FS7: My FS7 rig as of Summer 2016
- Thread starter Ben Scott
- Start date
Bern Caughey
Veteran
Most of us are likely aware Stanley Kubrick had a focal reducer attached to a Zeiss 50mm f/0.7, which resulted in it becoming a 36.5mm lens, but I never heard it was front mounted, & didn't increase the speed of the lens.
http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/sk/ac/len/page1.htm
http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/sk/ac/len/page1.htm
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
If one uses "photons caught per square mm of sensor" as the metric for "faster" then a booster will indeed make your lens faster.
a fulframe lens projecting light onto an s35 sensor a lot of the light misses the sensor and is not used reducing te photons caught per sq mm
a fulframe lens projecting light onto an s35 sensor a lot of the light misses the sensor and is not used reducing te photons caught per sq mm
Ben Scott
Veteran
That's an issue of semantics along the lines of a 50mm is a 50mm is a 50mm., but please let's save that stuff for another thread. I don't use a Speedbooster on that lens because I don't want to change any of the characteristics of what I feel is one of the best lenses I've ever used.
Now back to rigs
Are many people using larger matteboxes? When I need it I'm still using my little 4x4" Vocas one, but then I don't put any PL cine glass on mine.
Now back to rigs
Are many people using larger matteboxes? When I need it I'm still using my little 4x4" Vocas one, but then I don't put any PL cine glass on mine.
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JPNola
Veteran
Hearing great things about the Bright Tangerine Strummer DNA. A bit "hipster" and pricey compared to the far-East mb's, but no more pricey than Chrosziel and Arri.
Owners of BT products say the company provides excellent customer service and Bright Tangerine was started by some camera guys unsatisfied with the traditional high-end offerings that were somewhat stuck in time and lacking innovation. One BT innovation is an ability to tilt the filters to reduce reflection. Another is the ability to add stages. Traditionally a 2-stage matte box was always a 2-stage. But with BT a 2-stage can morph into a 3-stage.
here is the BT Strummer DNA-
If you are not using filters beyond polas and straight ND's it is hard to justify the price of the high-end matte boxes like this one. Rarely can you charge for a matte box. ( hell, these days it is even difficult to charge for an HMI ). And if the $3k price tag of a box like the Strummer isn't enough to swallow, you are going to spend another $500 on step down rings. And then there are the filters themselves. We are talking easily $200-400 per filter. Some of the prices can be ridonkulous. Care for a soft edge vertical orientated .9 nd grad from Formatt? Just plop down a cool $1705.99 for one filter.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1015140-REG/formatt_bf_4x5send9hdv4_4_x_5_65_soft_edge.html
WHO buys those things?? The same person who spends $100k on a Fujinon 14.5-45mm zoom lens, maybe?
Owners of BT products say the company provides excellent customer service and Bright Tangerine was started by some camera guys unsatisfied with the traditional high-end offerings that were somewhat stuck in time and lacking innovation. One BT innovation is an ability to tilt the filters to reduce reflection. Another is the ability to add stages. Traditionally a 2-stage matte box was always a 2-stage. But with BT a 2-stage can morph into a 3-stage.
here is the BT Strummer DNA-
If you are not using filters beyond polas and straight ND's it is hard to justify the price of the high-end matte boxes like this one. Rarely can you charge for a matte box. ( hell, these days it is even difficult to charge for an HMI ). And if the $3k price tag of a box like the Strummer isn't enough to swallow, you are going to spend another $500 on step down rings. And then there are the filters themselves. We are talking easily $200-400 per filter. Some of the prices can be ridonkulous. Care for a soft edge vertical orientated .9 nd grad from Formatt? Just plop down a cool $1705.99 for one filter.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1015140-REG/formatt_bf_4x5send9hdv4_4_x_5_65_soft_edge.html
WHO buys those things?? The same person who spends $100k on a Fujinon 14.5-45mm zoom lens, maybe?
Ben Scott
Veteran
For some weird reason I have a base dislike of BT products. Absolutely nothing to do with them as they appear to be brilliantly made and very practical, but rather the cult that appears to have grown around them. Over on Reduser even if you ask what USB cable to buy 100 people will demand you buy a BT mattebox!
That said I'm sure I'll end up with one at some point!
EDIT: In fairness to them I think the Misfit and Misfit atom are genuinely good prices for what they offer, but once you've bought the swing-away kit and extra stage and rod mount you still in for a large chunk of change.
That said I'm sure I'll end up with one at some point!
EDIT: In fairness to them I think the Misfit and Misfit atom are genuinely good prices for what they offer, but once you've bought the swing-away kit and extra stage and rod mount you still in for a large chunk of change.
