How to photograph lightning: Tips for getting the best shots

Ian Froome/Unsplash

April showers bring May flowers. But that’s not all they bring. In many parts of the world, spring storms are also the catalyst for incredible displays of lightning — a challenging subject to photograph, but one well worth the reward if you have patience and a little bit of luck on your side.

Safety

Before we dive into what you’ll need to shoot lightning and how to shoot lightning, let’s get something important out of the way. Lightning isn’t to be taken lightly.

It’s estimated by the National Weather Service that in the United States alone, roughly 300 people a year get struck by lightning with an average of 30 of those strikes being fatal. If you can hear the thunder from the lightning, you can be struck. So get the shot you need, but be extremely careful and vigilant while doing so.

Wonderground on an iPad Pro

A good way to stay on top of things is to keep an eye on your local forecast via your smartphone or tablet. Apps like Weather Underground (Free: iOS, Android) and RadarScope ($10: iOS) are great for not only planning out your path along the storm, but making sure you don’t get caught off-guard if things get more serious.

Gear/Tools

Here’s the shortlist of the bare minimum items you’ll need to effectively capture lightning strikes:

• Camera (with a manual shutter speed mode, preferably with a bulb “B” setting)
• Cable or wireless shutter release
• Tripod

There are also dedicated lightning triggers, which automatically trip you camera’s shutter when they detect lightning, but such devices can be a tad expensive. It might be worth the investment if you do a lot of lightning photography, but when it comes down to it, the above listed items are all you truly need. That said, where there’s thunder there also tends to be rain, so it might be a good idea to include a plastic bag or cover for your camera so it doesn’t get soaked while trying to get the shot.

Taking the shot

First and foremost, find a good location. The variables are effectively infinite, so there’s no definitive right or wrong way to go about it. Just make sure you’re in a spot where you can get to safety in a hurry if things take a turn for the worst.

When settled on a location, set up your camera on a tripod and get the composition you want. Once you’re happy with the composition, connect the shutter release. Now it’s on to exposure settings.

As with any shoot, many variables will dramatically affect what your settings should be. That said, there are a few general setups that will point you in the right direction.

Johannes Plenio/Unsplash

First up, set your shutter speed to bulb mode. This mode is usually displayed as a “B” in your camera’s menu or on a shutter speed dial. In bulb mode, the shutter will stay open as long as you hold the shutter release, maximizing the likelihood of capturing a bolt of lightning. Remember, when it comes to lightning, the strike itself is short enough that you don’t have to worry about a fast shutter speed. (Bulb mod works great at night, but is not recommended for daytime photography as your image will be overexposed.)

Next, set your ISO. More often than not, your best bet is to use a low ISO, somewhere around 100 or 200. Since you’ll be holding the shutter open for an extended period of time, keeping the ISO low should help reduce the issue of long-exposure noise. Plus, lightning bolts are bright, so you don’t want to overexpose the entire scene when you do capture one.

Finally, set your aperture. Since you’ll be holding your shutter open for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to choose an aperture that provides a correct exposure over the course of a 10 or 15 second shot. That way, you can hold the shutter open for an extended period of time to increase your chances of capturing a lightning strike. It’s also a good idea to use a small aperture to ensure the image is sharp from front to back. So long as you’re stopped down to f/5.6 or higher and focused on the horizon, you shouldn’t have any issues there, but if you do have close foreground elements, you may want to push that to f/11 or f/16.

Once your settings are in place, it’s little more than a waiting game with Mother Nature. Be patient, be consistent, and don’t lose hope if you end up with only one good shot in a hundred. Lightning photography is a game of numbers.

Dominik QN/Unsplash

It goes without saying that you should shoot in RAW. Lightning — and storms in general — are unpredictable, so what might be a great exposure one shot could prove to be a disaster the next. By shooting RAW, you’ll have more leniency in post-production to dial up the shadows or bring down the highlights around the lightning strike.

Wrapping up

If you’re serious about lightning photography or have a little bit of cash burning a hole in your pocket, you may want to check out one of the aforementioned lightning triggers, which will take a lot of the guesswork out of the equation. Again, these are far from necessary, so don’t feel discouraged if you can’t afford or don’t care to buy an automatic trigger.

What’s most important is being patient and putting in the time. You may not get it right on your first night out. Just keep going out there, have fun, and be safe.

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8 spring flower photography tips for budding photographers

It’s the time of year when bright green buds are popping out of the mud, but spring flowers offer a great opportunity for equally new and bright photographers. Flowers, with their bright colors, intricate details, and penchants for standing still for long periods of time, make for great photographic subjects, and offer new photographers a chance to get their feet wet (figuratively, but sometimes also literally) in the world of macro photography.

So how do you make sure those fresh blooms look every bit as Instagram-worthy as they do in person? Here’s what you need to know to get started in flower photography

Camera gear for flower photography

Flower photography can be as simple as using gear you already own to as complex as high-end interchangeable-lens cameras with specialized macro lenses, extension tubes, and filters. A DSLR or mirrorless camera is going to take better shots than a smartphone or compact camera, but that doesn’t mean you can’t shoot flowers with less expensive gear. Here are some different options, and the benefits and limitations of each.

