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Shoot Amazing Photos With This DIY Filter For Your Phone's Camera


Shoot amazing photos with this DIY filter for your phone's camera


Shoot amazing photos with this DIY filter for your phone's camera

1 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Professional photographers use filters that attach to their camera lens to create various effects in their photos. You can do the same by making detachable filters for your phone's camera. It's easy and inexpensive.

2 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

What you need to make a DIY camera filter

To make your homemade filters you need scissors, markers, tape, a phone case, a piece of cardboard or thick paper, and adhesive Velcro.

3 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Trace your phone case

Start by laying your phone case on the paper or cardboard and tracing around the camera hole with a marker.

4 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Draw a circle

Draw a circle around the the circle or square you just made. The second circle should be around 1/4 inch (0.63 centimeters) away from the first. This will be the base of your filter.

5 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Cut the circle

Now, cut out the circles so that you have a donut shape.

6 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Add Velcro

Cut a small strip of Velcro. Stick one side to the phone case right beside the camera hole and stick the other side on the filter.

7 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Choose your filter

Now comes the fun part. You can experiment with a wide range of materials to add to your filter base. Each material will make your photos look different. Some materials I've tried are colored nylons, latex gloves and colored celophane.

8 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Add your filter material to the base

For this filter, I chose red nylon. To add the material to the base, just cut a small swatch and tape it to the base with clear tape. Make sure the material is taped so that it covers the entire hole in the center of the base.

Now attach the Velcro on the filter to the Velcro on the phone case. Slip your phone into the case and try out your filter.

9 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Red nylon filter

Here's what my red nylon photo looked like.

11 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET

Cellophane filter

To make colorful cellophane filters, tape a piece of clear cellophane from a food wrapper to a filter base. Then, color it with a marker. You can make the filter a solid color or several different colors.


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Pixel 6A Vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 Vs. Nothing Phone: Under-$500 Phones Compared


Galaxy a53 vs pixel 6 google pixel 5a vs samsung a53 samsung galaxy a53 5g vs pixel 6a google pixel 5a vs samsung a53 pixel 4a vs samsung galaxy s10e samsung galaxy s20 fe vs google pixel 6a pixel 6a vs samsung s21 fe pixel 6a vs pixel 6
Pixel 6A vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Nothing Phone: Under-$500 Phones Compared


Pixel 6A vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Nothing Phone: Under-$500 Phones Compared

Phones that cost just under $500 are looking better and better as 2022 continues, with Samsung, Google and new contender Nothing all offering three phones at pretty much identical $450 prices. All three of these phones promise a slick and enjoyable experience, even with their lower prices.

The Google Pixel 6A has already earned itself a glowing review, with CNET's Lisa Eadicicco calling it "the best budget Pixel yet." Meanwhile I myself was impressed with the Nothing Phone 1's balance of price and performance -- not to mention its flashing rear lights. Then there's the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, which earned a great review score thanks to its price, its display and its cameras. 

But which phone is actually deserving of your hard-earned cash? I got hold of all three to put them through their paces. 

Three phones lying flat on a table
Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Price and availability: The Nothing Phone 1 is hard to get

Let's start with a biggie. the Nothing Phone 1 is on sale in the UK and wider Europe but a rollout into the US is so far uncertain. While Nothing has said it would like to launch its phone in the US, it needs a network partner to make it compatible with US 5G networks. As of the time of writing, there are no plans for a proper US launch. People in the US can easily get the Pixel 6A and the Galaxy A53 5G, however.

All three phones start at very similar prices; $450 for the Pixel 6A, $450 for the Galaxy A53 and $472 for the Nothing Phone 1, based on a conversion from its UK price. In the UK, all three phones start at £399. Simple.

Design and display: Nothing's flashing lights stand out

While many phones in recent years have been forgettable-looking slabs, all three of these midrangers have designs that are very much their own. The A53 keeps things simple with a plastic back, raised camera unit and metallic edging. The Pixel 6A maintains the distinctive camera bar seen on its pricier siblings and while its back is technically plastic, you'd be hard pressed to tell it apart from the glass back of the 6 and 6 Pro. 

Three phones lying flat on a table
Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Between the two, the Pixel 6A has a more premium feel, than the plasticky A53, but it's the Nothing Phone 1 that stands out in the looks department. That's due to its transparent back panel, which not only provides a unique view of its internal components but also allows for its light-up LED "glyph" to pulse when you get notifications. It's arguably a gimmick and one that you may not care about at all, but it's certainly fun and it's nice to have something quirky at this price. 

The Pixel 6A is the smaller of the three, packing a 6.1-inch display against the Nothing's 6.55-inch and the A53's 6.5-inch screens. That said, the Pixel's resolution results in a pixel density higher than its competitors, although all three are pin sharp with vibrant colors and high brightness levels. The Nothing's extra size might make it the better choice for mobile gamers among you, or those of you who watch a lot of video on the move, but they all do a good job of displaying vibrant content and colorful games.

