Ultra Small Mattebox for the 5D?

[Kit Hannah]

I am looking for an ultra small Mattebox for my 5D. Something that is going to be actually useful, not necessarily just a hood or sunshade. I was looking at the Cavision 3x3 simply for its size, but I'm wondering how wide I can go on that without getting the mattebox in the shot. I will mainly be using a 24-105 with it and some L primes. I have owned a Redrock Micro Matebox, and although nice, was not as compact as I would like to see. 4x5 is going to be a bit too big. So is there something else out there that is fairly compact that will work well? If you are using something, maybe you can post a picture?

Thanks
Kit

[Matthew B]

I am looking for an ultra small Mattebox for my 5D. Something that is going to be actually useful, not necessarily just a hood or sunshade. I was looking at the Cavision 3x3 simply for its size, but I'm wondering how wide I can go on that without getting the mattebox in the shot. I will mainly be using a 24-105 with it and some L primes. I have owned a Redrock Micro Matebox, and although nice, was not as compact as I would like to see. 4x5 is going to be a bit too big. So is there something else out there that is fairly compact that will work well? If you are using something, maybe you can post a picture?

Thanks
Kit

Try Genus, they have a really nice light mattebox.

[Kit Hannah]

Try Genus, they have a really nice light mattebox.

Thanks. In my search I did run across those, but it seems like they are really expensive.

[Matt Gottshalk]

I agree, I have the Genus 4x4 and it is excellent.

Great CS as well.

[thekreative]

I sold my big mattebox and bought a very small Vocas that is 15mm 2 tray and French flag. I see them on eBay for a couple of hundred and it's really well made. I'll look for a link. I've never loved spending a ton of money on something that holds filter. I rather spend the money on filters. I also use 3x3 and they cover my 24 mm fullframe.
Vocas has a filter tray for their matteboxes thattake 3x3 and series 9 filters for $5 on sale

[thisisapocalypse]

I use a Cinetactics Matteblox DV w/Large Flag (exclusively) but I don't use many filters and the ones I do use are circular so they just screw on the lens - I just use the matteblox for flare control, it's super-light and you can either use the small shade or add the french flag whenever you want (velcro) so it makes a very nice portable setup. Canon L Lenses are pretty good at flare control as they are but I do find the matteblox very helpful very often when shooting outside or inside if I have a light shining towards the camera. It's not a total mattebox solution, but it's one that does what it does well if it meets your needs - it comes with 3x3 filter holders, although I'm not sure I trust the idea of expensive filters being held in by velcro.

[Localfilms]

If you just need a 4x4 filter holder, the Lee Foundation Kit is super light and easy to snap on and off. I had the Genus and returned it. Adds too much bulk and too much complexity when changing lenses. Instead, I put step up rings on all my lenses to standardize to 77mm. Then I have a set of 77mm filters I can put on any lens. If I change lenses, I don't have to fool with a matte box. A small piece of gaffer tape blocks a flare in a pinch.

[Danwreid]

I have a vocas MB-250 4X4, it is very light and well built, I'm not sure if that would be too big for your liking though

I have used it with my own 5d and it has been great, also is light enough to do handheld with it on...

[Mark A. Beal]

I had the Cavision 3x3 which I used with a DVX100 and actually liked it a lot. I really liked the rubber hood and wish there were more matte boxes like that. Cavision gets very mixed reviews for quality, but I've had no problems -- I had a Chrosziel 3x3s before that and found the quality comparable except that the Chrosziel had that brittle plastic shade that I personally disliked. It just barely cleared the 72mm font, and even then I had to be careful because occasionally I'd knock the filters slightly off center and the edge of the frame would show up onscreen. I'm pretty sure it would not cover 77mm.

I think Localfilms has a good approach. Screw in filters are underappreciated. They'd a a lot more robust than square filters and more convenient than they're given credit for.

[Steve Benjamin]

Hi Kit, I used a 3x3 chrosziel matte box a few times works well and is quick to put on and remove, on wide shots ie 17/18mm canon you get a little vignette but just zoom through slightly. I am selling it on ebay at the moment not sure if I should put the link here or not but if you go on ebay.co.uk and type "Chrosziel matte box 3x3 video DSLR 5d 7d sony V1 pd170" you will see the pics of it clamped on to a canon 17/55mm EFS 77mm filter. I just found I did not use it because if I am using follow focus and have rails on I have a 4x4 matte box to use. Its great if you are travelling very light though, hope the pics help.

[andrew00]

If it doesn't have to be a mattebox then you could be a hama rubber lens hood. They're these big rubber things to protect the lenses and do the same sort of job protecting against the sun. I think they're like 10 bucks each.

Either that or the Genus heh.

[Steve Benjamin]

Here is a pic for you and any others interested in using 3x3 matte boxes on DSLRs

[Steve Benjamin]

IMG_6074.jpg

[Steve Benjamin]

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Changed my mind decided not to sell it on ebay because really I enjoy the ease of its use especially its lightness.