MF lenses and a Matte Box

[dantakesphotos]

Sorry for the repost, but nobody has responded on the other boards.. if you have any insight on my problems, please let me know!

Im going to try to use old Nikkor AI MF lenses with my 5Dmk2 and rail system with a Genus Bravo follow focus. The follow focus reaches the focus ring, but I can't mount the matte box (A Genuss GSS Clip on) onto the end of the lens because it hits the follow focus. Is there a spacer I can use? Some way to bring the Mattebox away from the end of the threads? How do people use MF Zeiss lenses (or similar) with a matte box?

Thanks, Dan

 

[analog_addict]

Different situation but this is how I use my mattebox. It is mounted on rails and uses a foam donut about 1mm wider than my lenses. (e.g. 49mm filter thread and 50mm foam donut)

- I add 3 empty filter rings onto the end of my 50mm lens. (Less for a wider lens)
- Adjust the focus on the lens to infinity so the lens is at its most compact.
- Mount the camera and push the lens through the foam donut so only the very end pokes through.
- Then I screw on a little rubber hood onto the end of the filter rings.
- Lock everything down and make sure the lens can focus to infinity and macro without touching or clipping on anything.

This setup is extremely good because:

- It allows the front element to freely move back and forth without any friction.
- This method is guaranteed to block out every single bit of unwanted light!
- It allows more space to manually focus with your hand (the main reason I use this setup as I don't use a FF unit)


The only problem is that it takes a little longer to switch lenses but I can do it in about 2 or 3mins after some practice.