Will Clegg
Veteran
I was talking about the filter trays. I haven't looked into getting sturdier trays, but imagine that you could as long as they are the same depth.
The IndiMatte...Resistance is futile
- Thread starter Jason Adams
- Start date
I have the IndiFocus friction wheel and when I tried to use it on my 50mm, 135mm, and 180mm lenses, the friction wheel moves only and not the gear. It turns out that the allen keys that use to tighten the friction wheel to the metal rod isn't working so well. It does not matter how hard I tighten the allen key, it just seems loose and the friction wheel would only turns and not the metal rod that would turn the gear. Any suggestion? Should I email Tim regarding this problem? I love and must have the friction wheel because pulling focus, the lens barrel moves up and down so a gear ring would not work.
Jason Adams
Section Moderator
Charlie Friction wheel is not really to be used with 35mm lenses. Some lenses work and others do not, depending on how tight the focus rotation is.
This has me confused, can you explain in more detail.
Perhaps post a picture of your set up.
This question also warrants a new thread, and that might help it get seen more than on page 13 of a thread about a new forthcoming mattebox.
This has me confused, can you explain in more detail.
Perhaps post a picture of your set up.
This question also warrants a new thread, and that might help it get seen more than on page 13 of a thread about a new forthcoming mattebox.
Will Clegg
Veteran
Maybe you should move that discussion to the DIY thread... This thread should really be on the topic of Tim's indieMATTE and what you are building is in fact a DIY version of it. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but indiFOCUS is a sponsor of this forum.
PaPa
Major Contributor
Tom said he would be releasing side flags which will be addons soon. They will be clipped on.
Agreed..
Will Clegg
Veteran
Yeah, not sure what the delay is... The indiBRACE was supposed to be available by now too.
Avenger007
Well-known member
Looks like the india mattebox with some home depot hardware and a $150 price jump. How sturdy is the magnet design? Can the mattebox withstand hard tilts/pans without disengaging? IMO this seems to be a copy & paste design from some other company, whether it be the india company or whoever else is making these units. They're all the same box and yet one company charges between $100-150, one charges $350, and another charges $500.
I feel there is a lot of people getting ripped off for not knowing better and none of these companies are actually improving upon the design (within reason). I made a swing away bar for mine for $10 from the big orange hardware store. Sorry if this sounds like a rant but I feel that the customers deserve better.
I feel there is a lot of people getting ripped off for not knowing better and none of these companies are actually improving upon the design (within reason). I made a swing away bar for mine for $10 from the big orange hardware store. Sorry if this sounds like a rant but I feel that the customers deserve better.
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Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
Thats why it is called INDImatte :laugh:
This type of mattebox is made by Activeindustries in India.
They have several Ebay and Web-shops and also selling to retailers.
(If you order 50 or 100 of them your jaw will hit the floor of the price they offer)
Some add an own signet, some extra hardware or revamp the whole thing.
If you want to pay for extra labels and improofment thats O.K.
But if someone is trying you to sale that mattebox with a "proudly made in the USA" label/nimbus - that´s not O.K.
Frank
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I read a thread a while back where somebody suggested that the indian mattebox might actually be a low quality knockoff of the Cinevate matte box. :laugh:
I guess it's hard for some people to admit that they got ripped off by paying Cinevate $500 for a $30 plastic item imported from India. :nads:
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JasonFox
Internet Sensation
Yes, that's what Cinevate decided to do. Engineer and produce every other piece of equipment they sell, but pawn off cheapo matte boxes from India to make some quick cash. Yeah.
And no, I don't have their MB. I do have a Brevis. But my MB is a Geardear.
Gabriel Berube
Well-known member
I don't really understand people who like to run companies in the mud.
Seriously, if you haven't tried both matte boxes (indian knock-off and cinevate's), how can you really judge that two products are really the same when you have only compared photos? Even if they look the same, it might be based on the same design on photos but might not be the exact same MB. They might be made from different materials, be sturdier and of better quality, and even have a better design that can fit all cameras (those who own an EX1 knows what I'm talking about).
I own neither product, like JasonFox, and so my opinion isn't worth much in this debate, but I have been looking for a while on the 'net for matteboxes. Most who bought the indian say it's ok for the price, while those who bought a Cinevate say it's good.
Now, as a customer I'd really hate to be ripped off buying something that's just a cheap knock-off that masquerades as pro gear, and I can understand those here who voice their concerns. But if you've been looking around these forums like me, you know that Dennis Woods at Cinevate and Tim at IndiFocus are trustworthy businessmen and that what some of you describe here would be against their principles. I've done business with Tim, and would surely do so with Dennis anytime should I have to, because I know their products are great and they treat their customers well.
Please people, be a little more careful about what you say here, ignorance can sometimes hurt a business' reputation.
Those were my two cents, thanks for reading.