Good: A smartphone camera and a macro add-on lens. Smartphone cameras won’t capture the same detail, color, or dynamic range as a higher-end camera, but they can still work well, particularly for sharing to social media and viewing from other smartphones, where the advantages of a larger camera may not be noticed as much. The wide-angle lens found on most smart phones isn’t great for close-ups, however, as it causes distortion. Phones that have a second telephoto lens, like the iPhone X, will do better here, but you should really consider a macro accessory lens, which will let you get closer and reveal even more detail in the subject.

Better: A compact camera with a macro mode. The smaller a camera’s sensor is, the easier it is to get up close. That means that, while a compact camera doesn’t have the same resolution or light gathering prowess as a DSLR, it often has better macro capabilities out of the box. The Olympus TG-5, for example, has an excellent macro mode.

Best: A DSLR or mirrorless camera with a macro lens. This combination will yield the most detail and highest quality results, for maximum photo flower power. Macro lenses are designed to focus very close to the subject, but it’s not just closeness that matters. Maximum magnification is the true purpose of a macro lens, and a true macro will have a 1:1 magnification ratio or higher. So minimum focus distance isn’t the only thing you should look for; a 100mm macro lens won’t focus as close as a 50mm macro lens, but it can still provide the same magnification. Some manufacturers will still label lenses as macro even with less than a 1:1 magnification, so take a close look at the specifications before buying a macro lens.

If you’d rather not invest in a macro lens, you can use an extension tube. An extension tube is a simple device that fits between your camera body and your lens. By moving the lens farther from the camera, it effectively reduces the close-focus distance and increases magnification, turning a standard lens into a macro. Results can actually be quite good, but there are two drawbacks. One, and extension tube reduces the total amount of light the lens can transmit, so you’ll need to compensate with a wider aperture or slower shutter speed. Two, the lens will essentially be in a close-focus-only mode, and won’t be able to focus far-away subjects. For these reasons, you won’t want to leave an extension tube on all the time, but it can make for an affordable alternative to a macro lens.

Other accessories often come in handy for flower photography, as well. A tripod isn’t necessarily mandatory, but we would certainly recommend it. Not only can it help get sharper shots and open up advanced techniques like focus stacking, but it will simply make things easier as you won’t have to awkwardly crouch or bend over while holding your camera to get the best angle.

A polarizing filter is another optional accessory. Polarizers cut back on polarized light, and can reduce glare and make colors pop, particularly greens, which is great for flower photography. A small, collapsible diffuser can also soften the light, or be used to help block wind and hold the flower still.

A simple spray bottle is a great way to add a splash of creativity to your picture. Give the flower a light misting, then use a macro lens to zero in on the water drops.

Flower Photography Tips For Better Spring Blossoms

Watch the weather.

Check the forecast before you plan any flower photography shoots. Wind can make flower close-ups frustrating (and focus stacking impossible). A cloudy day will create soft, even lighting, while a sunny day will create more contrast, so you may want to plan your shoot for the light that works best for the shot you have in mind. As with landscape photography, morning and evening are likely to offer the best light.

Experiment with angles.

Like photographing any subject, don’t just stick with the first composition that comes to you. Look at the flower from all angles to find the best vantage point. Different angles will bring out different qualities of the flower. A shot from directly above will bring out the flower’s shape while laying on your stomach and shooting up at the flower will make even the tiniest daisy look powerful. Flower photography composition isn’t just limited to close-ups either — consider taking a step back and photographing multiple flowers together, or the entire field.

As you look for angles that highlight the subject best, look for compositions that also eliminate any distractions in the background to prevent an unnecessary item from competing with the subject.

Find the right balance for depth of field.

The closer the lens is to an object, the shallower the depth of field will be. That means you range of what’s in focus could be very small, particularly with a DSLR or mirrorless camera and a macro lens. Getting the right depth of field can be difficult — the trick is to find a balance that creates a sharp flower and leaves any distractions in the background blurred.

Depth of field is dependent on both how close you are and the aperture setting on the lens, so use aperture priority mode and adjust the aperture to find the right mix of blurred background and a sharp subject. While an aperture of f/4 or f/5.6 may provide significant depth of field for non-macro photography, you will likely find an aperture of f/16 or even smaller will be required for extreme close-ups. Thankfully, digital cameras let you experiment as much as you need to, so try different settings until you get results you like.

Consider focus stacking.

When aperture alone isn’t enough for a sharp subject with a soft background, macro photographers will use the aforementioned technique of focus stacking. This involves taking a series of exposures from the same angle shot at different focal points, and then merging them all together in post to create an image that’s sharper than what you can capture in camera.

It’s an advanced technique, but if you’re interested in trying it, check out our focus stacking tutorial. (Or, if you are shooting with a recent Panasonic camera, use the built-in focus stacking mode.)

Use single point autofocus.

Focus is tricky in any type of macro shot because of the shallow depth of field. To maintain control over exactly what part of the flower is in focus, use single point autofocus (or, focus manually). This allows you to focus on a specific part of the flower, like the center or water drop on a petal.

Single point autofocus is typically located inside the menu options, while some higher-end cameras have shortcuts using physical controls. Check your camera’s manual if you’re unsure.

Try backlighting.

