Cinetactics vs. Formatt 500

Rick Meyer

Rick Meyer

Veteran
I have done a search. I have read the posts. I know that the general consensus is, they are both good for the money. However, I'd like to know that if it was to come down to these two, which would prevail?

They both support 4x4 filters, correct? How is the vignetting on either of these? Pros and Cons of each?

Please hook a brotha up with some info.

Thanks a bunch-
Rick

PS Also what would I need to order WITH the Formatt 500 vs. WITH the Cinetactics? Per the Evsonline site, the Formatt 500 seems to come alone. But the Cinetactics seems to need a bunch of little extras.

http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/...M500MATT&Category_Code=2A3D1&Product_Count=32

versus

http://cinetactics.com/k-mb.php
 
No offense to the Cinetactics folks but I never really liked the look of their matte box. I myself own the Formatt 500 and it works great! No serious problems with it! I have two glass, a ND and a poloraizer. No complaints here with my format 500.
 
Thanks Spider-

I am not a huge fan of how the Cinetactics looks either but that wouldn't prevent me from picking one up if it worked really well. To me, thats what counts most. The Formatt 500, does it come with 4X4 filter holders? oversized French Flag? Does it cause vignetting?

Thanks for the advice-
Rick
 
rlm7189 said:
does it come with 4X4 filter holders? oversized French Flag? Does it cause vignetting?
Click to expand...

The only thing you don't get is the filters of course. You have to order those separately. I never got any vignetting. Actually I got it maybe once because I think someone didn't put it on correctly.



You should just go ahead and get it! For the price, its worth it! :thumbup:
 
okay thisswells-

Barry said that. I didn't. And, I believe he was referring to this camera. And, I just can't get down with spending $2000.00 dollars for a Chorizel mattebox and filters. Ahhh, no.

But, for the BEST of the more affordable units, which one??
 
oh great-

now youve thrown a completely NEW Brand into the mix. Okay, so you are saying the Vocas MKII is heads and shoulders better than the Formatt 500? And why is this? I have never owned a Mattebox, so I really don't understand the huge price differences vs. performance.

Thanks-
Rick
 
this is wells said the same thing to me about a half page down.

Some of us literally dont have $2000 to spend on anything let alone camera equipment. Instead of trying to scare him away from buying anything, why not share some of the differences?
 
Buy the used Vocas. I have a Vocas and consider it the best mattebox made. If you can get the mkII for 700 do it, it'll last you forever.
 
thisiswells said:
K, I'll try to whip up a few thoughts on some of the matte boxes and post it in a day or two. Have to think about it. It will be helpful and concise when I'm through. I'll PM you both when it's done. Hope this helps. (You'll have to sit through all the dribble of why my matte box is the best, of course!) :) :) :)
Click to expand...


Great! I can't wait to hear more! :D
 
all right thisiswells-

Search more. I get it.

Matteboxes are tricky though. In theory, if you've never used one, you can't quite understand their worth. And, people just talk about owning them, how sexy they look, how important they are but in terms of WHY or just HOW MUCH they improve the image, theres not a lot to find. But, I do trust the DVXuser.com nation. They say matteboxes are good. So, I am looking to buy.

However, I don't want to have to go through the trial and error of laying out dough for a mattebox that is more trouble than its worth. I know you said:

"Nobody explained the differences to me."

I feel for you. However, we are living in the 21st century. I have access to the Internet and Dvxuser.com. Therefore, I'd like to have the differences explained to me. Spoon fed if necessary. I'm sure if you HAD somebody willing to explain the differences to you, you'd have listened.

I just wanted to know the pros and cons of Formatt 500 vs. Cinetactics. But okay, I'll bite. I will throw a used Vocas into the mix. It might be ages before I am willing to shell out that kind of dough, but I'll search for one.

Thisiswells- How about some screen grabs comparing the same shot WITH the mattebox and WITHOUT the mattebox? That might help to clarify things for me....and a few others peeking in on this thread....

Thanks-
Rick

EDIT: I just read the part about where you said you were going to write the differences down. That would be excellent. Thank you. It will be very helpful for me and a few others I'm sure.
 
My take on this ...

If you've ever wished you could/needed to:
a) absolutely control your aperture (for depth of field etc.) beyond the limitations of the on-board ND filters
b) control flare/highlights with a polarizer
c) match landscape scene and sky light values to retain detail in both (you can't get back a blown sky in post) with an ND graduated filter
d) knock out direct light falling on front element

then you should look at the best mattebox you can afford. Does any of this ring a bell? If not - don't bother. You've got to be absolute about your need to control these elements otherwise it's a waste of money. But if you are persuing the perfect image it becomes an essential.

My understanding is that the Matteblox is no good for b. and c. above (no adjustment of filter). I do have the Vocas and the Formatt - if all the above apply, go for the Vocas.

Michael
 
Yeah, but what about...

Yeah, but what about...

I have the 4x4, as do several other DVXUsers, but I'd recommend you seriously consider this gem here. For less than $625, you get 15mm iris rods, riser, and a 3-stage mattebox for 4x4 and 4x5.65 filters (two fixed, one rotating).

310675.jpg


The Cavision is simply the best value for the money - hands down winner of this debate in my book.

e
 
overlandfilms said:
I have the 4x4, as do several other DVXUsers, but I'd recommend you seriously consider this gem here. For less than $625, you get 15mm iris rods, riser, and a 3-stage mattebox for 4x4 and 4x5.65 filters (two fixed, one rotating).

310675.jpg


The Cavision is simply the best value for the money - hands down winner of this debate in my book.

e
Click to expand...
All right. I will definitely check out this Cavision. It looks VERY sturdy.
 
Well, yeah, but... "sturdy" is not the word I'd use to describe it. It does the job, yes -- it has the features, yes -- and it's cheap, yes -- but it doesn't feel as solid as you'd like. In retrospect I think I would rather have gone with the Century/Vocas.

Also, you don't want the three-stage, CAVision told me that'll vignette on a DVX or HVX. Stick with the two-stage (one rotating slot).
 
Hmm, Jason had not told me that! Good to know about the three stage.

Now, from a sturdiness standpoint, I think the Cavision holds up quite well when mounted to iris rods, especially considering the sub-$400 pricepoint.

I've always thought the rotating filter stage could use a little refining, but otherwise, it is a great value for the money.

e
 
I spent a while with 'em on email trying to sort it out, because I wanted one unit that would work on the HVX, HD100, and DVX. They said to get the 16x9 version, which accepts 4x4's and 4x5.65's, and not to get three stages because it would vignette at the widest angle.
 
Barry-

Hold that thought. I just dropped $2500 on a 2nd DVX. But, I am way interested and might be ready help you get your Vocas in a few days. But, I'll have to do a wee bit more research. Can you please post a link or PM a link to the set-up you have?

Rick
 
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