View Full Version : DIY Mattebox with french flags $0!!!
dory_breaux
03-07-2008, 11:56 PM
Well, I was watching some BTS for a film that was using panavisions, and I realized something:
the matteboxes are simply square boxes with three sites and french flags. All this time i have been trying to build a angles mattebox and the most simple design and probably the most used was all around me (not literally but you know how i mean). So, I went out to the shop, rummaged around in our cardboard box stash for a bit and found what I was looking for. 20 or so minutes later, I had this:
http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/7568/img5643fl6.th.jpg (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img5643fl6.jpg)
http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/3796/img5647yh4.th.jpg (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img5647yh4.jpg)
http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/796/img5648rj8.th.jpg (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img5648rj8.jpg)
Its cheap, effective and with a little more tweeking will look the shitz. Needs to be flat black tho, no doubt about it.
Video on how to make to make it (if your dumb enough not to be able to figure it out on your own, that is) shortly, I have some other stuff i need to take care of first.
Kit Hannah
03-08-2008, 11:52 AM
Spray paint it black and sell it as a DIY kit for $29!
reaktor
03-08-2008, 12:11 PM
Well real matte boxes give you great control over light/flare, and let you hold filters <-- woop
DavidChia
03-08-2008, 12:45 PM
Well real matte boxes give you great control over light/flare, and let you hold filters <-- woop
just use screw on filters and problem solve...
But , your client might no be so forgiving and might just hired someone else.
You are as professional as how your gears look.
But it is a good spare when you doing your own project with no clients around
Hunter007
03-08-2008, 12:55 PM
No offense, but I don't think I'd ever let a client see me walk on set with that. It looks better WITHOUT the box on the lens.
I disagree with the statement that you are as professional as your gear looks, but I think you have to take pride in any DIY item you add to your arsenal. Whether it be a mattebox or 35mm adapter...try your best to make it look as professional as possible.
If you really want to use it because of your french flags, by all means go for it...just not in front of a paying client.
-Kegan
dory_breaux
03-08-2008, 01:22 PM
Yes, it needs alot of revisions, but it works. The flare is considerably less then it was without it. I'm hoping to get a real one soon anyway, this was just a temporary fix to my flare problem.
Bob Gruen
03-12-2008, 04:14 AM
I made a sun shade out of black foam core, black gaffer's tape, and velcro. It affixed to my Redrock Micro35 and allowed for the use of lens filters. Although it didn't look "Pro" it did get the job done and looked a bit more acceptible than the cardboard box approach.
Redrock is finally bringing their MicroMatteBox to market, hit their website for details...
Bob
sagemaster
03-13-2008, 08:44 AM
Personally I think this is brilliant! Great solution on a very low budget - almost NO cost. My hat is off to you! And as for looking professional, I thought this was the DIY section,.. last time I checked DIY stood for "Do It Yourself",.. which implies that you are NOT going to end up with some fantastically professional looking, mega-expensive piece of equipment. For me, the point of DIY is solving a problem (in this case the need for a mattebox) in a simple, low-cost way. And here we have the problem solved effectively for almost NO cost! Kudos man! Great job!
Yes, you may not want to show up in front of paying clients with this,.. but if you've got PAYING clients on a big job, then you are most likely BEING PAID, and can more easily afford to skip the DIY and buy a professional one.
Great job dory_breaux! Keep up the good work!
Hunter007
03-13-2008, 08:53 AM
Well, of course the point of DIY is to find a fix to a problem at an affordable cost, but don't you pride yourself in your work? It doesn't solve the problem of a mattebox; it solves the problem of a SUNSHADE. I'm not arguing that workarounds are bad, hell I use them all the time.
I'm just saying that having some pride in your DIY projects is a little more than cardboard and tape. If you have paying clients, you STILL may not be able to afford a matebox, as they aren't cheap.
Being encouraging is fine, but being realistic and honest is much more helpful,
Kegan
dory_breaux
03-13-2008, 11:05 AM
It was more of a quick fix for a bad problem. I took it off cause i didnt need that much shade any more.
hunter richards
03-13-2008, 12:18 PM
mattebox bum-style!
dory_breaux
03-13-2008, 12:19 PM
Word. cant wait to get a real one tho.
kidwoo
03-13-2008, 01:11 PM
I'm hoping to get a real one soon anyway, this was just a temporary fix to my flare problem.
$200 for this one once you replace it.
Final offer.
dory_breaux
03-13-2008, 05:33 PM
Sold.
Blaine
03-13-2008, 05:37 PM
Well, you're not going to impress Kiefer Sutherland with that thing...:grin::grin::grin:
dory_breaux
03-13-2008, 05:43 PM
Well, i don't want to impress Kiefer Sutherland with that thing...:grin::grin::grin:
hoarp001
03-14-2008, 04:56 AM
I fail to see how a cardboard box, whatever colour its been painted, stuck to the front of a camera can really be described as looking 'the shitz'
dlang
03-14-2008, 11:29 AM
Is that worth the embarrasment you would suffer on a professional set? Indy film...right on...paying client, not so good. You know they would be thinking does he really have a cardboard box stuck to his cam? It looks silly to me, but hey we're all entitled to our opinions...right(:
dory_breaux
03-14-2008, 11:34 AM
Damn guys like i said it was a temporarry fix for a temporary problem. If you dont have a real mattebox right on hand and need to get rid of some lens flare then you roll like i do.