The feel of the sun in the spring by itself is nice — but place the sun behind the flower and the petals will have a surreal, almost magical glow. If you head out when the sun is lower in the sky, such as in the morning or an hour or two before sunset, try adjusting your position so that the sun is directly behind the flower to create this glow.

Backlighting makes exposure tricky, so use the spot or center-weighted metering option in your camera’s menu or shortcut controls. View the shot on the LCD screen, then adjust using exposure compensation if the shot is too bright or too dark (or use manual mode, if you’re comfortable).

Shoot after the rain.

If you’d rather not fake it with a spray bottle, use the real thing. A spring rain shouldn’t keep you out of the garden — in fact, it should encourage you to head out and shoot blooms freshly dotted with rain. Once the rain passes (or during, if you’re daring and can protect your camera from the moisture) head out for some flower photography. Besides the water droplets, colors also tend to have more pop after the rain.

Consider color.

Flower photography often offers an abundance of color, so use the different hues in the image as a compositional tool. Try adjusting your composition with contrast in mind — such as adjusting the angle so that other similar colored flowers aren’t in the background, instead using the surrounding greenery or the sky give you a background of a contrasting color. Look for complementary colors when photographing multiple flowers together.

Flowers make excellent subjects, particularly for beginners eager to jump into macro photography, as they won’t run away from you. Whether you just incorporate the basics or go all-out with a macro lens and focus stacking, remember to look for creative angles and experiment with different settings to help get an image that will stand out from the Instagram crowd.

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Low on space? Here’s how to expand your game console’s storage

New game consoles come with increasingly powerful processors, faster RAM, and plenty of creative features, but there is one area where most of them are still lacking — storage space. Regardless of whether you buy an Xbox One, PlayStation 4, or Nintendo Switch, there’s a good chance you will eventually consider expanding your game console’s hard drive in some way to hold more games, and if you’re doing a little spring cleaning, now is the perfect time to take care of it. While your options vary depending on your console, all of these options are remarkably easy, and we’ll show you exactly what to do.

Swap internal storage for PlayStation 4

Instead of plugging in an external drive on your PlayStation 4, you can also completely swap the internal drive for a replacement solid-state drive (SSD.) You have to take the plastic cover off your system and remove some screws in order to replace it, but the process is still relatively painless and doesn’t void your warranty.

Use an external drive for PlayStation 4

The PlayStation 4 also supports external storage devices, giving you access to additional space on top of what is included in your built-in hard drive. To choose the best external storage device for your system, check out our guide. Once you have your external drive ready, plug it into one of your PlayStation 4’s USB ports, then power the console on and go to “settings,” then “devices,” and “USB storage devices.” Here, you select the drive and format it to your PlayStation 4. Once this is done, it will be the default drive used by your console for storing games.

Use an external drive for Xbox One

Using an external storage device on the Xbox One is just as easy as on the PlayStation 4. Many of the same USB 3.0 drives compatible with the PlayStation 4 will also work with the Xbox One — though you need to format the drive for one system and thus can’t use the same drive for both. Once you have plugged the drive into your console’s USB port, it should automatically detect it and walk you through the steps to format it. If it doesn’t, check out our troubleshooting tips.

Once you have named your device and have it formatted, you are free to move games from your internal hard drive to your external drive, instead. This is also a great option if you’re upgrading to a new console, as you can save all of your data on an external drive and transfer it back later on.

Get an microSD card for your Nintendo Switch

You can’t use an external storage device on the Nintendo Switch, but you can upgrade its storage capacity by adding a microSD card. As long as the card you pick is “Class 10,” it will work just fine. On the back of your Switch, lift up the attached kickstand and slide your microSD card into place. Turn your Switch on, go to the system settings, select “system,” then “initialize,” and finally “format microSD card.” Once you have done this, it will be ready to use.

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Cleaning up your game library? Use our tips to organize your digital clutter

Spring is upon us, and as the sun reemerges and the weather heats up, you may be in the mood to do a little bit of cleaning around your home. But why limit your cleaning to dusty, physical things when you can also straighten up your digital clutter? Between flash sales on services like Steam, Humble Bundles, and “free” games from subscription services like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Games with Gold, even frugal gamers can build up a collection with dozens of titles spread across your various platforms, making it daunting to scroll through if you’re looking for something new to play. Plus, nobody likes that situation where you have to delete a game or two every time you get something new.

To help make game platforms easy to navigate and anxiety free, we have some tips for decluttering your game library and making it a snap to find your favorites.

Choosing what to uninstall

Regardless of which platform you play your games on, you’ll eventually have too many games installed on your storage device and will have to begin uninstalling some of them. Choosing which ones have to go can be a daunting task, particularly when you have a mix of old standby titles, as well as newer games you’re currently working on. If you need help with a particular platform, we have hardware-specific guides available for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Steam, and Nintendo Switch.

