the most powerful fixes—specifically Magisk Modules designed for the Note 3—you must re-root your device. We recommend using Magisk rather than SuperSU, as Magisk offers systemless modifications which are safer for custom ROMs.

Prerequisites for Rooting

Installation Steps

  1. Download: Download the Magisk.zip file and place it on your device’s internal storage or SD card.
  2. Reboot to Recovery: Power off your device completely, then hold Volume Up + Home + Power to boot into TWRP Recovery.
  3. Flash Magisk: In TWRP, tap Install, locate Magisk.zip, and swipe the slider to flash.
  4. Reboot System: After flashing, reboot your system.
  5. Verify Root: Install the Magisk Manager app (if not installed automatically). Open it and check that “Installed” in the Magisk column shows the latest version.

Once root is confirmed, we can proceed with installing modules that specifically target the ha3g camera issues.

Magisk Modules for Camera Restoration

The Magisk Module Repository is an excellent resource for finding community-developed fixes. While generic modules exist, we need to look for those compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Exynos variant.

Samsung Camera 3.3.1 Magisk Module

For the Note 3, the stock camera application (TouchWiz Camera) version 3.3.1 is often considered the most stable on custom ROMs. This module ports the stock Samsung camera app and its dependencies to AOSP-based ROMs.

Camera2 API Enabler / HAL3 Enforcer

If the stock Samsung camera module causes conflicts, you may prefer using the Google Camera (GCam) port. However, GCam requires a Camera2 API implementation that supports the HAL3 level.

EIS and OIS Stabilization Fixes

The Note 3 hardware lacks Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) but supports Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for video recording. Stock Resurrection Remix often disables EIS to prevent processing overhead, resulting in jittery video.

How to Use the Magisk Module Repository

Since your repository is located at Magisk Module Repository, we recommend filtering your search for keywords like “Samsung Camera,” “Note 3,” “Exynos,” or “ha3g.”

  1. Navigate to the repository on your device.
  2. Download the module zip file directly to your storage.
  3. Ensure you have active root (Magisk) before attempting installation.
  4. If a module causes a bootloop (rare but possible), you can always reboot to TWRP, go to Advanced > File Manager, and delete the module script located in /data/adb/modules to remove it.

Manual Configuration via Build.prop and Libs

If Magisk modules are not available for your specific Resurrection Remix build, or if you prefer a manual approach, you can manually inject the necessary camera libraries and properties. This requires a root-enabled file manager (e.g., Mixplorer) or a terminal emulator.

Modifying build.prop

The build.prop file in the /system directory controls many system parameters. We need to add specific lines to optimize the camera for the Exynos 5420 SoC.

Open your file manager with root access and navigate to /system. Edit build.prop and add the following lines:

# Camera Fix for Exynos 5420 (ha3g)
persist.camera.HAL3.enabled=1
persist.camera.mode.camera2=1
media.stagefright.1080p=1
ro.media.dec.jpeg.memcap=8000000
ro.media.enc.hprof.vid.bps=8000000
persist.sys.camera.camera2=true

Explanation:

Pushing Proprietary Vendor Libraries

The most critical step is ensuring the correct shared object files (.so) are in the correct paths. For the ha3g model, the libraries should ideally be located in /system/lib64/hw (for 64-bit processing) or /system/lib/hw.

Files to look for (from a stock TouchWiz ROM dump):

Procedure:

  1. Extract these files from a stock firmware ZIP for the SM-N900.
  2. Using TWRP or a root file manager, push these files to /system/lib64/hw/.
  3. Set permissions: Long press the file, select Properties, and set permissions to 644 (RW-R–R–).
  4. If you are using an AOSP ROM, you may need to rename camera.exynos5.so to camera.vendor.exynos5.so and symlink it.

Warning: Manually pushing libraries without a Magisk module (systemless method) modifies your system partition. If you ever need to pass SafetyNet or update the ROM, you will need to reflash your ROM. Using Magisk modules is always safer.

Alternative Camera Applications

If the kernel-level fixes are too unstable or you cannot regain root, switching to a different camera application that uses the limited open-source drivers effectively is a viable alternative. You mentioned trying paid apps, but there are specific open-source projects optimized for legacy Samsung devices.

Open Camera

Open Camera is an open-source camera app that does not rely on proprietary Samsung frameworks.

Footej Camera 2

Footej is a paid app, but it is often less buggy than GCam on older devices because it has a more forgiving buffer implementation.

GCam Port (Google Camera)

Getting Google Camera to work on the Note 3 is difficult but possible with the right APK and XML configuration files.

Troubleshooting Common Camera Issues on Resurrection Remix

Even with the fixes above, you may encounter specific bugs. Here is how to address them.

Camera App Crashes on Launch

If the camera app force-closes immediately after the Resurrection Remix logo:

  1. Clear Data: Go to Settings > Apps > Camera (or Android System WebView) and clear data/cache.
  2. Wipe Cache/Dalvik: Boot into TWRP and wipe Dalvik/ART Cache and Cache (do not wipe Data or Internal Storage).
  3. Conflict Check: If you have both the Stock Camera app and Open Camera installed, try uninstalling one. Sometimes having multiple camera apps causes permission conflicts in AOSP.

Purple/Pink Tint or Green Lines

This is a hardware acceleration issue related to the Exynos GPU drivers in custom kernels.

Autofocus Hunting

The Note 3 autofocus motor is mechanical and can be noisy or slow on custom ROMs.

Video Recording Audio Sync

On custom ROMs, video audio and video streams sometimes desync over time.

Advanced: Flashing a Stock-Based Camera Port

If Magisk modules are insufficient, the ultimate solution for the SM-N900 (ha3g) is to flash a “Stock Camera Port” zip file via TWRP. These are often found on XDA Developers or specific Telegram groups for Note 3 development.

The “OneUI Port” Attempt

While newer OneUI ports are heavy and generally unstable on the Note 3, some developers have successfully ported the Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900F) camera libraries to the Note 3. The S5 shares similar hardware architecture with the Note 3 (Snapdragon 801/Exynos 5420).

Kernel Modification

For advanced users, editing the kernel parameters via Franco Kernel Manager or Kernel Adiutor (requires root) can yield results.

Summary of Steps for SM-N900 ha3g

To resolve the camera quality issues on Resurrection Remix for your device, we recommend the following prioritized workflow:

  1. Root with Magisk: Reinstall Magisk immediately to allow systemless modifications.
  2. Install Magisk Modules: Browse the Magisk Module Repository for a Samsung Camera module specifically for Android 7 (Nougat) and the Exynos 5420 chip.
  3. Configure build.prop: If modules are unavailable, manually edit the build.prop to enable Camera2 API and increase memory caps.
  4. Use Open Camera: If the stock app remains unstable, use Open Camera with DRO enabled for the best compromise between performance and stability.
  5. Update/Change Kernels: If you experience persistent lag or color issues, look for a custom kernel on XDA that is specifically optimized for the ha3g variant of Resurrection Remix.

By leveraging the systemless root capabilities of Magisk and the specific hardware optimizations for the Exynos 5420, we can significantly improve the camera performance of your Galaxy Note 3. It requires patience and careful module selection, but the results will bring your device back to usable photographic standards.

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