Hiding a camera can be easy to do if you use a Two Way Mirror. Instead of nesting a camera into a teddy bear for a nanny cam, blend your camera into your home decor by putting it behind a mirror. This way, you are not limited to micro-sized cameras that people may or may not see. There are many factors to consider when using a Two Way Mirror to hide the camera.
In these videos, we will take you through the glass that will deliver full privacy, recording clarity, and share pro-level tips that will make your project a lot easier.
Did you know…There is more than one type of Two Way Mirror?
The term “Two Way Mirror” is used to describe a semi-transparent mirror and turns into a mirror when one side of the mirror is bright while the other side is dark. Choosing the right mirror can be confusing if you do not know what to look for! First, I will tell you the basic specifications of each mirror type you might consider, and then we will go over a few scenarios where one might be more useful.
Quick Tip: Transparency translates into picture quality
To choose the best mirror for the project where you are hiding a camera behind a mirror, you have to get your priorities straight. Do you want the camera to be completely hidden, or do you want flawless picture quality? What if you want the best of both worlds?
The Glass Two Way Mirror provides the most privacy among the different Two Way Mirrors. Coming in at 11% transparency, it blocks almost all of the light coming through the mirror. This can be advantageous if you cannot make the camera side super dark by using a shroud. This could be the case if you are using a large mirror in an observation room typesetting.
- 70% Reflective
- 11% Transparent
- Bronze Tint
The Acrylic Two Way Mirror is great for situations where you would be hiding a camera indoors. Since it is acrylic, it will scratch easily and does not hold up under outdoor, wet conditions. Coming in with 30% transparency, it provides much better display quality than the Glass Two Way Mirror and is more color neutral. However, when we did a video quality test, we did find that unless it is completely pitch black behind the mirror, you do get some reflection coming back onto the camera.
- 70% Reflective
- 30% Transparent
- Sliver Tint
The Glass Smart Mirror is basically the same as the Acrylic Two Way Mirror with technical specifications with 30% transparency, but it has a much more durable mirror coating, so it would hold up better over time if scratching is an issue or if it needs to go outside. In doing the comparison video, I noticed this actually looks like the best option of the three with how clear the colors come through!
- 70% Reflective
- 30% Transparent
- Color Neutral
For hiding a camera behind a mirror where display quality is the number one priority, whether it be for photography or teleprompting purposes, the Teleprompter Glass is definitely the best with 70% transparency. However, it does not necessarily hide the camera completely. To help with this, you can paint the back of the mirror black everywhere except for where the camera lens is. This is extremely popular for model portraits where the person in the picture wants to see how they look while you are taking pictures.
- 70% Reflective
- 30% Transparent
- Color Neutral
When you want to hide a camera within the house, and it would be awkward to use a Dome Mirror, you can use the Glass Two Way Mirror, Acrylic Two Way Mirror, or a Glass Smart Mirror on what you want in terms of video quality. The Glass Two Way Mirror will hide the camera effectively, but the display will be super dark. The Acrylic Two Way Mirror is nice because it is 30% transparent, so you get better video quality. For people who want glass, no matter the nicest video quality, the Glass Smart Mirror gives you 30% transparency, just like the acrylic with a more durable mirror coating. When making the test comparison, we noticed the Glass Smart Mirror provided the best video quality while still hiding the camera completely.
For photoshoots where you want the model to get the sense of what they look like live while taking pictures, using teleprompter glass is a great tool! It allows for flawless picture and video quality while still giving a nice reflection. This can really speed up photoshoot timing by boosting the model’s confidence with that instant feedback.
When you are using a Two Way Mirror for animal photography, the number one concern is that the animal might see you. For that reason, you definitely want to go with one of the high reflection options: Glass Two Way Mirror, Acrylic Two Way Mirror, or Glass Smart Mirror. If the mirror is replacing a full window, the most private option is the Glass Two Way Mirror. However, if you really want that better display quality, the Glass Smart Mirror is a great option for replacing a window that goes to the outside. Typically the Acrylic Two Way Mirror would not be used since the mirror coating is delicate and easily scratched.
[…] it may seem unlikely, cameras can be hidden within pictures or mirrors. These devices are designed to blend seamlessly into the decor, making them difficult to detect at […]