Mattebox vs. screw on filters

R

randomname

Well-known member
I'm a little torn right now on how I feel about Matteboxes, I have a redrock one but am on the verge of selling it. On the one hand, it's definitely useful and I think is very impressive looking to clients, and while nobody has every said anything, I always assume (unless they're camera-savvy) that they're a little skeptical when they see me pull out a 5D. The problem is that right now, I'm generally only on shoots where I'm the DP/Camera Operator/Gaffer/My own AC and using a mattebox slows me down considerably, not to mention how difficult it is to mount the mattebox and a follow focus on to the rails when I'm using a small nikon prime. I could also use the money on several other pieces of equipment that, at the end of the day, would get me better shots than the mattebox does. Does anyone have any advice? at the moment, I'm definitely leaning towards selling the mattebox and switching to step up rings and screw on filters and just renting when I'm on a shoot with a decent budget.
 
I think your answer is to work whichever way works for you. Forget aesthetics, and pay attention to what gets you the results you need without inhibiting you.

The mattebox is a great tool, but does have drawbacks. It's a great way to enhance light protection, and it makes changing filters much easier (and faster). It is, however, a bit clumsy for swapping lenses... unless, of course, you're working with true cinema primes in which case the lenses are all the same size and diameter.

Likewise, screw-on filters can be great but have their drawbacks. They're certainly much less expensive, and using step rings can mean one filter set for most/all lenses. However, swapping and arranging filters isn't quite as easy. You can get add a sunshade to the front if you need extra protection, but it's not always as effective as a mattebox.

If you're using a telescoping zoom, then a mattebox is right out.
 
Do you need it? If it's only slowing you down and not serving any real purpose I'd ditch it. I have the same matte box, but it only comes out on larger shoots and when I need it. If I'm out shooting an interview with a two man crew, it stays behind. I don't need it in that situation. Now on the other hand, I've got a big commercial shoot w/ the C300 coming up where I will be using a matte box. It's a larger crew, we'll be lighting the hell out of things and will likely use filtration. It will be a necessary tool to have on set.

If it's a client you've worked with before, I wouldn't worry so much about what they think of your camera setup, or whether or not it looks cool. If they've worked with you before, hopefully they are able to put some trust in you that the end product will be what they're looking for. And I think by now people are getting used to seeing DSLR's on video shoots.
 
OK its a bright day.

Option one matte box, a lens change.

Slide forward
Change lens
Slide back
Maybe fiddle with nuns knickers

Option two
ND filter on lens
Unscrew
Screw onto new lens

Option three
Both lenses have ND onboard already
Change lenses.

I own 2 VND filters and a step up to 72mm ring on all my lenses

Now if you own a lot of primes then having stupups and maybe filters for each lens gets costly fast - and you end up with a Olympic Logo worth of rings stuck floating around your bag

And some of them get a bit of sand in and get jammed on a lens that you are trying to undo while wearing gloves in front of a client on a cold day

Really both systems can be pretty evil working under pressure!

I worked with a Lee Clip on last week - actually that was quite good as long as each lens was prepped with the the right step up ring..

id 'think through the moves'

and of course think lens flare - IMO heavy ND often needs a flag or MB to keep the light off it..

and of course Grads dont work as screw on..

S
 
Main advantage of a matte box (besides quick filter change) is preventing flare. There are certainly times I have been holding a card above the lens shading it with one hand while panning with the other that I wished I had one. Lens hoods can help, but they aren't a french flag.
 
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bmxbud4130 said:
Do you need it? If it's only slowing you down and not serving any real purpose I'd ditch it. I have the same matte box, but it only comes out on larger shoots and when I need it. If I'm out shooting an interview with a two man crew, it stays behind. I don't need it in that situation. Now on the other hand, I've got a big commercial shoot w/ the C300 coming up where I will be using a matte box. It's a larger crew, we'll be lighting the hell out of things and will likely use filtration. It will be a necessary tool to have on set.

If it's a client you've worked with before, I wouldn't worry so much about what they think of your camera setup, or whether or not it looks cool. If they've worked with you before, hopefully they are able to put some trust in you that the end product will be what they're looking for. And I think by now people are getting used to seeing DSLR's on video shoots.
Click to expand...

Do you find that you still need ND's on top of the ones built in the C300? If so how often and in what kind of situations? Is it really important to have ND's built in the camera in your experience or just use a matte box or screw on filters?
 
morgan_moore said:
Lets say the sky is just the top 10% of the frame - how do you handle that ?

S
Click to expand...

You're taking one situation and applying it to grad filters as a whole. Just because they may not be okay for one situation doesn't mean that they're no good at all. They work, but like any filter... not in every single situation. However, this is one of those times where a feathered grad, rather than a hard-edged, is worth a try. It's not that much different with a filter in a matte box.
 
I would use a 4 inch by 5 and rise fall as appropriate - anyway - not to worry - I just thought the OP may want to consider that factor in moving away from a MB..

S
 
Wendt said:
Do you find that you still need ND's on top of the ones built in the C300? If so how often and in what kind of situations? Is it really important to have ND's built in the camera in your experience or just use a matte box or screw on filters?
Click to expand...

For most situations, the built-in ND's will be fine (unless you want something that falls between 2, 4 and 6 stops). In my case, we'll probably be putting other types of filters in the matte box, such as an ND grad, polarizer, ProMist filters, etc.
 
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