Power and performance: Pixel 6A packs a punch

The Nothing Phone 1 makes use of a Snapdragon 778G+ processor and 12GB of RAM (as reviewed), while the Galaxy A53 5G uses an Exynos 1280 chip and 6GB of RAM. The Pixel 6A meanwhile uses Google's own custom-built Tensor processor with 6GB of RAM.

And that Tensor processor put in some excellent scores on our suite of benchmark tests, that put it consistently above the other two. The Nothing was a fair second, while the A53 did somewhat fall behind on both CPU and graphics benchmarks. 

Performance comparison chart

Nothing Phone 1

Galaxy A53 5G

Legend:

Geekbench 5 (Single core)

Geekbench 5 (Multi-core)

3DMark Slingshot Unlimited

Note:

Longer bars equal better performance

Benchmarks alone aren't a perfect indicator of real-world performance however and I found all three to be perfectly capable of handling the essentials well. Navigating the interfaces was swift and lag-free on all models and all of them handled more demanding gaming in Asphalt 9: Legends without any noticeable stuttering or slow-down. Video streaming was no problem on any phone and I could immediately jump between open apps with the multitasking switcher. 

Over time I would expect the Pixel 6A to generally perform better as it's already starting from a more powerful position. It might mean that as even more demanding games arrive it's well-placed to handle them in a way that perhaps the A53 couldn't. Right now though, any of your everyday emailing, Instagramming, Candy Crushing, WhatsApp group message avoiding fun will be handled perfectly well by any of these phones. 

Cameras: Pixel 6A strikes the right balance

All three phones have multiple rear cameras, giving both standard views and ultrawide shots. The A53 includes a 5-megapixel macro camera and a depth sensor for portrait photos, but it's the main and wide cameras you'll likely find yourself using most often. Samsung's phone cameras have often had a tendency to look overly saturated and contrasty and that's absolutely the case with the A53. 

pizza-normal-a53

Galaxy A53 main camera test.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET
pizza-normal-nothing

Nothing Phone 1 main camera test.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET
pizza-normal-pixel

Pixel 6A main camera test.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Its shots are consistently punchy with the colors, to the point that they look as though you've slapped on some high-contrast filter on Instagram. The Nothing Phone 1 goes the other way, however, with frequently muted tones. It's particularly noticeable when you switch to the Phone 1's ultrawide lens, which produces drab-looking images that look almost shameful against the others. 

pizza-wide-a53

Galaxy A53 ultrawide camera test.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET
pizza-wide-nothing

Nothing Phone 1 ultrawide camera test.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET
pizza-wide-pixel

Pixel 6A ultrawide camera test.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

It's the Pixel 6A that consistently produces the most balanced-looking images in both its standard and ultrawide views. The 6A's colors are accurate and vibrant, without looking overly processed, and it generally captures a more balanced exposure than the other two, keeping bright skies under control well. 

pub-a53

Galaxy A53 main camera test.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET
pub-nothing

Nothing Phone 1 main camera test.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET
pub-pixel

Pixel 6A main camera test.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

All three phones are perfectly capable of taking decent snaps at your next family picnic, but if photography prowess is important to you then the Pixel 6A is the one to go for. 

Battery life: A close fight but Pixel 6A takes the win

With a huge 5,000-mAh battery stuffed inside I expected the Galaxy A53 to put in the best performance when it came to battery life. It's a more capacious cell than the 4,410 mAh of the Pixel 6A or the 4,500 mAh of the Nothing Phone 1. On my tests, however, it was the Pixel that managed to edge out the competition.

After 1 hour of streaming a YouTube video on Wi-Fi, with the screens set to maximum brightness, the Pixel had dropped from full to 98% remaining. The Nothing Phone 1 dropped to 95% in the same time, while the A53 dropped to 94%. After a second hour, the Pixel had dropped to 92%, with the Nothing phone coming in a close second at 90%, with the A53 having dropped to 89%. 

Three phones laying flat on a table
Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Sure, the Pixel technically did the best here, but we're really only talking a few percentage points between them, which isn't a big deal. All three put in solid performances: Both here and in everyday use, the battery lift you can expect to see will vary depending on how much you demand of your phone. 

With careful use you won't struggle to get a full day out of any of the phones, and all three will likely want a full recharge every night. 

Software and other features 

All three phones run Android 12 at their core, but you will find some notable differences in the experience. The Pixel 6A runs a pure, Google-produced version of Android 12. It's a clean and clutter-free experience that I've enjoyed using for some time on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The Nothing Phone 1 has a visual skin that includes different colors, fonts and backgrounds, but it's also neat and stripped-back, making it smooth and simple to navigate.

