Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Jarred, will you tag your review onto this thread (it's on my notify list), or will you start a new thread under Latest DVX News/Articles?
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

That thing's enormous! The flag is enormous + 50%. The few web pix I've seen at Bogen and Formatt make it look petite. Jeez.

I could have sworn that Formatt claimed 3 filter stages - one rotating, but your pix seem to say otherwise.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

yes.. 2 stages, one rotating, and there are no filter trays.. A photo tells a thousand words :)
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

thanks jarred. So the piece you are waiting for will allow for right side up mounting, right? it would suck to drop a 250 dollar polarizer on a sunny day...
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

well that photo it is mounted right side up.. but you cant open the filter door because the mic is in the way. All Matteboxes have a bottom exit, so dropping them isnt the problem (well it is, but that's another problem and one of the reasons rods are good)

The thing I am waiting for is a spacer combination that will push the mattebox out enough to get past the mic, but not vignette.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

ah, gotcha. from this pic, it looked like you had to insert the filters from the bottom:

P1010853.JPG



makes sense now.

looking forward to it. its really close to the price of the matteblox, but much more burly looking. although the french flag on the matteblox covers the sides a bit better.





I am also mc_productions, this is just easier to login with. heh.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Thanks Jarred--those are great pics.  You could set up a nice sized buffet on that french flag.  ;D  Some side flags would be great, but it looks like a nice bit of gear for the price.  It looks solid and has a precision filter stage as opposed to the Matteblox kludge.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box


damn.

why don't you just take pre-orders now and charge our cards when you have it all set?

matthew
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

because Im not gonna sell them if they dont work :)
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

As I said earlier in the thread, I've had this mattebox for 2 years now and it has served me well. I've only just got my DVX and have not used in conjunction with the Formatt (to me it's an Optex) in the field yet. However, knowing how the filter stages work, I have complete confidence that I am not going to lose a filter out the bottom even though that's the way they'll have to go in. The sprung ball-bearings that protrude into the filter slots grip the filters well on their own - before you secure the glass with the finger screws. The only issue I have is that if I want to use grads, to accomodate the larger vertical size and allow adjustment of the grad height, the light flap on the top of the mattebox will have to remain open and fitted to the DVX in that position. On the other hand, if you can live with the flap open and protect from stray light in other ways, you CAN insert filters from the top into the front (non-rotatable) stage.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

unfortunately you are wrong in a few points.. If you take the flap off, only one stage is slightly accessible, as the mic is still there flap or no flap. and since grads usually need to be rotateble, the mic gets in the way no matter what way you look at it. its all fine and dandy to push filters through the bottom, unless you are like me and use rails. I will not stop using rails in order to use this mattebox.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

OK Jarred, it seems the design must have changed slightly then. Before I wrote the post I thought I'd better check what I was saying held up so I got the camera out and double checked my rig. No doubt that on my setup filters in the front stage clear the DVX microphone with the flap folded up. I'm sorry I assumed the design was identical from the pics you posted. I take the point that grads need to be tilted sometimes and on this set up I agree it is not possible to use grads in the rotatable stage. Square filters - no problem though.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

yeah the old one was made out of like a carbon fiber looking material. You probally still cant fold that flap down though right?
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

That's right. The assembly has to go on to the camera with the flap in the up position - and stay there.
 
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