Opinions on Cinevate Matte Box?

puredrifting

puredrifting

Major Contributor
Hi all:

Can anyone who has used or owns the Cinevate matte box give us some feedback on it? I am in a quandry about which matte box to buy. The Vocas would be great but at around $1,300.00 for the box systems, plus about another $600.00 for the three filters I want, that's too much money for me.

The Red Rock looks like it will be great but who knows when they will ship it?

What other rail mount choices are impressive for around $500.00 or $600.00? I would like swing away, two stages and some sort of rubber donut system for blocking light through the rear of the box. I will be using this system with a Letus Extreme and Nikon still lenses.

Feedback and suggestions?

Dan
 
Hi Kholi:

The Hyson looks good except for the fact that both 4x4" stages are stationary. The main reason I want a matte box is to use polarizers and ND grads, both of which need to be rotated and moved around.

Great price and features but won't do the trick for me.

Adam C (Taormina on here) has commented that his Cavision matte box is just okay, not great so i have ruled them out. I looked at Formatt, but all they seem to make are clip ons and I need rail mounted.

Man, this is tough to find. Red Rock, Cinevate, etc., the right one just doesn't seem available. Petroff has some interesting ones but more in the $700.00 to $1,200.00 range, probably more than I can spend. I may just stick with my Cokin system until Red Rock releases their box.

Best,

Dan
 
Sorry, check out the "New Hyson mattebox".

It should have three rotating stanges and swing out.
 
Dan,
Which Cokin system do you have?
I've been wondering whetehr the Z-Pro system can really handle 4x4 or 4x5.5 glass filters.
I have the same issues about stages that don't rotate - pointless for my needs.
- Lenny
 
The Cinevate mattebox now ships with two top flags, (large/small), side flags and is height adjustable. Both stages at the rear rotate, and we're adding a third independently rotating stage option. This allows the use of a graduated ND (which must be oriented correctly for the situation) that can also be positioned in the stage for correct function. Having three stages rotating independently therefore lets you use a polarizer rotated correctly and a graduated ND in it's correct position.

Swing away function is not really required for adapter use if you're using SLR lenses as every time you swap, the box must be adjusted on the rails for the lens length anyway. Sliding the box forward/rearward is required each time.

Dan, I purchased a set of 4x4 glass filters, .9ND, .6 graduated ND, and a polarizer from Adorama (Cavision filters) for ~ $200. These three are the ones I tend to use exclusively.
 
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Dennis,
That sounds interesting at a very good price.

1- Can it accept 4"x 5.5" vertical grads?
That's what all mine are.

2- Do you need to buy filter trays as with say a Chrosiel or do the filters go right in?

3 - Can it be adapted to screw on the 82mm ring on a broadcast lens or an HVX or will it only work with rails?

4- Does it vignette with wide angles?

5 - How soon will that 3rd stage be available?
and if you bought the current version will the 3rd stage adapt to it or will you need a newer model?

6. Can you take stages off say to avoid vignetting on a wide angle.


In an ideal world I wuld like a matte box with:
- 3 possible stages that could be reduced to one if neccessary
- All stages ( at least 2 though) would rotate
- it would accept my 4x5.5 grads,
- It could mount on rails or have a screw on adapter
- it could handle wide lenses on either an HVX, a broadcast lens , or 35mm adapter
- It would cost less than $1600.

I think the Petroff and maybe one of the Chroziel's could do all that but weren't cheap.
By the way I'd like a a seat on the next moon mission with that order please and a side of your most expensive cavier.

- Lenny Levy
 
Hi Leni:

I have been using the P Series Cokin stuff, which is totally suitable for DSLRs but not so much for the HVX. I was interested in the Cokin matte box until I looked up the Z series circular polarizer. It's $300.00!!! To me, that's a joke. The appeal of Cokin has always been that their stuff is relatively cheap and works well. When they make their stuff more expensive than a glass Schneider or B+W filter, than their stuff is not a good deal.

Dennis, thanks for the feedback and details on your matte box, it looks pretty decent for the money. Are you happy with the results from the Cavision filters? I just ordered a mount from Cavision and while it is totally functional, it's fit and finish is a little rough. Would be interesting to hear a DPs opinion of these filters. I know a lot DPs feel that Tiffens are greenish and therefore prefer Schneider, B+W or Singh-Ray glass. I wonder what they would say about the Cavisions in a blind taste test (without revealing their cost or name brand)?

Received some details on the new Hyson X Matte Box, it looks pretty good as well.

Great thread, some good stuff here.

Dan
 
When I just opened the redrockmicro page it displayed this setup:
1193012875.png


Can someone tell me what shouldermount and grip that is...?
And is this the SI cam?
 
Dan,
I was interested in the Z-Pro because it says the holders can accept 4x4 glass and I already have a bunch of 4x5.5" grads. I wouldn't use the cokin filters personally because I've read their quality is not good. But as I already have 82mm polarizers and ND, i figured this might be a cheaper way to be able to use my grads. I don't see the need for a mattebox for the ND's and the pola's so round is more flexible for the time being.