Tips on choosing which games to uninstall

• If a game takes up more than 30GB of storage and you haven’t played it in the last six months, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll be just fine without it. Remember: You can also reinstall any digitally purchased game if you get the urge to play it again.
• Have a story-heavy game you’ve already finished? Uninstall it. Even if it isn’t a huge file, a completed game is still one more game you have to sort through when you’re trying to decide what to play. If you ever want to play it again, it shouldn’t take too long to reinstall.
• Keep games that receive regular content updates. You might not play Overwatch very often, for instance, but if a new character is added, you’re going to want to spend a few days playing them without having to completely install the game again. On the other hand, consider deleting games that release content in expansions and big bursts. Even if you just finished that copy of Assassin’s Creed Origins, consider uninstalling it until the next expansion comes out.
• Remember to uninstall disc-based games if you aren’t currently playing them. Regardless of the game’s file size, you will be able to install it again in much less time than it would take to download the game digitally. That said, disc-based games with huge post-launch patches, such as Halo 5: Guardians, will take a long time to update after you reinstall them, so you may want to keep them on your console until you’re sure you’re done with them.

Organizing your library

Your options for organizing and rearranging your remaining games will vary depending on your game platform. While the PlayStation 4 gives you the ability to add folders, for instance, the Xbox One is more limited. Steam might be the easiest of the bunch to organize, as you can easily split your game library into several categories. These quick primers will help you organize your games on each major platform.

Steam

Steam gives you some great customization options for organizing your games, and since it’s easy to have hundreds of unplayed titles due to seasonal sales, you’ll want to split them up based on genre or publisher.

Doing so is surprisingly easy. Just go into your Steam game library and right-click on any game title, then choose the option labeled “set categories” from the drop-down menu. TForm there, type the game category you wish to use in the text input box, then hit “add category” and confirm by hitting “OK.” The game will now be moved into its own category instead of the general “games” list.

You’ll need to repeat this for each subsequent category you create, but if you have a game that already fits into one of your existing categories, all you have to do is check the box next to the category’s name after opening the “set categories” window.

Once you’ve organized all of your games, you can click the arrow next to each category’s name to hide it from the full list. If you’re only in the mood to play a shooter, for instance, just hide everything else to make your game list short and relevant.

PlayStation 4

The PlayStation 4 makes it easy to sort through your library of games, and if you receive freebies each month through PlayStation Plus, you’re going to need to do so in order to quickly find the game you want. This is accomplished by using folders, for which we have already published a full guide. Here are the basic steps:

Select the game you wish to add to a folder from the PlayStation 4 menu and press the “options” button. You’ll see an “add to folder” option pop up. Select it and then choose “add to new folder,” then name the folder based on the category you want to put it in.

If you already have a folder for the game’s category, you’ll see them listed under “add to existing folder” after selecting the “add to folder” option. Choose one of these to put the game in the folder.

To quickly add several games to one category, select the folder from the main menu and choose the “edit folder” option. Next to “content,” you’ll see an option labeled “select.” Click this and you can quickly check or uncheck any games you wish to add to the folder. Select “confirm” to add them all at once, and you can use the “sort” option to change their order in the folder.

Xbox One

The Xbox One doesn’t provide users with the same folder options that the PlayStation 4 does, but you can still organize some of your games by using “pins.” These are particular programs or games you put directly on the system’s home menu, and they will stay there regardless of how often you actually use them. At this point, you can have up to 40 pins at once.

Creating a pin is incredibly simple. Select the game you wish to pin from the “my games & apps” menu and press the “menu” (start) button. Next, select “pin to home.” It’s that easy! If you hit the menu button on a pinned game and select “add to home,” you can even give the game its own dedicated section of the home screen.

To view your pins from the home menu, pull the right trigger and you’ll instantly get sent to your list of pins.

If you aren’t on the home menu, hit the Xbox One’s home button and you’ll see a pin icon next to your recently used programs and the Xbox Store icon. Select this and all of your pins will be displayed right in the guide. If you hit the “Y” button on this screen, you can reorder your pins at will.

The Xbox One firmware’s upcoming 2018 “Spring Update” will also organize your free Games With Gold titles into their own menu option from the “my games & apps” page. This will be separate from the “ready to install” menu, and will contain all the uninstalled games you have on your account through the monthly program. A similar option will also be available for the Xbox Game Pass program.

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch gives you very few options for organizing your game collection. Once you have 12 different games installed on your system, an option at the far right of your list will allow you to see all the games on one page, but you can’t create folders or pin them like you can on the other platforms.

If you want to delete a game from your system without erasing it from your menu, you do have one option: archiving. Press the “+” button after selecting any game and you’ll see an option labeled “archive software.” The saves data for the game won’t be deleted and it will still show the icon on your Switch’s main menu, but you’ll have some extra space to work with on the system’s skimpy internal memory or your microSD card. You can download again at any time by selecting the icon and choosing “download.”

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How to clean your camera sensor safely

There’s no avoiding it. No matter how well you take care of your DSLR or mirrorless camera, at some point or another, there will come a time when dust and dirt accumulate on your sensor. While a single piece here or there won’t necessarily harm your camera or even affect your images, it’s still good practice to clean off your sensor every once in a while.

It might seem risky and downright challenging, but in all reality, so long as you go about the process responsibly, cleaning your sensor should be relatively easy, and quite safe. Your camera’s sensor is covered by a clear filter, so while the process is called “sensor cleaning,” you won’t actually be making contact with the sensor at all. It’s still important to be careful, as you don’t want to risk damage to the filter, and going about it the wrong way could make it even dirtier. But with the right tools, a clean space to work, and a little bit of patience, sensor cleaning is a job anyone can do at home.

