GH1 Cheap matte box with 4 sides and slot for 4x4 filters???

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

So, I checked the E-bay listings and for somewhere around 30-50 bux there's a number of 'matte boxes' that seem to 1) have only 3 sides, and 2) no filter slot... when I search for matte box + filter... there's about 4 or 5 offerings, mostly around 350-500 bux... and still only 3 sided...

So, 1) is there no cheap solution... 2) does everyone who shoots DSLR's not worry about light scatter from underneath?

 

[ErikTande]

Cheapest real matte box I've seen is around the $300 mark. So yeah, that's about it for now. $300 is getting there, I used to only see them for $600+. They'll keep getting cheaper as China and other places figure out how to manufacture them in an inexpensive manner. I'm guessing we'll see $150 range in a year or two.

Prices of the Red Rock and other brand name matte boxes blow my mind. $900 for some metal and hinges? No thanks :- )

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

Cheapest real matte box I've seen is around the $300 mark. So yeah, that's about it for now. $300 is getting there, I used to only see them for $600+. They'll keep getting cheaper as China and other places figure out how to manufacture them in an inexpensive manner. I'm guessing we'll see $150 range in a year or two.

Prices of the Red Rock and other brand name matte boxes blow my mind. $900 for some metal and hinges? No thanks :- )

Those corporate brands and logos are difficult to design... on the order of maned space flight to Uranus (however you want to pronounce that...)... I'm sure of it...

I'll probably buy a 'cheap' one just to have something for some lighting setups I've been looking at... and not worry about filters... do it in post... right?

But yeah, $900 for sheet metal bent 'funny' seems pretty steep.

 

[JFP]

I don't personally own this matte box so I can't comment on the quality but I've read some good things so it seems to offer pretty good quality for the price.

MatteBox

 

[mico]

Those corporate brands and logos are difficult to design... on the order of maned space flight to Uranus (however you want to pronounce that...)... I'm sure of it...

I'll probably buy a 'cheap' one just to have something for some lighting setups I've been looking at... and not worry about filters... do it in post... right?

But yeah, $900 for sheet metal bent 'funny' seems pretty steep.

Having gone through 4 cheap matte boxes all with their own individual issues I got rid of them all and went with a genus one and wish I hadn't wasted the time with those other 4. And the $700 I spent on the Genus isn't even the top end of matteboxes. Tolerances on these things which have to accept filters, adjust height, swing away, and operate and do their job properly are what make these expensive. If it was just bent metal that would be one thing but having to actually use these easily requires thoughtful and exact construction. Don't waste your time, a $50 matte box that does the job right will never happen, a $300 one gets you closer but you'll feel the pain eventually. If you're still never going to pay the prices for a good matte box then a simple screw on lens hood costing $10 using screw on filters is better than a $100 cheap matte box.