Inexpensive mattebox?

John Foundas

John Foundas

Well-known member
Looking for a mattbox for the AF.Going to use it with the Voightlander 25mm and 50mm lenses.Functional not crazy $$$$ Any suggestions?Thanks :)
 
The Genus Wideangle mattebox is pretty cheap. I just bought the Vocas MB250, which is a bit more pricey, but great.
 
Johnf said:
Looking for a mattbox for the AF.Going to use it with the Voightlander 25mm and 50mm lenses.Functional not crazy $$$$ Any suggestions?Thanks :)
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Why do you think you need a mattebox is my first question?

....

We have found that the Nikkors we use ( see my sig)...all have the potential to flare unless extreme caution and control is used.

This is not a CAMERA ISSUE but...we have never seen this as pronounced as we do when using still lenses on a "movie" camera. (AF102) esp. the zooms.

We now go to fairly extreme lengths to mask the lens on the mattebox. ie mattes made form masking tape. we are currently getting mattes cut to fit and suit the lens kit. These all need to mount to a Matte Box.

Buy cheap with caution!
 
I guess it depends on how much you are going to use it and also if others besides you are going to handle it. I got the Proaim from Cinecity (no, not Fellini's studio... the one in India). It has a french flag and side shades plus two rotating filter stages and is OK for careful use. It has a decent set of rails and for the price, it can't be beat. I don't use it with the 14-140, but it's great for the 7-14, and especially with the 20mm pancake. That lens has no hood and it really helps with the appearance as well as light control. I can still use my 4X4 polarizer and gradient as well as the diffusion filter for interviews. I don't think it would hold up to using for rentals or all-day-every-day type use. In my case, I'm a writer/producer/editor, so on any one project, I am only shooting for days and then there are weeks on each end with pre and post activities... I'm OK.
 
I like the Shoot35 mattebox. It's on sale now. But due to my lensing, it'll be difficult to get all my lenses to batch with the rubber bellows.
 
Shooter, is this Nikkor problem only when you're using the mattebox, or do they flare all the time?

Johnf, the impression I get from the AF100 - (and echoed in Shooter's question "Why do you think you need a mattebox..." - is that there really is no glaring need for a mattebox since the camera comes with dial-in ND filters. The issues with glare can be managed by lens shades and good light control. If you need to use more than the ND filters then the mattebox becomes a useful accessory. Other than that, it seems its only purpose is to make your rig look professional. Granted, I'm not an AF100 owner yet, but I have yet to read any good counter-arguments to those points.

There was also the issue mentioned by a couple of people of the mattebox saving the camera when the rig tipped over, so maybe the mattebox can be justified for that reason. I can definitely see the appeal of spending $850 on a mattebox vs. stopping production while you get your camera fixed.
 
No, it is not your only option. There are filters that can screw into the front of your lens. The drawback to this is that every time you want to use the filter you need to screw it on and then screw it back off when you're done. Plus if you want to use it on more than one lens, each lens has to have the same thread size otherwise you'll need multiple filters.
 
you could also get the bigger screw on filter you can get and use step down rings to fit your different sized lenses.
 
I dont mind screwing on/off as I wouldn't be using regularly, just for outdoor wide shots/timelapse to prevent the sky blowing out,
I'm using a 24mm FD lens, can you recommend a good grad filter for this purpose (.6?)
 
plwells42 said:
Shooter, is this Nikkor problem only when you're using the mattebox, or do they flare all the time?

.......

The issues with glare can be managed by lens shades and good light control. If you need to use more than the ND filters then the mattebox becomes a useful accessory. Other than that, it seems its only purpose is to make your rig look professional. Granted, I'm not an AF100 owner yet, but I have yet to read any good counter-arguments to those points.

.......QUOTE]


The Nikkors have potential to easily flare with or without a mattebox. eg shooting product on a white BG or simply bright sky bgs. We are constantly "fighting" it.

We use the mattebox to hold and exactly position the lens mattes by using the rails etc.

Without a mattebox it is impossible. Flags and eyelids dont achieve the same amount of cut required. Our mattes are almost exactly to the outer edge of frame (as they should be).
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TubEfingers said:
I dont mind screwing on/off as I wouldn't be using regularly, just for outdoor wide shots/timelapse to prevent the sky blowing out,
I'm using a 24mm FD lens, can you recommend a good grad filter for this purpose (.6?)
Click to expand...
I remember seeing "filter trays" that would screw onto the front of a still cam lens and then you could "drop in" filters like gradients... cokin makes these... they won't cut the glare and flair and keep your blacks black like a mattebox though.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=6bI7ToLuO4WgtweQn9nmAg&sqi=2&ved=0CDQQ8wIwBA#
 
I use the ProAim Indian Mattebox from Cinecity on Ebay.

It's been fine so far. It does add about 30 seconds to a lens changeover but I think for the added protection to the camera alone it is worth it.

And I am going to admit that one of the reasons I got it was for the way it makes the whole rig look better. The camera is pretty weird-looking without it.
 
Multi-Media said:
I remember seeing "filter trays" that would screw onto the front of a still cam lens and then you could "drop in" filters like gradients...
Click to expand...

When traveling I often use Lee grads in a filter holder with a compendium lens hood. The system is lightweight, & relatively compact, but resin filters are not as durable as glass.
 
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