HPX500 mattebox

M

morgster

Active member
Anyone know of a good mattebox for an HPX500 that I can run hand held with too? I am thinking about using filters when I shoot, but want to be able to lift the camera off the tripod with rails attached and shoot hand held too. Does anyone know if the Zacuto LWS system work for handheld, or does it mount onto the tripod only?

Appreciate any help.
 
it totaly depends on what lenses you use, the mattebox. I have a 4x4, it fits my canon standard lens but doesn't fit wide angle, so first look at you're lens before buyin mattebox. I have panasonic rods
 
I actually don't know of a matte box system that isn't hand holdable... I use a Chrosziel bottom plate and the matte box that's made for the HVX, but the Zacuto plate (neither of them are cheap, but they're both very good) would certainly work - and there are getting to be a lot of cheap matte boxes out there.... i.e. check Red Rock. Rods are rods, you can get 15mm rods of various lengths anywhere...

You need to read old posts about mounting the bottom plate though... removing the screws has been an issue for some, and (for me) reinforcing the lateral stress support needs to be considered.
 
You need to read old posts about mounting the bottom plate though... removing the screws has been an issue for some, and (for me) reinforcing the lateral stress support needs to be considered.

Uh what are you talking about? Whats the problem exactly? I am going to go with the hpx, wide angle lens, and a redrock mattebox. And the cheapest rail suport I can find.
 
Andrew I have the Cavision plate adapter and Cavision rod support, both are solid and priced well, compared to say Zacuto or Chrosziel. Mine are as solid as a rock.
 
The stock bottom plate has pins that lock it into place, so that those four 4mm screws don't have to support the lateral stress of this heavy camera when it's on a tripod.

In my case, I made two simple aluminum plates and screwed them to the sides of the Chrosziel base to replicate the support those pins provide...

The design of the pro tripod plates assumes that you will be using force to lock the camera in place. Scary, when you consider those teeny little screws on the 500 (I also replaced the original screws with stainless that are slightly longer - if I could have found 4mm grade-8 screws, I would have used them)...

By the way, I use a Sony tripod plate, which has lower side channels, so my homemade side plate reinforcement will fit without binding.
 
The Formatt FM600 works pretty well. It uses a screw on adapter so no rails required if you don't want 'em. 1 rotating stage, 1 fixed.
Scale reads 16 lbs 10 oz. loaded
Not bad for $439 with 82mm adapter http://www.dvcreators.net/formatt-fm-600-matte-box/

hdimages1.jpg
 
We used to use a Cavision with carbon fiber rods that mounted to a custom tripod plate (supplied by Cavision).

I quickly started to dislike the Cavision for a couple of reasons:

1) it is a bit on the 'flimsy side' as most of the components are plastic, not metal.
2) The large front flag is not removable. I was shooting a helicopter landing, and the front flag caught the downwash and acted like a sail and bucked the camera pretty badly. I had to remove the entire matte box (and give up my 1/2 grad) to get the shot.

We have switched to a Vocas clamp-on that is much sturdier. The main flag is removable, and there are two eyebrow flags within the lens shade that can flag top or bottom. It also has 2 rotatiing holders, not 1 rotating and 1 fixed. Very hand-held friendly.:thumbup:

Since we don't use a follow focus, I haven't missed the rails at all.

I think the model # is Vocas MB-325

Pics here:

http://www.serv.com.ua/img/catalog/big/1160400710mb325_low.jpg

With top flag installed:
http://www.pictureland.de/zubeh_Mattebox_01-Dateien/image024.jpg
 
Bumping to see if there are any new long term opinions about the matteboxes for this camera? Where is a good place you buy?
 
I actually use a small MB250 for my Hpx500, not the ideal solution...but works great with my kit of 4x4 filters. Will be adding a 325 or 350 to my kit in the near future. The build quality of Vocas also is very good, and i think a bit better value than Chroziel, and at least as good build quality. A year ago I fell over and landed with my full...100kg on the box, only a few scratches from the incident.

As for dealers at least the smaller boxes are sold as Schneider in the US, not sure where you can get hold of the larger ones "over there" as I'm located in europe...
 
If you want to stay small and light, try to find a Chrosziel 3x3 clamp on, it works well with my Fujinon lens.

Although I also have two Chrosziel 4x4 boxes (an older higher-tech compendium style from my super16 Aaton and the newer one originally designed for the 200) I find I use the 3x3 more when I need to handhold... It's light and small, so it doesn't get banged going through doors or jumping in cars.. I've modified mine so it mounts on rods for additional support, but it works fine as a clamp-on too.
 
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