Taking portraits with a Portrait Mirror (patent pending) is like just looking at a regular mirror. It allows people in front of the camera see the camera screen and look at the lens at the same time. It mostly helpful for taking self portrait. It also greatly eases the camera-shy of people as portrait subject.
Portrait Mirror connects an external monitor to the camera, and use a one way mirror to project the camera screen in front of the camera lens. The following are two prototypes, one has large screen, designed for studio, the other is light weight, designed for field.
The portrait mirror is compatible with most digital cameras that come with HDMI output. It best works with mirrorless cameras. We tested it with Sony A9, Sony A7R4, Fuji X-T3, Fuji X-T30, and Nikon D850. Portrait Mirror can be used with 5omm and longer lenses(full frame equivalent). We tested it with 55mm, 85mm and 135mm lens without problem. With 35mm lens, it shows dark corners.
About one stop light will be lost when shooting with portrait mirror. For example, with the same shutter and aperture settings and to shoot the same scene, one will require ISO 1600 when using portrait mirror, and ISO 1000 without it.
Do It Yourself
To build a simple portrait mirror, you will need a teleprompter and an external monitor. It also requires your camera have HDMI output.
External Monitor
$120
5.5 Inch Field Monitor with Built in Battery
Also Consider
7 Inch Field Monitor with Built in Battery
$150
Remote Shutter
Wireless shutter remote for your camera.
Optional Accessory
$16
This is useful when shooting in portrait orientation (camera in vertical position).
Poorman’s Portrait Mirror
If your camera has a 180 degree flip out screen, you can certainly use that as a work around. Otherwise, you can use the front camera of your phone as a work around. This setup consists of 3 parts, and works for both landscape and portrait orientation, and can be handheld.
L-Bracket
$16
This is useful when shooting in portrait orientation (camera in vertical position).
Phone App
You also need a phone app that can magnify the front camera view of your phone, because front camera has a focal lens of around 28mm, while you probably shooting with 50mm or 85mm lens for portrait.
You can use this tiny web app to open front camera and zoom in. It’s tested with iPhone and iPad (must use Safari browser, Chrome does not work). It might work with Android phones as well.
To use this web app in full screen, you need to add it to home screen of your iPhone. Here is how to do it.