planetearth
Well-known member
Re: Cavision mattebox vignetting
My take (perhaps others have a better solution) - first off get the xl1 adapter (brings the matte box closer to the lens and it's cheaper). If you want (and use) a UV filter, it will bring the matte box filter trays just beyond the on board mic (a good thing). Problem is, by doing this you will also encounter vignetting when rotating the filter (ie polarizer). Solution, take off the UV (when using a pola) so the matte box is closer to the lens (no vignetting this way). Problem - you can't keep the rear filter upright when doing this, for the on board mic gets in the way). You may consider a 4x4 matte box as some have suggested. Obviously these filters are wide enough to cover the full frame when the DVX100 is zoomed out to its fullest. My concern with this is still that the filters are too far from the lens. Not that you will experience vignetting, but I was able to read the writing on the filter when viewing through the viewfinder. If this is the case, it will also be susceptible to picking up any abrasions, fingerprints, dust, patterns on softnets, live chickens, etc. Also, if you use grads and they're too far from the lens, well they may not be "grads" any more. Something I'm thinking of doing is machining down the "pull out handle" on the rear filter tray so it sits with a lower profile. This way it can clear below the on board mic and still sit upright. Problem with this - you can't use the UV filter. Though I'm not really a UV filter fan (mind you this lens is difficult to clean without it), some might really have a problem with this. So, a second potential solution - Machine down the depth of the XL1 adapter as well. I know, this is a lot of work and it would be good if Cavision would do this for us in the first place, but these are potential solutions for what is in the end a nice little matte box.
My take (perhaps others have a better solution) - first off get the xl1 adapter (brings the matte box closer to the lens and it's cheaper). If you want (and use) a UV filter, it will bring the matte box filter trays just beyond the on board mic (a good thing). Problem is, by doing this you will also encounter vignetting when rotating the filter (ie polarizer). Solution, take off the UV (when using a pola) so the matte box is closer to the lens (no vignetting this way). Problem - you can't keep the rear filter upright when doing this, for the on board mic gets in the way). You may consider a 4x4 matte box as some have suggested. Obviously these filters are wide enough to cover the full frame when the DVX100 is zoomed out to its fullest. My concern with this is still that the filters are too far from the lens. Not that you will experience vignetting, but I was able to read the writing on the filter when viewing through the viewfinder. If this is the case, it will also be susceptible to picking up any abrasions, fingerprints, dust, patterns on softnets, live chickens, etc. Also, if you use grads and they're too far from the lens, well they may not be "grads" any more. Something I'm thinking of doing is machining down the "pull out handle" on the rear filter tray so it sits with a lower profile. This way it can clear below the on board mic and still sit upright. Problem with this - you can't use the UV filter. Though I'm not really a UV filter fan (mind you this lens is difficult to clean without it), some might really have a problem with this. So, a second potential solution - Machine down the depth of the XL1 adapter as well. I know, this is a lot of work and it would be good if Cavision would do this for us in the first place, but these are potential solutions for what is in the end a nice little matte box.