Sensor dust and how it affects your photos

What is sensor dust? Every time you swap lenses, you’re presenting a small window of opportunity for stray particles to find their way onto your camera’s sensor. No matter how quickly you manage to get the job done, at some point, the dust will win. When it does win, it’s up to you to figure out how much it’s affecting your images and when you should clean it.

Gannon Burgett/Digital Trends

Sensor dust most often shows up in photos as small black spots or squiggles in your images. In busy images, where there’s a lot of different colors and textures, it might not be noticeable. But when there’s a large area of a single color, such as a blue sky, the spots will become clearly visible. Take a look at just how many specks of dust are in a small section of the image seen above.

A cropped portion showing spots of dust on the sensor.

A good way to see how much dust is on your sensor is to take a properly exposed photo of the sky or even a white wall. Any specks of dust should show up, especially when you’re zoomed in after offloading the image.

Once you’ve diagnosed the dust on your sensor, the next step is to get it off. Many cameras have a built-in sensor cleaning option, so give that a shot first (most cameras with this option can also be programmed to do it automatically at startup or shutdown). If that doesn’t work, or your camera lacks that ability, you’re left with two options: dry cleaning and wet cleaning.

Dry sensor cleaning

Before you try any sort of wet cleaning, give dry cleaning a shot. The most basic means of dry cleaning your sensor off is to use what’s referred to as a blower. A popular one, seen in the image below, is Giottos Rocket, which will only set you back $10 or so.

Using it is fairly straightforward. On a mirrorless camera, simply remove the lens to reveal the sensor. On a DSLR, you’ll still have the mirror box and shutter in the way, so you’ll need to find the option in you camera’s menu to lock the mirror up for sensor cleaning (this may require a fully-charged battery). Next, rotate the camera so the sensor is facing the ground, point the blower up into the camera, and give it a few squeezes. Keep in mind, the tip of the blower doesn’t need to be inside the camera itself, so don’t risk getting it too close.

Take a few test shots and see if that did the trick. If not, repeat it maybe one more time. If there are still specs, then you might have to move onto using a sensor cleaning brush.

These specialized brushes hold an electrostatic charge and gently attract dust to the bristles when very lightly swept across the sensor. Options range from Movo Photo’s $20 brush to VisibleDust’s Arctic Butterfly, which has built-in LEDs to help illuminate the surface of your sensor.

Like you did with the blower, make sure your camera’s sensor is exposed. Then, carefully charge the brush, and very lightly sweep it across the length of the sensor. Doing this should pick up any stubborn bits of dust the blower may have missed.

If, after all of that, you still notice spots on your sensor, you might be left with the final option — wet cleaning.

Wet sensor cleaning

Wet cleaning is the most challenging, but also the most effective in removing determined dirt from your sensor.

There are plenty of wet cleaning kits to choose from, and while the individual kits may vary slightly, most will include two basic components: cleaning swabs and solution.

One of the more popular options is VisibleDust’s sensor cleaning kit. This $30 kit includes five swabs and two sets of solution, which should last you five cleanings (you need to use a new swab every time to prevent dust collection during previous cleanings from damaging the sensor).

Whatever cleaning kit you get, be sure to follow the instructions. Due to variations in tools, instructions aren’t consistent across the board. That said, the best practice is to wet the swab, not your sensor, before wiping your sensor off. If you put the cleaning solution directly on your sensor, there’s a chance it could leak through the filters and end up damaging your camera.

When all is said and done, your sensor should be looking good as new. To perform the final check, take a photo of the sky or a white wall, and zoom around the image to see if you notice any specks. Repeat the wet cleaning process until you’re happy with the results.

How to sell your smartphone

With an endless parade of new smartphones hitting the market every year, the temptation to upgrade is strong. There’s some evidence we’re starting to hang on to our smartphones a little longer than we used to, with the average American waiting 22.7 months to upgrade, according to Kantar Worldpanel. But there are still a lot of old phones lurking in dressers and closets across the country.

Around 1.5 billion smartphones were sold last year, a figure that’s set to rise, according to International Data Corporation. So the question of what to do with your old smartphone is important. Many of us sell our old smartphones or trade them in to get money toward our next purchase, but millions of devices lie forgotten, gathering dust, and steadily depreciate in value. In this guide, we’re going to help you work out what your old phone might be worth, where best to sell it, and how to prepare it to send.

Deciding what to get rid of

A spot of spring cleaning can be cathartic and profitable. It feels good to clear old stuff out, create some space, and line your pockets in the process. Your first dilemma is deciding what to sell, so dig into your closets and gather your old smartphones for inspection.

There are various sound reasons for hanging on to an old phone, rather than parting with it: You might be planning to pass it on to a child, maybe you want a backup device in case your current phone breaks, or perhaps you’ve repurposed it as a smart home gadget.

The Manything app turns your old phone into an instant home security camera

Just be aware that if you do plan to sell your smartphone one day, delaying it is only going to lower the value. The longer you hang on to an old device, the less it will be worth.

Find the box and accessories

When you have a smartphone you’ve decided to sell, it’s a good idea to locate the original box and the accessories that came with it. Hunt around and see if you can dig up the box, the original cable and charger, the earphones, and anything else that was in there when you first opened it. This will make a difference, not only to the price you can command, but also to how easy it will be to package up and ship.

