Most affordable Matte Box + Rails

[USLatin]

What is the most affordable Matte Box + Rails for the HMC to use with a 0.65x or 0.7x wide angle adapter that won't fall apart if treated with care? It doesn't need to be fancy but I wouldn't want it to break apart either.

The idea is to be able to shade the wide angle, be able to use the full zoom range, an be able to drop in a rotating polarizer for use on boats.

 

[MadHMC150]

What is the most affordable Matte Box + Rails for the HMC to use with a 0.65x or 0.7x wide angle adapter that won't fall apart if treated with care? It doesn't need to be fancy but I wouldn't want it to break apart either.

The idea is to be able to shade the wide angle, be able to use the full zoom range, an be able to drop in a rotating polarizer for use on boats.

Depends on the type of filters you are wanting to use...

They are on ebay from $300 for cheap plastic filters,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjShxBy3Asg

to B&H with 4x4s, with focus that are $600+
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSQAYSTpans&feature=related

Use of a 35mm lens is another consideration when choosing

 

[ryvac]

I've used the package they sell at 16x9 inc and it's the Chrosziel mattebox set with the 0.7x wide agnle lens .
the lens fit nicely to the mattebox and was great to use.
the pirce isn't cheap but I've seen a lot of used items for sale so I'm sure you can find at a good pice.

 

[USLatin]

Something like the 16x9 sunshade would be great: http://16x9inc.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=38
But their wide angle doesn't seem to say it allows for screw on filters.


The Century Optics adapter is a bit wider x 0.6 and it seems to allow for 102mm filters: http://www.schneideroptics.com/Ecommerce/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?CID=1545&IID=6824

Unless this allowed for adjustment of a rotating polarizer: http://www.schneideroptics.com/ecommerce/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?CID=1391&IID=6252
But it seems unlikely...

So they would need a Matte Box anyway... right?

There is a Century clip on for 105mm: http://www.schneideroptics.com/ecommerce/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?CID=1394&IID=1764

But for a grand $$$ there has to be a better option.

 

[Jaime Valles]

How about the Formatt matte box?

http://www.2filter.com/Formatt/formattFM600.html

http://www.dvcreators.net/formatt-fm-600-matte-box/

Does anyone know if it fits the HMC150 properly? I remember it had issues with the microphone placement of the DVX100 when it came out...

 

[kalapakiboogie]

What is the most affordable Matte Box + Rails for the HMC to use with a 0.65x or 0.7x wide angle adapter that won't fall apart if treated with care? It doesn't need to be fancy but I wouldn't want it to break apart either.

The idea is to be able to shade the wide angle, be able to use the full zoom range, an be able to drop in a rotating polarizer for use on boats.

Hi, there is a company out there that makes pretty affordable accessories for cameras. Its called indifocus. There website is www.indifocus.com. My brother has the hmc150 and uses their baseplate and rails combo to support his camera with a letus35 extreme and lenses. They also have a mattebox that swings away and has 4x4 filter trays for about $350. There baseplate and rails systems start around $150. Just remember these are made for independent budget film makers that don't have alot of cash. They arent the same price or build as Chroziel or Zacuto but it does seem to get the job done. I have the shoulder mount and handheld grips from this same company and it does what its meant to do. It gets the job done with no special bells or whistles. Its just a simple shoulder mount hand grip combo that works for me. :smile:

 

[USLatin]

jrv3034, I never saw that one. Is there more pictures of it somewhere? But ifit is a clip on, and it seems it might e, I think they might want to skip it.

kalapakiboogie, I think they should get a baseplate that is lower profile than theirs, but their MB looks good. Have you used it?

My only concern would be that it should not be too flimsy, I don't want filters dropping out if he bumps into someone. Also that the rotating and sliding trays didn't get stuck for smooth adjustment. Is there more pictures out there? It looks like they have the place to put internal flags in it, but I don't see the flags in there. Can you clip on barn doors or does it only work with the french flag?

They should both clear the HMC at full wide with the 0.6x on, right?

 

[Jaime Valles]

There's a picture of it from the rear on the B&H website:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/509019-REG/Formatt_BF_FM_600MATT_FM_600_4x4_Matte_Box.html

I've heard only good things about this mattebox, except for the built-in microphone issue with the DVX100 (which I don't know if it affects the HMC150).

However, if you're looking for rail-mounted (as opposed to threaded or clip-on)matteboxes, this doesn't fit the bill.

 

[j]

The formatt mattebox is very robust for the price. It's all metal. It does clamp on to a screw on mount, and that may interfere with any wideangle lens adapter.

-J

 

[USLatin]

It does look nice for that price! Three stages, one rotating... Even if it broke after a year or so... not that much money. And if it is metal,and people say nothing but positive things, then it sounds like it would take a blunder to destroy it.

Unfortunately I just realized something: "Adapters allow this matte box to work with lens diameters from 43 to 82mm."
The 16x9 Inc. 0.75x has a front element diameter of 98mm...


So what about more pictures of the Indi Matte Box? Here are a few off Google (pls letme know if the MB isn't the right one)

Here you see the "internal" eyebrows... wish they had internal barn doors too.

This is as close as I can get to the back side: