Matte Box recommendation for Sony EX1?
- Thread starter BPV
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Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
$600 isn't much of a budget for matte box, rods, flags, base plate, etc. Plus you have to add the cost of filters you'll need on top of that.
Depending on what you intend to do with the matte box, you might find that screw-in filters are a less costly and easier to use solution -- even if you had a bigger budget.
Depending on what you intend to do with the matte box, you might find that screw-in filters are a less costly and easier to use solution -- even if you had a bigger budget.
Marek Bilski
Member
Hmmm...well, I disagree, $600 can get you quite a bit if you know where to look, example: Wondlan's Matte Box from MXM is quite reasonably priced and excellent quality. http://mxmexpress.com/product.php?id_product=97
Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
I can't say anything about the quality of that unit because I've never even heard of the brand before, but the $425 kit you linked to isn't complete. Where's the rods? Where's the baseplate and/or riser? And what about filters?
Can you put together a fully functional kit that will work with an EX1 and includes at least one filter and still stay within the $600 budget? I'll be impressed if you can. Otherwise I stand by my advice to increase the budget or consider screw-in filters. Grad filters are really the only type of filters that benefit from having a matte box anyway, because almost every other type of filtering can be done just as well with a screw-in filter. Unless, of course, someone's goal of using a matte box is really just to pimp the camera so it looks cool.
BTW, just so you don't think I have a negative opinion of matte boxes, I'm all for using a matte box if you really need it. I own three and rarely shoot without one of them: O'Connor, Chroszeil, and Red Rock.
Can you put together a fully functional kit that will work with an EX1 and includes at least one filter and still stay within the $600 budget? I'll be impressed if you can. Otherwise I stand by my advice to increase the budget or consider screw-in filters. Grad filters are really the only type of filters that benefit from having a matte box anyway, because almost every other type of filtering can be done just as well with a screw-in filter. Unless, of course, someone's goal of using a matte box is really just to pimp the camera so it looks cool.
BTW, just so you don't think I have a negative opinion of matte boxes, I'm all for using a matte box if you really need it. I own three and rarely shoot without one of them: O'Connor, Chroszeil, and Red Rock.
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Marek Bilski
Member
In regards to filters...with video cameras, I'm not so sure you'd have time to swap and change filters as you go. Most post production (eg Magic Bullet) offers you far more choices for your artistic interpretation of your imagery. So to be honest, I would not bother with filters on a video camera. Here's the base plate and rod AUD $185.. http://mxmexpress.com/product.php?id_product=83
IMHO, I'm all for flat footage as it can give me far more consistency and look for my final product.
Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
Okay, you win. I guess you can put together a matte box kit for around $600 (plus the cost of fllters). That's a pretty good deal if the quality is any good.
As to whether or not it is a good idea to use filters on a video camera, it depends on the filters. ND grad filters (for exposure control) and polarizers are two examples of filtration that can't be done as well in post. But I agree that if someone's inention is to use soft filters or some other kind of special effects filter, then doing it in post MIGHT be a better idea. All things being equal, I still think that a glass filter (such a Tiffen Soft F/X) provides more pleasing results than using software, but at least shooting clean and adjusting in post gives you a lot more flexibility if you're not sure what look you want.
And of course, if someone isn't going to actually use any filters in the matte box, then there would be no reason to spend any money at all on buying one. An empty matte box has no advantage over a simple lens hood.
As to whether or not it is a good idea to use filters on a video camera, it depends on the filters. ND grad filters (for exposure control) and polarizers are two examples of filtration that can't be done as well in post. But I agree that if someone's inention is to use soft filters or some other kind of special effects filter, then doing it in post MIGHT be a better idea. All things being equal, I still think that a glass filter (such a Tiffen Soft F/X) provides more pleasing results than using software, but at least shooting clean and adjusting in post gives you a lot more flexibility if you're not sure what look you want.