How much is your old smartphone worth?

A perfect condition phone, boxed with all the original accessories, is obviously going to be worth more than a scuffed phone with no box or charger. But to get the best possible price for your old smartphone, you’re going to have to do some research.

The carrier your phone is locked to does have an impact on price.

Generally, you’ll find the best potential prices come from a private sale to another person, but that’s also the riskiest sale method. Trade-in deals are easy and straightforward, but they won’t make you as much money and payments are usually in the form of credit or money off a new device. Selling directly to companies that deal in used electronics is the easiest way to get rid of an old smartphone, but pays the least. Below, we’ll dive deeper into these three methods.

If you decide to use eBay or Craigslist, then you’ll need to do some legwork to find out what kind of price to set. Search as if you were a buyer seeking the phone you’re selling. Search the listings and collate the prices. Look for listings that are close to what you’re offering in terms of condition and accessories.

Andri Koolme/Flickr

Once you have a few prices in mind, it’s time to check the trade-in and buy-back prices. Luckily, this process is much easier: Simply go to the website, answer a couple of questions about your phone, and you’ll get an estimated price.

There are a few services that aggregate offer prices from different buyers, such as Flipsy, SellCell, and uSell. They can save you a bit of time, but they don’t search every database on the internet. For example, Flipsy doesn’t search through Swappa’s catalog of used phones. They can be part of your research, but you should not solely rely on them.

Unlocked phones are worth more

The carrier your phone is locked to does have an impact on price. Unlocked phones, which can be activated and used on any carrier, will always command the highest fees, so it’s worth unlocking your smartphone before selling it. Check out our full phone unlocking guide for more details.

Choosing where to sell

There are three main options for selling. You can sell directly to another person using an online marketplace, you can trade it in for credit, or you can sell to a company.

Selling through a marketplace

You’ll get the highest prices by selling privately, but that means you’ll have to create an enticing listing, sort through offers, maybe negotiate the price, and deal with packaging up the phone or meeting someone to hand it over.

People on Craigslist seem to be willing to pay a bit more to avoid the hassle of waiting.

People on Craigslist seem to be willing to pay a bit more to avoid the hassle of waiting, but it’s not going to suit every seller. You should be prepared to take photos, write up a listing, field incoming offers, and then meet with the winning buyer to exchange your smartphone for cash. For a more in-depth look, check out our guide on how to sell on Craigslist.

Your next best option in terms of potential price is probably eBay, but you must remember to factor in eBay fees and your packaging and shipping costs. With eBay you can gamble and list your smartphone for auction or you can just set the price you want. To get an idea of probable auction prices, search the listings for your phone, and check the box that says Sold listings under Show only on the left-hand side of the eBay website in your browser. You will have to take photos of your smartphone, write up a detailed listing, and package up and send your smartphone to the winning bidder. Check the postage cost yourself in advance to avoid a nasty shock; we haven’t always found the postage calculator built in to eBay to be accurate. For more details, read our guide on how to sell on eBay.

Chris DeGraw/Digital Trends

There are a few other marketplaces where you can sell your smartphone, but the one we recommend is Swappa. It has several protections in place to prevent fraud, making it a safer place to buy used phones. You will have to submit a verification photo of your smartphone and provide the IMEI or ESN for a blacklist check. Every listing is also manually reviewed by a team of mobile device experts. Best of all, there are no seller fees on Swappa — the buyer pays a small sale fee. However, you should include postage costs in your price and be prepared to package and send the device when it sells.

Trade-in your smartphone

It’s very straightforward to trade-in your device and you can get an estimated price by answering a couple of questions on the relevant website. Some websites, like Amazon, give you a free pre-paid shipping label to print out and you’ll just have to package up the device and send it. With Verizon, you also have the option of taking your device into a store to have it appraised and trade it in.

Most trade-in deals will either give you credit that can only be spent with that retailer, or they’ll give you money off a new device. Be aware that the final price you get with a trade-in is only decided when they inspect the device, so if you don’t answer the questions honestly — describing a scratched phone as flawless, for example – then expect to get less than the quoted price.

Here are a few of the top options for trade-ins:

• Amazon
• Apple
• AT&T
• Best Buy
• GameStop
• Sprint
• Staples
• T-Mobile
• Target
• Verizon
• Walmart

Sell to a company

The easiest way to get cash for your smartphone is to sell it to a company that buys used smartphones. Just like with the trade-in services, you can get an estimated price online by answering a few questions. That price is usually good and locked in for a fixed period (for example, Gazelle’s quote is good for 30 days). However, you’ll only be paid once the device has been received and inspected.

One of the great things about many of these services is that they will send you the packaging with prepaid postage, so all you have to do is box your phone up, drop it in, and send it off. Here are a few of the best options:

• Gazelle
• Glyde
• Decluttr
• Blazing Electronics
• Next Worth
• YouRenew

If you want to sell your device directly, then some small, independent phone stores might give you cash over the counter. There’s also a kiosk service called ecoATM — usually located inside a shopping mall — where you can place your device in a machine. The machine inspects your device, gives you a cash offer, and, if you agree, you get the cash on the spot. Note that you will need a government-issued ID to verify your identity.

The ecoATM service is part of the Gazelle brand, which is our top recommendation for selling your smartphone to a company. It’s a trustworthy service that’s very easy to use.