The A53 immediately annoyed me with a variety of prebundled apps, including ones for Booking.com, TikTok, Nextdoor and a variety of Samsung's own apps and stores. These apps make the phone feel cluttered before you've even begun to install your own. There are two different messaging apps, for example -- Google's and Samsung's -- so Android novices might find it more complicated to get to grips with. 

Close up on details of two phones
Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The A53 does have a killer feature not found on the other two though: expandable storage. While the Pixel 6A comes with 128GB of storage and the Nothing Phone 1 is available with up to 256GB, the Galaxy A53's 128GB of storage can be expanded with microSD cards up to 1TB in size. That makes it a great option if you take a lot of photos or videos or want to save a lot of media locally to your phone to enjoy when you don't have an internet connection. 

Which phone should you buy? 

The Nothing Phone 1's unique design certainly gives it an edge over the others, but if you're not bothered about those flashy lights, you love taking wide-angle photos on vacation -- or if you live in the US and can't even buy it -- then you should look toward the others. 

While the A53 5G performed admirably in our tests, it was the Pixel 6A that consistently came out on top. Its processor performance is better, it takes better photos from both its cameras, its pure Android interface is nicer to navigate and it even feels like the more premium device when you hold it. 

The A53 is larger and its expandable storage gives it a definite one-up if you want to store a lot of media, but overall it's the Pixel 6A that offers the best value for money. 

Pixel 6A vs. Nothing Phone 1 vs. Galaxy A53 5G specs comparison chart


Google Pixel 6A Nothing Phone 1 Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Display size, resolution 6.1-inch OLED; (1080 x 2400); 60Hz 6.55-inch OLED display, 2,400 x1080 pixels; 6.5-inch AMOLED (2,400x1,080 pixels); 120 Hz
Pixel density 429 ppi 402ppi 405ppi
Dimensions (Inches) 6.0 x 2.8 x 0.35 in
6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in
Dimensions (Millimeters) 152.2 x 7.18 x 8.9 mm 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams) 6.3 oz; 178g 193.5g 6.67 oz; 189g
Mobile software Android 12 Android 12 Android 12
Camera 12.2-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel ultra wide) 50-megapixel (main), 50-megapixel (ultrawide) 64-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 5-megapixel (macro), 5-megapixel (depth)
Front-facing camera 8-megapixel 16-megapixel 32-megapixel
Video capture 4K 4K at 60fps 4K
Processor Google Tensor Snapdragon 778G+ Exynos 1280
RAM/Storage 6GB RAM/128GB storage 8GB + 128GB, 8GB +256 GB, 12GB RAM + 256GB 6GB/128GB
Expandable storage None None Up to 1TB
Battery/Charger 4,410 mAh capacity; 18-watt fast charging (adapter sold separately) 4,500mAH (33W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, 5W reverse charging) 5,000mAh (charger not included, does not support wireless charging)
Fingerprint sensor Under display In-display In-display
Connector USB C USB-C USB-C
Headphone jack None None None
Special features 5G-enabled, 18W fast charging, WiFi 6E, security updates for 5 years, Android OS updates for 3 years, dual SIM, IP67 water resistance 5G, IP53, Three years of Android updates, Dual Sim, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate 5G-enabled; IP67 rating; supports 25W wired fast charging, Samsung Pay
Price off-contract (USD) $449 $470 (converted) $450
Price (GBP) £399 £399 £399
Price (AUD) A$749 AU$685 (converted) AU$699

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Should You Buy Used Camera Gear?


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Should You Buy Used Camera Gear?


Should You Buy Used Camera Gear?

If you're looking to save some money and don't need the latest and greatest, it's worth considering buying used camera gear. Whether it's for a summer vacation, a road trip or you just want something that's better than your phone, a great camera at a not-quite-new price is the best of all worlds.

And it's not just the cameras themselves. Lenses and many accessories are also available used. I'm not talking about eBay... or at least, not exclusively: There are a variety of ways to get used camera gear that's been tested by professionals so you know exactly what you're getting. 

Is it worth the risk? I thought so. I've bought a variety of used camera gear in the last few years, including most recently an $1,100 lens in like-new condition for 30% off. Here's what to consider and where to look.

Options

A screenshot of the KEH website featuring a used GoPro Hero 10 for $345.59.

Three used GoPro Hero 10 action cameras on KEH.com. For reference, the Hero 10 is $500 new.

CNET/KEH

If you have a local camera shop, that's ideal so you can physically look at the camera/lens/whatever and make sure it works, doesn't have peanut butter smeared in the battery compartment, and so on. I actually drove out of my way on my 10,000-mile road trip last year to visit a used camera store so I could sell my old gear and buy a new Canon R6 and a used Sigma 50mm f1.4. However, this is not feasible for most people. 

