Low cost matte box for anamorphic...

JanBee

JanBee

Active member
My anamorphic lens is still on its way, but I already think about how to use filters and how to protect it.

The chrosziel matte box is great but way too expensive for me.

What do you think about this idea:

Cokin has a new line of HUGE filters called X-PRO series. This filters have giant sizes of 170x130mm (thumb: 6,5x5 inches) and they offer a filter holder and a lightweigh bellow as well. All parts are very lightweight (including the filters, which are made of plastic, not glass).

I talked to an engineer friend of mine and he said it would cost around 150 Euros to build a professional adaptor to mount the filter holder right on to the anamorphic lens (detachable), without the need to rape the anamorphic by cutting off the sunshield. No expensive support system (with rods) would be needed. Filters would lie right on the anamorphic with no obstructing parts so there is no vignetting by filters or filter holder.

Only drawback I can see is, the filters are plastic and not that "pro" and sturdy like the glass filters, but, what the heck? This solution would cost a fraction of a chrosziel mattebox, if I'll ruin a filter I'd buy a new one...

And the other matteboxes out there are, from what I heard, a pain ita if used with the anamorphic..

Uhmm.. what do you guys think of that idea ???
 
Re: Low cost matte box for anamorphic...

oooh, btw: can an anamorphic owner tell me what the size of the adapter is? I'm talking about the kind of "rectangle fixed hood" in front of the lens. Just need width and height in inches or millimeters to look for other alternatives...

thanks...
 
Re: Low cost matte box for anamorphic...

Dear Jan,

the dimensions are 122mm x 110mm, so 100mm (Cokin Z-Series) is too risky and you have to go with the X-Series.

Jan
(I've got a multiple personalities disorder ;D)
 
Re: Low cost matte box for anamorphic...

Jan

If you follow through on this idea post some pics here afterwards....

I haven't bought the ana lens yet and the lack of affordable matte box options and protection are the main resaons....well and $
 
Re: Low cost matte box for anamorphic...

It's been done before, someone posted pictures of how they modified an X-Pro filter holder to fit their anamorphic adapter. Basically they cut away a couple of mm of the inside of the X-Pro adapter ring, in each corner, so it would fit on the anamorphic's sunshade. Then they devised some sort of clips to securely fasten it down. No $150 job, more like $1.50.

It works. However, you're stuck using Cokin filters, which are (in my subjective opinion) not in the same league as Schneider or B+W glass filters.
 
Re: Low cost matte box for anamorphic...

Well if you want to go the very LOW budget way is to gaffer tape some cardboard to your camera! Not the prettiest thing but I am sure it will work. You won't be able to drop 4x4 filters in it unless you gaffer tape those bad boys to the card board! LOL!
 
Re: Low cost matte box for anamorphic...

Went to see a cokin x-pro holder today . . it vignettes a bit!
 
Re: Low cost matte box for anamorphic...

Yes, in its unmodified form it would vignette. That's why the guy who installed it had to modify it a bit -- he cut away a bit of the plastic where the corners of the anamorphic's lens hood impacted the filter holder. By cutting out some notches he was able to get the whole filter holder to slide on to the anamorphic, thus giving no vignetting.

(but then you're still stuck using Cokin filters.)
 
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