How to wipe your smartphone

It’s very important to make sure that you sign out of accounts on your smartphone and completely wipe it clean before you sell it. There are two things to consider: Firstly you want to back up all your precious files and make sure no one else has access to them, and secondly you need to turn off the Activation Lock or Factory Reset Protection.

Firstly you want to backup all your precious files.

We have guides on how to back up your Android smartphone and how to back up an iPhone with iCloud. You might also be interested in our advice on switching from iPhone to Android and vice versa, as it includes details on transferring photos, contacts, and other files.

When all your files are backed up, we recommend signing out of all accounts on the smartphone you’re selling before you wipe it. You should also turn it off, remove the SIM card, and remove the MicroSD card if you have one. Turn it back on and make sure that it has at least 50-percent battery life. Then, you’re ready to wipe it.

How to wipe an iPhone

On an iPhone, you need to sign out of iCloud and the iTunes & App Store.

If your iPhone is running iOS 10.3 or later, go to Settings > [your name], then scroll down and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID and password and then tap Turn Off.

If you have an earlier iOS version, then go to Settings > iCloud > Sign Out. Tap Sign Out again, then tap Delete from My [device] and enter your Apple ID password. Then go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > Sign Out.

Genevieve Poblano/Digital Trends

Now you can go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, enter your Apple ID and password if prompted, then tap Erase [device].

If you’re switching to an Android or another phone that’s not an iPhone, then make sure you deregister iMessage.

For more details, check our full guide on how to factory reset an iPhone.

How to wipe an Android

On an Android device, the instructions differ depending on the manufacturer.

If you have a Samsung phone, then go to Settings > Lock screen and security > Screen lock type and choose None. On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > Personal > Security > Screen lock and choose None.

Now you need to remove your Google account. On a Samsung Galaxy, go to Settings > Cloud & accounts > Accounts and tap on Google, then tap the three vertical dots in the upper right or More > Remove account. On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > Accounts & sync > Google and tap the three vertical dots in the upper right, then tap Remove account.

If you have a Samsung Galaxy, you should also remove your Samsung account. To do this, go to Settings > Lock screen and security > Find My Mobile. Then, enter your password, tap on your account at the top, and select More > Remove account.

You’re ready to factory reset the phone now. Go to Settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset and then tap Reset phone or Reset device. On a Samsung Galaxy go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory data reset and then tap Reset device.

For more details, read our guide on how to wipe your Android phone.

How to list your smartphone

Once you have factory reset your smartphone, you should clean it up gently with a soft microfiber cloth. If you’re going for a trade-in, buyback service, or selling to a company like Gazelle, then you can skip to the next section.

If you’re selling through a marketplace like eBay, then you need to prepare your listing. Take several photographs of your smartphone in good light. Consider also photographing the box and any original accessories you managed to track down. If there’s any damage to the phone, it’s best to mention it in your listing and photograph it to avoid disputes later.

You should never post your IMEI number in a public listing.

For a marketplace like Swappa, you’ll need to provide your IMEI. Opening up your dialer and typing *#06# is the easiest way to find it, but we have a guide on how to check your IMEI number on any phone that also has some alternative methods.

Sometimes buyers on sites like eBay will ask for your IMEI number because they want to check that the phone isn’t blocked after being reported lost or stolen. You should use your own judgement about whether to share it or not, but you should never post your IMEI number in a public listing. For more detailed information about IMEI numbers, read our article on the used phone scam.

When you write up your listing, include as much information as possible. You should be honest about the condition of your phone, list any extras that come with it, and mention whether it’s locked to a specific carrier or not.

What to do with cases and accessories you bought

There’s a good chance you picked a good case for your phone, maybe even a couple. Perhaps you bought a dock, wireless charger, portable battery, or some other accessory to go with it. Check if your accessory is compatible with your new phone. If it is, then you might want to keep it. If not, then you might consider selling it or giving it away.

If you’re selling on eBay, then throwing in a case might entice more buyers. Sadly, there isn’t much of a market for second-hand cases, so you’re unlikely to be able to sell it on its own unless it’s really desirable and in great condition.

For things you don’t want to keep and can’t sell, try something like Freecycle to see if you can find someone else who can use it. As a last resort, you can recycle a lot of things at Best Buy. For batteries, it’s also worth checking Call2Recycle.

How to package and send your smartphone

Before you send your smartphone, we recommend charging it and then holding down the power button and turning it off. For trade-in deals and when selling to companies where they need to review the device before releasing payment, sending a charged phone will expedite the process.

The safest way to package up your smartphone is to find the original box and put it in there. Most smartphones boxes are designed to be sturdy and protect the phone in transit. A smartphone box inside a padded envelope should be perfectly safe to send. If you can’t find the original box, then we suggest finding an alternative, sturdy box. Make sure the phone is tightly packed and wrapped so that it can’t move around and get damaged in transit.

You should make sure the smartphone is tracked. Choose a postal service that provides a tracking number and share it with your buyer. If he or she doesn’t receive the smartphone and you didn’t provide a tracking number, then you’ll have no proof that it arrived and will be held responsible. The buyer will be refunded, and you will have difficulty recouping your money.

