T2i Matte box? LCD monitor?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
I am on the verge of buying a T2i, just wondering if I do what you all that own a T2i (550D) are using for a matte box (link to purchase?) and also for a camera mounted HD lcd monitor? And what rail system to you use for mounting that matted box and a pull focus rig?

Any help/info greatly appreciated. I think I am almost ready to click and buy a T2i, I want to rig it up with a matte box, pull focus rig, and an lcd hd monitor. I have a nice manfrotti fluid head tripod and Rode shotgun microphone with Zoom H4 recorder for audio so I should be set at that point. I had a canon XHA1 but sold that, I really like the notion of controlling DOF with lenses which the XHA1 could not do, and my little Canon VIXIA HF100 requires pressing little buttons on a little lcd to control frame rate and f-stop and such and has a small aperature lens, nothing like a T2i setup.
randall
 
You can't get live HD output while recording on t2i. One of the major reasons why you would want to choose 7D for your A-camera.
 
Martin Oller said:
You can't get live HD output while recording on t2i. One of the major reasons why you would want to choose 7D for your A-camera.
Click to expand...

I can live with SD output while recording. At first I panicked and thought you were saying NO video output while recording (needed for panning, framing actors, etc). But it looks like (from other web forum posts I found) that the T2i can output to an external HD monitor (once you plug in an HDMI cable the lcd on the back of the camera goes blank and the video is only on the external monitor) and you get a 1080i signal for focusing, framing; then when you press the record video button the signal drops to 480p to the hdmi external monitor. That is acceptable to me-- 480 once I go into record mode is acceptable for panning and framing. For now. If I like DSLR for video I would upgrade to the 8d or 9d or whatever comes our way in a year or two (Hmmm, I wonder how long it will be for 3k or 4k DSLRs to come out to rivel the RED?)
randall
 
Save your money man, Get the grip and extra batteries. I have the lilliput monitor and never use it. I also rarely use a mattebox on my cam. The t2i has a nice lcd, and it's big. plus it has the magnify button to check focus. grab a nice lens hood for cheap money. and put the cash you were going to use for the monitor and mattebox towards glass. It's way more important than a lcd and mattbox. I do reccomend the battery grip. Some people like the loope's too. I have never used one so I cant say.
 
Get a Genus Matte box with some ND filters to start with. Some of the Genus matteboxes come with a support. Start there, and then expand your gear as you make money of it.

- Derrick
 
maranfilms said:
Save your money man, Get the grip and extra batteries. I have the lilliput monitor and never use it. I also rarely use a mattebox on my cam. The t2i has a nice lcd, and it's big. plus it has the magnify button to check focus. grab a nice lens hood for cheap money. and put the cash you were going to use for the monitor and mattebox towards glass. It's way more important than a lcd and mattbox. I do reccomend the battery grip. Some people like the loope's too. I have never used one so I cant say.
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I am kind of worried about leaning over all the time to focus/preview/track/pan using the camera's lcd, since many shots should be done somewhat low. With a lilliput/other external lcd i figure i could tilt it somewhat horizontal to look down while standing, not have to bend over. Or am I off base here on that-- will i still end up bending over to see the small external lcd?

I do agree on the matte box thing (and may agree on the external lcd thing too, will wait and see how it goes without one first)-- i just can not see spending hundreds of dollars on a matte box just to keep stray light out-- i ordered a $10 lens hood that should suffice. And I want to get a pull focus rig and will likely need a cage and rails i figure to go with that, or maybe just a simpler cheaper rail system? All kind of knew to me, never done the DSLR route before for video shooting.
 
Derrick_SA said:
Get a Genus Matte box with some ND filters to start with. Some of the Genus matteboxes come with a support. Start there, and then expand your gear as you make money of it.
Click to expand...

Couldn't I just use screw-on round ND filters at $10-20 a pop, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 set of ND filters for the camera lens?
 
yes, you can use the screw on nd filters, Hoya makes decent filters. I would get a polarizer too. Great for shooting through glass. (people in cars). I bought an aftermarket grip on ebay for short money, and I find it to be one of the most important tools. The extra battery is great.
 
maranfilms said:
... I would get a polarizer too. Great for shooting through glass. (people in cars)....
Click to expand...

Good idea, forgot about getting a polarizer. Making a shopping list for an order on amazon. ND and polarizer filters, spare batteries, battery grip, memory cards, battery charger with car adapter, lens hood.
 
I've had good success with my Indie matte-box. It also "flips out" so you can use screw on filters anytime you wish without removing it from the rods. (I use the Vari-ND all the time).

P.
 
I seem to be coming to the conclusion that an external LCD monitor like Lilliput or small HD may not even be worth getting now-- am I on track? What I see from reading googled posts and such is that for the T2i, it is going to show up as 480p in 4:3 on an external lcd during recording-- and it is that 4:3 ratio that would stink. I really would want 16:9 images on an external lcd, not 4:3. Am I correct in my conclusion? If so geez I might just skip buying and attaching and external LCD, just use the camera's own lcd on the back-- which stinks when shooting low on a tripod or on the ground but I might just have to get a low stool or sit on the ground I guess rather than always bending over.
 
randal your problem screw in filters, is you have to get a set for every size lens diameter you have. and it does make the camera also feel alot more "I'm making a film baby!!" when the mattebox is on.

But that said, there is a gazillion ways to skin a cat, so there is no right or wrong, whatever works for you and makes you feel productive and creative.

- Derrick
 
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