4x4 graduated filter without matte box?

Q

QuickSloth

Active member
I do mostly outdoor wildlife/doc work. I would occasionally like to use a ND Graduated filter on a bright sky, but not often enough to justify spending the $$$$ for a matte box system. I have several 72mm screw-on filters, but a screw-on graduated filter seems very limiting. Anyone ever tried just holding a 4x4 ND Graduated filter up to the front of the stock DVX sunshade?

Can I just get away with holding it up, or gaff taping it up for a few seconds?
Thanks.
 
QuickSloth said:
I do mostly outdoor wildlife/doc work. I would occasionally like to use a ND Graduated filter on a bright sky, but not often enough to justify spending the $$$$ for a matte box system. I have several 72mm screw-on filters, but a screw-on graduated filter seems very limiting. Anyone ever tried just holding a 4x4 ND Graduated filter up to the front of the stock DVX sunshade?

Can I just get away with holding it up, or gaff taping it up for a few seconds?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

This an oft discussed subject but if you are serious about your work in the end you will find a mattebox worth the investment. For now consider the IndieSnap Mattebox advertised on this site. I believe it is $189.00 and uses Cokin P filters. I used it for my first and was very happy. I now own a Vocas and a Cavision for my two DVX 100b's. The easy ability to use ND grads and Pol's for outdoor work especially for nature and wildlife is blessing and once you start you will wonder why you didn't do it earlier.

Good Shooting

S Cannon
 
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the indie snap! dv mattebox has a filter stage with a few slots in it. the whole apparatus rotates, so if this is what you mean... then yes.

it's a great little gadget!!
 
For grads, I use 4 x 6's as this gives me the ability to move the grad point in the frame as necessary and not have the edge of the filter exposed. For anything other than grads, 4 x 4's work just fine.

I use a matte box, but gaff taping it to the hood would work just fine (in a pinch with an anamorphic adapter I have had to do this a few times).
 
NewYorkLion said:
does the indie-snap have rotating filter stages?
Click to expand...

Cokin has a round POL that fits in the last of three filter stages. It can be rotated as it has a searated flange that you can grip and rotate. The stages allow you to silp the ND grads up amd down to adjust the filter to the horizon.

http://www.indiesnap.com/

S Cannon
 
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