It’s also vital to choose a postal service that provides the appropriate level of insurance. If the phone is damaged or lost in transit, the seller is usually held responsible and the buyer will be refunded. Though you may be able to put in a claim with the postal service, it will take time and it’ll only pay out a maximum of the insured amount your chosen postage covers.

Editors’ Recommendations

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• 12 tips to free up storage space on your Android phone or tablet

Honor View10 giveaway! Enter to win at Android Central!

Honor’s new flagship phone is equipped with a cutting-edge AI processor, the octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 970, along with 18:9 Honor FullView display, dual-lens cameras, and 6GB of RAM and 128 GB storage at a compelling price of $499. Everything from photography to facial recognition to power management is AI-enhanced. From build quality to battery life and performance, the Honor View10 leaves little to be desired.

We’re fans, and we know you will be too once you give this phone a spin. And what better way to do that then by winning this giveaway!? Let’s get to the details!

THE PRIZE: One Android Central reader will receive an Honor View10 in navy blue!

THE GIVEAWAY: Use the widget at the bottom of this page. There are multiple ways to enter, each with varying point values. Complete all of the tasks for maximum entries and your best shot at winning! Keep in mind that all winning entries are verified and if the task was not completed or cannot be verified, a new winner will be chosen. Phone service is not included with the prize and we make no guarantees that the phone will work with your service provider, so be sure to check that before you enter. International winners will be responsible for any customs fees incurred during shipping.

The giveaway is open through March 31, 2018, and the winner will be announced right here shortly after the closing date. Good luck!

Win an Honor V10 in this St. Patrick’s Day giveaway!

Nest launches Hello doorbell, smart lock, and temperature sensor

The Hello doorbell and Nest x Yale lock are both available for immediate shipping.

After making a big name for itself in the smart thermostat and security market, Nest is finally ready to take on Ring with its new Nest Hello doorbell. Nest announced earlier this year that the Hello would ship this month, and now on March 15, pre-orders are over and the gadget is ready to start shipping.

Similar to other smart doorbells, the Nest Hello features a button that visitors can ring and a camera that shows you who’s at your door. The Hello’s camera has a 160-degree field of view with 4:3 HD + HDR recording, and it can alert you via the Nest app and Google Home of any motion, sound, or people it detects.

You can leave pre-recorded messages for visitors to let them know you’ll be right there, or you can communicate back and forth using the Hello’s built-in microphone and speaker and Nest app on your phone. Hello costs $229, and it’s available right now at Nest’s website, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.

See at Best Buy

Along with the Hello, Nest is also launching its Nest x Yale smart lock. This is something that Nest and Yale have apparently been working on since 2015, and after three long years, it’s finally available for purchase.

Available in Satin Nickel, Oil Rubbed Bronze, and Polished Brass, the Nest x Yale replaces the traditional key lock on your door a keypad-equipped one. You can lock/unlock your door by entering your custom key combination, or do so remotely via the Nest app.

Nest’s Home/Away Assist feature will automatically lock your door once it detects you’re not home, and if you use the Nest Secure home security system, the Nest x Yale lock will automatically disarm this once it’s unlocked.

The Nest x Yale is also available for purchase right now for $249 on its own or $279 for it and the Nest Connect.

See at Nest

Last but not least, Nest is also launching a temperature sensor that works with the company’s smart thermostats. Simply place one of the sensors in a room of your house, connect it to the Nest app, and you can use it to make sure that room stays a certain temperature throughout the day.

The sensor works with the 3rd gen Nest Learning Thermostat and the Thermostat E, and it costs $39 for one or $79 for a pack of three. Pre-orders are open now with shipping expected to begin in April.

See at Nest

ZeroLemon’s Bluetooth speaker has a solar panel and offers 72 hours of playback

All-in-one option.

With an insane battery life of up to 72 hours, this ZeroLemon Bluetooth speaker may be the only one you need to buy again. Right now you can pick one up for $27.99 when you checkout using coupon code QZYC37WI. It has a built-in 10000mAh battery to keep it going, and when it starts running low you can simply use its solar panel to charge it back up.

The speaker also has two USB outputs, so you can put that 10000mAh battery to work charging other devices as well. This kind of versatility makes it great to use at a BBQ, in the office, while cleaning the garage, sitting on the beach, and just about any other situation you can think of.

It also has a Micro-USB port for charging and comes with a microSD card slot and aux jack for the times you don’t want to connect to it using Bluetooth. ZeroLemon backs this speaker with a 24-month warranty, so stop delaying and buy one now using coupon code QZYC37WI.

See at Amazon

Lock your door from your phone with the $124 August 2nd-gen smart lock

The door should be the smartest part of your home.

The 2nd gen August Smart Lock is down to $124.48 on Amazon. While isn’t quite as good as Best Buy’s daily deal that dropped the price down to $100, that was a very temporary price and you might have missed it because it’s back up to $140 there at the moment. The Silver version is also down to a pretty low price at $128.23.

The third generation August Smart Lock is more than $200 right now, and even when it goes on sale doesn’t drop below $180. You’re still getting plenty of functionality in the 2nd gen and saving a lot of money in the process.

This smart lock is versatile and works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant as well. A couple Alexa devices are on sale this week or you could get the Google Home Mini in one of three colors for $49.

See on Amazon