Seriously, if you haven't tried both matte boxes (indian knock-off and cinevate's), how can you really judge that two products are really the same when you have only compared photos? Even if they look the same, it might be based on the same design on photos but might not be the exact same MB. They might be made from different materials, be sturdier and of better quality, and even have a better design that can fit all cameras (those who own an EX1 knows what I'm talking about).
I own neither product, like JasonFox, and so my opinion isn't worth much in this debate, but I have been looking for a while on the 'net for matteboxes. Most who bought the indian say it's ok for the price, while those who bought a Cinevate say it's good.
Now, as a customer I'd really hate to be ripped off buying something that's just a cheap knock-off that masquerades as pro gear, and I can understand those here who voice their concerns. But if you've been looking around these forums like me, you know that Dennis Woods at Cinevate and Tim at IndiFocus are trustworthy businessmen and that what some of you describe here would be against their principles. I've done business with Tim, and would surely do so with Dennis anytime should I have to, because I know their products are great and they treat their customers well.
Please people, be a little more careful about what you say here, ignorance can sometimes hurt a business' reputation.
Those were my two cents, thanks for reading.
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Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
Indian boxes turn filters - I know, I got one.
I wonder why Cinevate and Indie should make a exact copy of the indian mattebox? That just makes no sense.
As I said - no offence at Tim and Dennis. Why not buy that indian box, revamp it and resell it.
There is nothing wrong with that. Most stuff we buy is made in Asia relabeld, repackt and resold.
But I found it strange that some guys here flaming the indian box as a cheap-sweatshop-Vocas-stolen-knock-off while having nothing but praise for the Indie and Cinevate box.
It´s the double standard that irritates me, not that Tim and Dennis are doing what everyboddy else is doing anyways.
Frank
I wonder why Cinevate and Indie should make a exact copy of the indian mattebox? That just makes no sense.
As I said - no offence at Tim and Dennis. Why not buy that indian box, revamp it and resell it.
There is nothing wrong with that. Most stuff we buy is made in Asia relabeld, repackt and resold.
But I found it strange that some guys here flaming the indian box as a cheap-sweatshop-Vocas-stolen-knock-off while having nothing but praise for the Indie and Cinevate box.
It´s the double standard that irritates me, not that Tim and Dennis are doing what everyboddy else is doing anyways.
Frank
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Oh well it´s officially the "indiaMatte". Should have modified the wide angle Vocas clone, the one that has at least the minimum 1+1 tray system that can accept a fixed ND grad and a rotating polarizer stage. I feels like the designer hasn´t used a MB in real life situation albeit being a knockoff of a famous brand.
Not to mention the longer grads that slide through the MB allowing grad intensity changes - that´s why most real MBs have the rod mount behind filters not in front of you simply can´t slide a longer filter holder through if the rods block the action.
At least it can be used as a proper one stage MB.
I still don`t know why people tend to use those so called cheap 4x4 knockoff boxes when there`s Cavision 3x3 system(s) that can accept even Cokin P grads and will cost less than $300 with 5 filters! It sure is enough for 35mm adaptor usage and will accept lenses quite wide (I´ve used it with 24mm). Unfortunately it won`t look as cool as the Vocas wide MB knockoff with side flags and all...
T
Not to mention the longer grads that slide through the MB allowing grad intensity changes - that´s why most real MBs have the rod mount behind filters not in front of you simply can´t slide a longer filter holder through if the rods block the action.
At least it can be used as a proper one stage MB.
I still don`t know why people tend to use those so called cheap 4x4 knockoff boxes when there`s Cavision 3x3 system(s) that can accept even Cokin P grads and will cost less than $300 with 5 filters! It sure is enough for 35mm adaptor usage and will accept lenses quite wide (I´ve used it with 24mm). Unfortunately it won`t look as cool as the Vocas wide MB knockoff with side flags and all...
T
So you believe that Cinevate's mattebox was designed in house and that all these other versions are exact copies of theirs? Really?
Or you believe that somehow Cinevate came up with an exact replica of the Indian mattebox but they designed it themseselves? Seriously???
Wow. PT Barnum was right....
Why would buying a mass produced item and reselling it for a profit be "against their principles"? Cinevate is a business. They're not a non-profit, they're not building things and giving them away at cost for the greater good, they are a business and they are in business to make money.
Do you think that Cinevate designed and manufactured all the set screws and connectors in the Brevis? Or do you think that they buy those in large quantity and resell them? Do you think that Cinevate designed their "external power pod" and its connector, or do you think those parts are bought in quantity and resold by Cinevate? Do you think that Cinevate designed their own charger? If they did, they did a pretty crappy job of that because they then had to fill the switch with silicone to prevent people from switching it.
Of course not, they source these things from other manufacturers and they resell them for profit. Why would it be so shocking that they might do the same thing with their mattebox?
Cognitive dissonance is running rampant in this thread.
Of course that's ludicrous, but apparently that idea makes sense to some people in this thread.
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