JasonFox
03-16-2008, 11:52 AM
Hey, you know you shouldn't use that thing in front of a paying cilent, right? :beer:
dory_breaux
03-16-2008, 12:23 PM
yes i know.
kidwoo
03-17-2008, 10:21 AM
What will the neighbors think?
sagemaster
03-23-2008, 11:26 AM
Being encouraging is fine, but being realistic and honest is much more helpful,
Kegan
Kegan, maybe you could point out to me what was dishonest in my post? I'll try to consult you from now on before posting since you've taken it upon yourself to be my conscience. You're doing a great job at it though! (Well, you did tell me it was fine to be encouraging). Oops,.. now I gotta go think about whether I'm being realistic. :grin:
Hunter007
03-23-2008, 11:35 AM
Sounds great, you can message me via PM if you'd like. I'm usually a very thorough proof-reader and my times are getting better.
This is a forum - I addressed you with the first part of my post and stopped there. My ending comment wasn't directly targeted at you. It was a general statement. Perhaps you need to take a look at my thread titled "Anti-Sugarcoating Challenge".
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=129051
-Kegan
sagemaster
03-23-2008, 07:23 PM
Good point (don't take that encouragingly though). I read most of your other thread, and find it quite interesting that on the one hand you'll say things like you've said to me, "This is a forum", which by very nature implies that it is open to all (and thereby will have many, varied people with input - and as there are many DIFFERENT people out there, their opinions and takes on things will be DIFFERENT), but then you take issue with different people's opinions, because you don't necessarily agree with them. Then if YOU think they are "sugarcoating" or dishonest or unrealistic, it is deemed unacceptable. Well, I'm sorry I don't think like you, like what you like, or dislike what you dislike, but just because I (or many others out there) don't share your opinion, does not mean we are dishonest or unrealistic. If I am going to take the time to post on the forum and tell someone that I like, or am impressed with, something they've done or posted, then I am doing so because I like, or am impressed with it. I and others may not have your vast experience, skill, know-how, ingenuity or ability, or have your critical eye, but to discredit our input because it doesn't meet with your level of approval, is, in my opinion,.. well,.. dishonest and unrealistic. Would you like more sugar with my opinion?
You taped a box onto the front of a DVX... how is this a matte box?
edit: ahhh.. temporary fix.. gotcha..
Hunter007
03-23-2008, 07:44 PM
Sagemaster (see, how I decided to be specific in who I was addressing?):
I by no means am getting on a high horse, saying I am better than anyone else, or that my skill or experience level is far surpassed anyone on this board. Fact of the matter is, you may have more experience and a higher skill set than I. It is not only ME that thought these things. I discussed it with some other members, prior to posting. Sure, I realized that I would likely get the flack for it, but so what? I said what was on my mind.
I understand your post and respect your POV. I should have chosen my words better as "dishonest" and "unrealistic" are seeming to be thrown back at me. All I really meant was for members to stop being all "sweet and sugary" with their posts. Is that too much to ask? How are we ever to progress when all we hear is what a great job we're doing and having no one point out our flaws? As another member on this board stated, without failure there is no success (paraphrasing).
If you disagree with my thoughts and opinions, that's fine but don't single me out as the only person who thinks this way. I may be the only one who voices my opinion on the subject, so I'm an easy target for you..but let's be "realistic" - we ALL have to progress and improve, so why bring each other down by setting our standards low?
-Kegan
Jason Miller
03-24-2008, 04:18 AM
Kegan, you make a good point, we do need to be realistif, a box taped to a camera isn't exactly aww inspiring, Its a great way to mock up a project that you will later build for real though,
its not that simple is bad, sometimes the best way is the simple way, some of the coolest diy projects on here are simple pvc pipe shoulder mounts. then we have the guy who built the awesome steadycam, these are projects that arent even close to being in the same ball park, but both still very cool, and very informative.
I've done alot of simple buillds like this one for one time uses to get shots in the field, then they find there way to the trash after words and not on dvx, some times a box taped to a camera will save the day. but it's not exactly a "diy project" its more of a stop gap, or temp solution.
I guess my point here is just because something works, doesn't make it awe inspiring.
but remember the first 35mm adapter was in a card board box.
Jason
my prototype 14 dollar matte box / 4x4 filter holder is superior.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_mDr5PhcAA
Hunter007
03-24-2008, 08:10 AM
Jason, I completely agree. I don't think dory has to feel as if we're discussing his mattebox anymore:) It sort of branched off into a whole other discussion.
-Kegan
dory_breaux
03-24-2008, 10:00 AM
Nice Moz!
yah if your gonna keep posting in this thread lets talk aboot ghetto lenshoods/lens shades ok?
I might be a while until I do more work on my matte box since I needs to be warmer here in Toronto before the fibreglass will cure. (IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT?!) plus I recently got the majority of the parts for my redrock, I just need to find a way to access a drill press.
(any charitable DVXusers in Toronto?)