Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

gaffer tape and camera tape are technically the same tape, except that gaffer tape is 2" thick, and camera tape is 1" or smaller. 2" of tape on this application may be a little too wide.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

I've been using the Formatt box for about 5 months. For a lens mounted matte box, it's pretty good. I have had light leaks at the bottom (when shooting around water), so I just tape it out of habit now. I don't have the edged Formatt filters and it feels weird at first crunching down on the glass but I've had no problems. Turning the ring with a polarizer is a bit difficult and awkward, and yes the mic is in the way if you don't use a spacer. It's very light - and, correct me if I'm wrong, but it's made of carbon fiber, not aluminum.

All in all, it's a good piece of engineering. I bought it cheap on eBay so the minor irritations are easier to accept and do not hinder my shooting.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

[quote author=JBN link=board=Links;num=1087576180;start=30#41 date=06/26/04 at 21:47:04]It's not 2" thick.  It's 2" wide.[/quote]

depends on which way you look at it :)
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

and Gianni.. I think you have the other model, the one that the mattebox looks like carbon fiber right?
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Jarred, moment of truth? How does the Bogen compare to the Cinetactics Matte Blox? There is an obvious cost difference, so since you've used both, is the Bogen worth the extra money, especially in light (no pun intended) of how it attaches and how the filters work?

Thanks.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Moment of truth.. The Matteblox has no issues, it works out of the box and with the DVX.

The bogen is great, but it wasnt made for this camera, and needs an extra part that bogen is in the process of making to make it fully compatible. (just a spacer ring, you can buy them elsewhere) The build quality of the bogen however is grade A, Solid metal and feels like it could take alot of abuse. The lack of filter trays is total bizarre.. but in use Its not as big of an issue as I thought it would be.

I think both of them, the matteblox and the bogen are good if you dont change filters many times in a shoot, as they both have very creative filter mounting. One is Ballistic Nylon, one is Metal, so the bogen is very large, so its not gonna fit in your DVX sized camera bag like the matteblox, but the bogen looks pretty cool on the camera.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

A couple of things about the Formatt. It looks like it has no side flags, so with it's shallow box it might not provide that great of side shading. Also, one of the websites stated that it only takes 1mm thick filters. Is there any way to adjust the depth of the filter slots? I'm sure the edge protection on the Formatt filters is great, but does the Formatt have the potential to chip or scratch the edges of standard 4x4 filters?
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

1mm filters... no, that must be some mixup because with the metal rim, the Formatt filters are pushing 5mm, so its not an issue.

The actual tray slots are plastic, with plastic screw in stops so its not going to scratch standard 4x4s
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Yes, Jarred, I guess I have an older model, made of - or looks like - carbon fiber. Otherwise it sounds the same. In any case, it's light weight and I like it!
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Jared, you mentioned finding spacer rings. I googled like a mofo and couldn't find anything. Help?
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Very Good News!! Seem like a good one for the price. Where can we buy or order this Bogen Matte Box? Any DVXUser discount. ;)
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

[quote author=pennred link=board=Links;num=1087576180;start=45#52 date=06/29/04 at 06:42:56]Jared, you mentioned finding spacer rings. I googled like a mofo and couldn't find anything. Help?[/quote]

If you already have a 72mm UV filter that would work or you could scrounge a used or cheapo 72mm filter or two and pop out the glass.
 
Re: Bogen Formatt 4x4 Matte Box

Barry took the words right out of my mind. Cinetactics also makes a 72>72mm spacer ring for thier matteboxes.
 
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