Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

A

agenthall

Member
Hey all. I own a DVX100, and have been shooting short films in the Chicago area with it for over two years now. I am also a videography reseller for Bogen/Manfrotto in the area. I wanted to let everyone know, that I've been using Bogen/Formatt's new FM500 matte box for mini-DV/Broadcast  video cameras, ever since Bogen sent me a demo of the unit about six months ago. I've taken it with me on every shoot with my DVX100. This thing screws right into the front of the lens via their 72mm adapter (they have a ton of adapter ring sizes). It boasts two 4x4 filter slots, one of which rotates, and can support one 4x5.650 filter as well! It's made of aircraft aluminum and includes a mammoth sunshade as well! I use Bogen Formatt 4x4 filters with the box (mainly because they gave me a couple free demo filters, promists and graduates), but any 4x4 or 4x5.650 filters will work. I noticed there haven't been any posts on this forumn about the box, and was wondering if anybody else uses it or likes it as much as I do. I'd love to hear some feedback from anyone else using the box. Matte boxes are so expensive, and I think Bogen has finally hit the mark with a well made box for under $400! Can't beat it. Chrosziel and Century Optics are nice, but they're so expensive... ouch, and cinetactices is great for the price, but soft. I'd love to talk with any DVXUSERS who are using the box currently or have in the past!

Also if anyone's interested, Bogen wants to get these things out on the market, along with their filters, so I'd love to get some out there to DVXUSERS at a discount price to get some feedback on them. I can get these things with 72mm adapters (or any adapter for that matter), straight from Bogen. .  Check out Bogen's website on the box:

http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/index_ext.php3?external_link=www.formatt.co.uk

Drop me an email, or reply to the post if you've used one, and keep on shooting!

-Chris Hall
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Chris.. Bogen is actually sending me the unit to review, I should be getting it by Monday.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Let me know what you think Jeremy. I'm very interested in your thoughts on the construction and filter stages.

-Chris Hall
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Sounds promising. My question is, any chance it will work with the Century .6x wide-angle adapter?
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Here are the adapter sizes, Barry.

Formatt 43mm Screw-In Adapter Ring
Formatt 52mm Screw-In Adapter Ring
Formatt 58mm Screw-In Adapter Ring
Formatt 62mm Screw-In Adapter Ring
Formatt 67mm Screw-In Adapter Ring
Formatt 72mm Screw-In Adapter Ring
Formatt 75.5mm Clamp-On Adapter Ring
Formatt 77mm Screw-In Adapter Ring
Formatt 80.5mm Clamp-On Adapter Ring
Formatt 80mm Screw-In Adapter Ring
Formatt 82mm Screw-In Adapter Ring
Formatt 86mm Screw-In Adapter Ring
Formatt 93mm Clamp-On Adapter Ring

I think the wide angle adapter is 95mm am I right? Not sure if this would work.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

oooh very interested... gonna wait until more people review it. Dont want it to be another cavision incident :-/
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

yes indeed.. Mattebox reviews now are gonna be a whole different ballgame, taking some serious Vignetting tests.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Hi Chris,
I'm new to the list and I'm am interested in a Bogen matte Box. Is there an adapter ring so you can use a century lense?

Marten Benatar
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

For the century lenses; they each have different outer diameters for the specific lens adapter. Find out the outer diameter of the lens adapter and match it up to the appropriate clamp on adapter listed above. I'm contacting Bogen to see about the 95mm .6 wide angle adapter's compatibility.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

I had one of these on my XL1. I wish I had kept it when I sold it with the rest of my XL1 gear to buy my DVX. It was awsome and made my rig look even more pro. I am saving up to get another one soon.

-T
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

I was looking into these recently (ended up buying a Chrosziel) and from what I can tell, they do not work with the anamorphic adaptor. Street prices were around $400-450. The quality, materials, and workmanship do look nice.

Here is one dealer's link: http://enggadgets.com/
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

[quote author=Barry_Green link=board=Links;num=1087576180;start=0#4 date=06/18/04 at 11:04:32]Sounds promising.  My question is, any chance it will work with the Century .6x wide-angle adapter?[/quote]

I assume you mean with no vignetting... The only Mattebox I have used that would accomodate the .6 adapter at full wide is the ARRI 6x6 on rods. I dont think any of these matteboxes that are 4x4s will cut it, but then again, maybe this mattebox is a little different.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

I almost don't care if it'll work at FULL wide... I just want a good, functional shade situation. I'm hesitant to reach for the .6 because of the flaring. If I knew the box would fit, would shade, and I had to stay above Z10 to avoid vignetting, I'd just try to remember to stay above Z10 (or whatever). But as it is, I don't know of any shade at all that'll fit it.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Does it mount with rods or just to the end of the camera? If camera, how's the weight?

Andrew
Crystal Clear Media
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

It mounts directly on the camera (more specifically the lens), via a screw in adapter or a clamp on adapter (the sizes are listed earlier in the post). With the right adapter this thing is super stable, and rock steady. It's lightweight aluminum so it balances well with the camera (it is not weightless however, obviously, so it does change the center of gravity).
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

There was a guy on the (now defunct) DVX100 Board @ 2-Pop who was offering the Formatt 4x4 matte boxes for $385.

I contacted him and asked if there was any vignetting on the DVX100. He said that there *is* vignetting with the Formatt on the DVX100. Based on that, I decided not to buy.

Jarred, if your review proves otherwise or if there is a workable solution, then I would definitely be interested in this matte box.

NOTE: The issue of an anamorphic lens was never mentioned in our e-mails. I assumed that if there is vignetting without the ana, then there would definitely be vignetting with one.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

yes I will let you know. Its actually coming in Monday morning, I talked to Bogen today.
 
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