And of course, if someone isn't going to actually use any filters in the matte box, then there would be no reason to spend any money at all on buying one. An empty matte box has no advantage over a simple lens hood.
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Lensmith
Well-known member
I have this one on my Sony EX3. I bought it on a whim. Thinking the price was way too low but...worth the gamble.
I was looking for something to better control lens flair on larger interview set ups. Did research and found this. I bought it over a year ago and it works perfectly. Much to the chagrin of other matte box manufacturers, it's well engineered. Plus...you can not beat this price!
I recommended it to a friend who does a lot of multi cam shoots for CBS and ABC...the idea being he is not some hobbiest. He, like me, needs gear that works and lasts. On my advice, he too took a gamble since he, again like me, had doubts about the quality of something at this price. We both laugh now at how much money we saved and what a quality product we got.
Is there something better for more money? Of course. Is this a sturdy, reliable piece of gear for your camera that will give you an incredible bang for your buck? You bet. Plus it leaves you money left over to buy GOOD filters...which are not cheap and if you are going to commit cash...do it towards the price of good filters. Spend the money there!
Here's the link.
http://www.proaimshop.com/pas/PROAIM-105mm-MB-700-Jumbo-Matte-Box-with-Side-and-French-Flags-.html
It took them about three weeks to deliver the product to me here in Miami, Florida from India.
It DID come with a riser to attach to 15mm rods (I took the riser off in the pictures above since I had no rods at the time)...but the package DID NOT include the rods or rod-mount hardware. In the pics above, I don't have my rods on but now, as you can see in pic below, I do have a set of rods and this matte box is ALWAYS on the camera.
It works fine without rods but...I prefer the extra stability I get having the rod system mounted with it. I only use the French flag and side flags as needed.
If you order one, be sure to specify your camera model for the metal adapter ring. In my case, even though I shoot an EX3, I use an EX1 adapter ring because it moves the matte box a little further forward so it does not interfere with the built in mics on the handle of the cam and gives me a little more room for my camera mounted shotgun mic.
LOL Yes, FrankC...it does "pimp out" the camera nicely too!
I was looking for something to better control lens flair on larger interview set ups. Did research and found this. I bought it over a year ago and it works perfectly. Much to the chagrin of other matte box manufacturers, it's well engineered. Plus...you can not beat this price!
I recommended it to a friend who does a lot of multi cam shoots for CBS and ABC...the idea being he is not some hobbiest. He, like me, needs gear that works and lasts. On my advice, he too took a gamble since he, again like me, had doubts about the quality of something at this price. We both laugh now at how much money we saved and what a quality product we got.
Is there something better for more money? Of course. Is this a sturdy, reliable piece of gear for your camera that will give you an incredible bang for your buck? You bet. Plus it leaves you money left over to buy GOOD filters...which are not cheap and if you are going to commit cash...do it towards the price of good filters. Spend the money there!
Here's the link.
http://www.proaimshop.com/pas/PROAIM-105mm-MB-700-Jumbo-Matte-Box-with-Side-and-French-Flags-.html
It took them about three weeks to deliver the product to me here in Miami, Florida from India.
It DID come with a riser to attach to 15mm rods (I took the riser off in the pictures above since I had no rods at the time)...but the package DID NOT include the rods or rod-mount hardware. In the pics above, I don't have my rods on but now, as you can see in pic below, I do have a set of rods and this matte box is ALWAYS on the camera.
It works fine without rods but...I prefer the extra stability I get having the rod system mounted with it. I only use the French flag and side flags as needed.
If you order one, be sure to specify your camera model for the metal adapter ring. In my case, even though I shoot an EX3, I use an EX1 adapter ring because it moves the matte box a little further forward so it does not interfere with the built in mics on the handle of the cam and gives me a little more room for my camera mounted shotgun mic.
LOL Yes, FrankC...it does "pimp out" the camera nicely too!
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Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
Wow, there's some great deals out there. Thanks for the tip.