Bern Caughey
Veteran
It's tricky to color coordinate your camera package when some of it's elements are tangerine.
not to totally derail the thread but I'm in the market for a matte box... and have become frustrated looking with the prices. Have not used BT products but I agree for them & others - once you add in swing away, donut adapters, etc. it does start to be little head-scratching. I keep searching used markets... funny tho... not many BT's to be had there either (or maybe I'm not looking hard enough).
Bubble
Well-known member
i use Movcam mattbox. Just claim on or rail it. Great quality. Reasonable price. I can use any lens from CN-E down to dslr lenses.
even down to DSLR such as the 1DX mark ii
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Clermond
Veteran
looks great. What diameter has it?
I went for the Vocas MB 255 as it fits in CP.2 with 114mm. Can be used on rails or as clip on, weighs only 350gr, has lids what I like very much. Great build reasonable price too. Worth to consider also, Ben?
Bubble
Well-known member
144mm. CN-E or Zeiss CP.2 are 114mm. Stepdown ring 144-114. It has step ring from 144-85, 144-80 So pretty much, all kind of lenses can be used with it.
JPNola
Veteran
Scary how much you and I think alike, Ben. I have the same reaction to BT which is why I characterized BT as "hipster". The anodized orange bits, the naming of the different models of matte boxes, the name of the company- all a bit too cute by half. That said, it would be silly to get caught up on that and let it cloud the fact that, by all accounts, they make an excellent product. All theory for me as of now because I am not in a place to spend $3k on a matte box. I am leaning towards the maker that was for many a year the standard in video- Chrosziel. Good ole' German engineering.
Chrosziel has a small matte box that is reasonable in price, the $1100 450-R21. It IS petite, however, and really more of a DSLR matte box. Another option is the Wooden Camera matte box which seems well made and has some neat features such as the NATO rails on the sides and top. Any matte box is problematic with DSLR zooms due to their tromboning. For now my articulated french flag and lens hoods will have to do. Difficult to bring myself to spend available funds on plastic instead of more glass. [ Need more glass. Must have MORE glass. Glass glass glass. ]
Oh, and I also lurk on the RedUser forum. Some excellent information there about lenses from some highly experienced folks. That post summarizing Contax lenses is epic.
Clermond
Veteran
Sorry for extending the off topic part in this thread. What's that aerial and which camera does it carry on what kind of gimbal?
Grug
Veteran
Just check out the Reduser forums, there's a steady stream of used ones for sale on there at great prices. Indeed, there are so many for sale, that I had to hestitate on plonking down for a tricked out Viv - I kept hearing such good things about them, so it was confusing (and a little concerning) that so many were being sold on so soon after purchase.
I couldn't take a gamble with that much cash on a mattebox, so I just got ye olde faithful (the one mattebox that every prep tech recommended to me) a three-stage LMB-25. It was the same cash as the BT.
It really very rare that you the Arri gear up for sale. And there's a reason for that.
Bubble
Well-known member
Yuneec Typhoon H.
Ok, im back from the mountains.
My lightweight rig worked beautifully.
Easyrig Mini Strong gives me lower angled shots than the traditional "shoulder angle", and gives my docu footage an edge. Also i can shoot all day long with it. But it acts a little as a fishing rod tugging at the camera when i run with it (need to follow my subjects quick).
I have a little Shape handle on the side, instead of the heavy Sony handle with Shape extension. Great for holding on to. With Sigma 24-105 i dont need the buttons on the side handle anyway, as almost none of them work. Only thing i miss is easy access to zoom for focus.
I have a shotgun mic mounted on top, and on the back of the cam i have the XLR extension mounted together with two lavalier kits on the back. They balance the camera so that it hangs beautifully in the Easyrig even with a 1kg lens up front.
The only thing i really dislike is that the EVF is hard to see and use for both exposure and focus in sunlight. And with the angle that i want, the loupe is unusable too.
This is from inside the tiny cabin i rent for the shoot. No electricity or water or nothing.
My lightweight rig worked beautifully.
Easyrig Mini Strong gives me lower angled shots than the traditional "shoulder angle", and gives my docu footage an edge. Also i can shoot all day long with it. But it acts a little as a fishing rod tugging at the camera when i run with it (need to follow my subjects quick).
I have a little Shape handle on the side, instead of the heavy Sony handle with Shape extension. Great for holding on to. With Sigma 24-105 i dont need the buttons on the side handle anyway, as almost none of them work. Only thing i miss is easy access to zoom for focus.
I have a shotgun mic mounted on top, and on the back of the cam i have the XLR extension mounted together with two lavalier kits on the back. They balance the camera so that it hangs beautifully in the Easyrig even with a 1kg lens up front.
The only thing i really dislike is that the EVF is hard to see and use for both exposure and focus in sunlight. And with the angle that i want, the loupe is unusable too.
This is from inside the tiny cabin i rent for the shoot. No electricity or water or nothing.