DIY Mattebox with flag and side wings

Ted Ramasola

Ted Ramasola

Veteran
After finishing a spot with a lot of wide shots in the beach and in bright sun I decided I needed a mattebox. I looked at it's functions and features and thought I could make one.

So I went to the mall bought a Plastic food container for about $4.

The label says its suitable for microwave and dishwasher use.:grin:

Also bought thin metal sheets, cut out the flag, side wings and their hinges.

I cut a hole on the center of the food container, riveted the hinges.

Then i took a modular cokin lens hood and also riveted it to the back for shading the lens and adding stability and rigidness to the food container.

I then painted it matte black.

Added additional reinforcements by riveting angular aluminum to bottom part of the cokin hood and also to the food container to serve as a bracket to connect to the rail block.



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finished version1 MB
Heres the finished mattebox, I had a simple solution for my filters.

On the front i made holder that fastens with velcros. I simply "sandwich" the filter in this holder. The filter can be in any orientation inside the holder.

This is shown on the front shot.

The side wings are adjustable. The extension flap is riveted and is held in place by a metal and rubber washer.

Below shows the DIY Mattebox attached to JVC HD200 in front of my DIY 35 lens adapter and DIY support rods.
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NOTE: FOR THOSE JUST OPENING THIS THREAD, NEW SLEEKER VERSION 2 WITH ROTATING FILTER HOLDER IS ALREADY POSTED ON PAGE 7 ON DEC. 6. TO JUMP TO PAGE CLICK THIS: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=140312&page=7

Updated this to show this version at post #60
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from post #62
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That's a great looking mattebox! Congratulations, I really like the look of it. Does it work as you intended it to? How would you mount this if you weren't using a 35mm and rails?

Do you have printouts of the flag, sides and hinges? I think I may want to try this myself.

Again, congratulations.

-Kegan
 
Thanks for the kind words guys.

Kegan,

I'll post the flag, hinges and wings outlines so you guys can give it a go.

I'll also put a diagram on the brackets that reinforce it. Just gimme a couple of hours.

I first thought that since the back is a modular hood from cokin that it can clip on a cokin filter holder directly to the lens filter thread but i deviated from that path since it might add pressure on my lens which is mounted to my lens adapter. Second, my wide lenses would vignette if its not moved closer to the hole of the mattebox.

Ted
 
i just finished a matte box, but I may try this one as well, I also used the cokin filter holder in mine. but it doesnt look as fancy nor are the flags as nice as yours.

Jason
 
retractable top flag

retractable top flag

I found out how hard it is to pack the mattebox if the top flag is 19 inch wide so i made a retractable one. similar to the side flags but at both ends. I riveted the swivel and held it in place with the same type of locking method with the side flags.

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If someone wants to trace the flag pattern just say so and I'll export a jpg and post it.
 
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