I'm eagerly awaiting Dennis' response to my questions because that could be a very unit for me.

BTW I read very poor reviews of the Cavision filters somewhere on the web in a user group I believe. It looks like they were pretty cheap and you may get what you pay for? No personal experience though, maybe they're great.
 
Lenny, the mattebox comes with removeable trays (you can leave the filters in them) which slide into the stages. ...sadly not your 5.5's. A 4x5.5 tray would fit though if we made it. So far all the upgrades to the box have been available to previous purchasers :-)
 
Dennis , I have standard 4x5.5" filters that have the grad in a vertical direction so there is more room to move the filter for placing the grad where you want it. I lot of people prefer those to ordinary 4x4's for grads. i don't like the 4x4's because they are limiting.

Could I use trays from a another brand like Chroziels or would I have to wait till you make the correct holder?

Also, Can you answer those other questions about the matte box?

- Lenny
 
Spartacus

That picture is our concept rig we previewed at cinegear. The shoulder mount is Redrock, as is the HV20 rig (top mount for underslung camera). You will start to see some of these items in the next few weeks.

On the microMatteBox, we have deferred it a bit until later this fall, but it is shaping up to be an incredible product.

The base configuration includes 3x stages (all rotating, all capable of accepting up to 6x6" filters, including vertical grads), french flag (with options for side and bottom flags), stackable stage design, and swing away -

we found the swingaway to be a really desireable feature since it saves time in just loosening and sliding, vs. taking it all the way off. Plus you don't have to worry about dropping it or your filters falling out.

Target price is still $500. All filter holders are metal spring-loaded so your filters are safe. Designed for wide angle lenses as well.

When most people hear about the microMatteBox, they compare it with the Arri MB-20, roughly a $4k matte box.

Much more details can be found on our product page:

http://www.redrockmicro.com/microMattebox.html

Thanks

Brian
 
Brian, I just looked at the link and that looks very nice. Its great to think I may finally be able to afford the matte box i've always wanted.

A suggestion to both you and Dennis, if its at all possible is for the rod mount to be something that could be removable and have a clip on or screw on option.

One thing I've noticed sometimes with rod mounted units is there is not alot of room to lower a vertical grad ( i guess if you can shift the rods back and out of the way that might work.)

My local video rental house has both clip on and rod mount matteboxes and I was surprised to find out that they rent the clip ons far more often.
Its much more flexible when you need to go hand held. Which many of us do all the time.

- Lenny
 
Brian beat me to a description. I love the swingaway aspect of the Redrock design. I've seen that in a few other low-end designs, but they just didn't seem sturdy. I love the customizable options. That's what attracted me to Zacuto. That's what attracts me to many of the companies I use for my projects. The real question at hand seems to be how soon do you need a system? If ASAP, then you have to consider your options.

So Dan... How soon?... What's your maximum price you can spend?... You want three filters right?... What size again?
 
bvalente said:
Spartacus

That picture is our concept rig we previewed at cinegear. The shoulder mount is Redrock, as is the HV20 rig (top mount for underslung camera). You will start to see some of these items in the next few weeks.
Click to expand...

Looks interesting!
Can you already name a target price for the SM?
 
jstunzi said:
Brian beat me to a description. I love the swingaway aspect of the Redrock design. I've seen that in a few other low-end designs, but they just didn't seem sturdy. I love the customizable options. That's what attracted me to Zacuto. That's what attracts me to many of the companies I use for my projects. The real question at hand seems to be how soon do you need a system? If ASAP, then you have to consider your options.

So Dan... How soon?... What's your maximum price you can spend?... You want three filters right?... What size again?
Click to expand...

Hi:

I need something in the next few weeks. I want to spend around $500.00. Two filters would suffice, I can't think of many situations I shoot in where I would need three filters at once...4x4"

Not sure yet what I would get. I like the Red Rock stuff but who knows when it will hit the market? I may end up with either the Hyson X Matte Box or the Cinevate.

Dan
 
Yes, timing seems to be a factor in which system you get. Hyson's mattebox is okay. I think your best bet in this situation is Dennis's mattebox. It hits your pricerange, has 2 "rotating" filter stages, is well crafted, and you can get it within your time constraints.
 
puredrifting said:
Hi:

I need something in the next few weeks. I want to spend around $500.00. Two filters would suffice, I can't think of many situations I shoot in where I would need three filters at once...4x4"

Not sure yet what I would get. I like the Red Rock stuff but who knows when it will hit the market? I may end up with either the Hyson X Matte Box or the Cinevate.

Dan
Click to expand...

Hi Dan,

have a look at the Geardear mattebox www.geardear.com . The "medium" package (with two 4x4" filterstages, which can both rotate 360°, if you wish) starts at 280 US$.

You can use it for both purposes, with 35mm-adapter and SLR lenses or without.

They are available immediately,
and I like mine alot...

Marc
 
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