So what about the web? If you've visited eBay at all in the last few years you'll have noticed the vast majority of sellers are companies hawking their wares. You can find person-to-person sales, sure, but they're quite outnumbered. I mention eBay first as it's the website that's probably top of mind when most people think "buying used on the internet." Personally, I'd never buy expensive gear on eBay, because you never know what you're going to get until it arrives. The same is true of Craigslist, which offers the added bonus (terror) of meeting the seller in person.

A screenshot of Adorama's website featuring a Sony ZV-1

A listing for the Sony ZV-1 on Adorama. For reference, the ZV-1 is $750 new.

Adorama/CNET

What's needed is a filter or a middleman that can look at the used gear, judge its fitness and sell it. Fancy car companies call this "certified pre-owned." Fortunately, there are several websites that do exactly this: Examples include KEH CameraMPB and LensRentals. Most of these sites either have pictures of the actual item, a description of what appraisers found or both. Some other companies, like Adorama and B&H, include used options alongside their new offerings. 

Beyond the camera-speciality realm, there's also Amazon's dedicated Amazon Renewed program. What's notable there is a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. (Keep in mind that's not for any used items or third-party Marketplace items on Amazon, only items in the Amazon Renewed program.) 

How it works

Most sites have info about the specific item you're considering, but MPB has photos of it, which is rare.

A screenshot of a Sony camera on the MPB website.

I had a lens I wanted to sell as I'd never used it. I had also fixated on getting another lens for my current camera. (Don't get into photography, kids. It's expensive.) I decided to check out the used camera gear sites.

First, selling. The process is similar on each. You put in the brand and model of what you're selling along with a general appraisal of its condition (good, OK, peanut-butter smeared, etc.). You're then given a quote/estimate of what the company will pay you for the product. (In my case, a lens.) I went with the site that gave me the best estimate, obviously, and it emailed me a label I could print out for shipping. The cost of this shipping must be included in their pricing as there is no separate shipping charge.

After a brief time in transit, I got an email saying they'd received it. A few days after that I got a final quote, which I accepted; it was for slightly less than the original quote, which I deemed fair based on the lens' condition. A few days after that, the money hit my PayPal. It was exceptionally easy, so it's certainly worth seeing if any of your older gear is worth selling.

KEH's grading system.

KEH/CNET

Buying is, with one addition, like buying anything else online. That addition varies a bit with each site. It's how, and how elaborately, they explain the condition of the used gear. For instance, KEH uses an 8-point scale, as seen in the image above. LensRentals has a 4-point scale. MPB goes all out and actually photographs the specific piece of gear you're considering.

B&H's rating system

B&H/CNET

I ended up going with KEH for both as they had the highest price for the one I was selling and lowest for the one I was buying. That price difference is going to vary depending on the gear, so it's absolutely worth checking all the sites for the best deal. 

Weighing the risks

The obvious risk is the gear not working as promised. With most websites and on most gear there is a return policy, often a few weeks. So if it doesn't work or look as described, you can return it.

Then there's the question about longevity of gear that's already been used, perhaps heavily. There's no way to know this risk: That's the price you pay to get lower prices. This is mitigated somewhat by the inspection process you're paying these middlemen for, when you could theoretically get the same gear for less direct from someone selling it used.

There likely won't be any manufacturer's warranty. If something does go wrong, you'll have to pay to fix it. Even if you get something within the manufacturer's warranty window, since you didn't buy it new they likely won't honor it. Since you didn't buy it new from a licensed dealer, it's possible the manufacturer won't fix it even if you're willing to pay. However, you should still be able to get it repaired at a third-party repair place.

Certain sites will offer their own short-term warranty on gear they sell to you. KEH and MPB each come with six months, while Amazon Renewed and LensRentals products have three. You might also be able to buy an extended warranty from the website, though read the details about what these cover. 

Is it worth it?

gettyimages-592347645

If you have old cameras or lenses laying around it's worth seeing if it's worth anything. It might partially or fully pay for new gear!

GettyImages/Ozgur Donmaz

Personally, I've had good luck with used gear. Then again, I've bought lenses (and they tend to last a long time). If the price was right I'd probably buy a GoPro if it was in good condition, since most people use them for Disney vacations and not wingsuiting through canyons or whatever this is. 

I'd also check used sites for any accessories, with the exception of batteries. There's no telling how poorly a battery's been treated.

Would I buy a used, full-size expensive camera? I don't think so. I think for something I couldn't easily replace if it was damaged I'd want a warranty and the peace of mind that it was all new parts... and any damage done was only the result of my own clumsiness.

However, that's all a personal calculation. Saving dozens, perhaps hundreds of dollars against the chance that something might not last as long as a new one could be worth it. Just go in with your eyes open. If the price seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.


As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile road trips, and more. Check out Tech Treks for all his tours and adventures.

He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and his YouTube channel.


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