Need advice on mattebox and rails.

T

tangierc

Member
Folks I just got my AF100 and need some advice on choosing rails, matte box and perhaps a shoulder mount for the rails.

I know how to pick my cameras, but not as adept as picking this gear. I could use some advice as I am not totally sure what I should be looking for (feature-wise). My EX1 was using a CAVISION setup (I didn't buy it) and I wasn't too thrilled with that.

I'd like something that can work with both my AF100 and my GH1s interchangeably. It doesn't need to be the greatest product (expensive) but easy to use and configure (I know "easy is subjective).

So far I've been reviewing products from:
Vocas
Genus
Zacuto
RedRock
indiStyle (just noticed ad on this forum today)

but again need some practical advice on these items and pieces that may need to come with them.

Thanks folks. It's been a minute since I've been on the boards here.
 
Well for rails I'd go with the Zacuto hands down. Rails are pretty much the backbone of your setup regardless what else you use with them. The Zacuto is one fine piece of gear. As far as a mattebox, I have a Chrosziel sunshade that I can clip onto my lenses via 80mm rings or use on rails. Has two 4x4 stages as well. Thought about getting something better but I really don't need it. If I we're to get something more advanced I'd go with the RedRock or Shoot35.
 
I was not to happy with the redrock. I found there to be too much play in the gearbox of the FF, and their matte-box, while it was great with 19mm studio rails (loved it on the REDs I have seen it used with) and with cine-primes, you have to use short rails with it on 15mm light weight setups as rails will not fit under it, which is kinda killer if you want to mount grips or anything in front of the matte-box, and there not enough room for anything behind it with alot of still primes if you are using a FF as well. That said, the matte-box will work with the 11-16 with out vingetting at 11mm with a 4x4 filter and a 4x5.6 filter (vingettes with 2x 4x4 filters at 11mm though), which I thought was impressive.
 
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tangierc said:
but again need some practical advice on these items and pieces that may need to come with them.
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It's hard to recommend a rig without knowing what lenses are you going to use & what type of work you do.

For shoulder rigs I'm not a fan of hanging anything heavy off the front as you'll need additional counterbalance hanging off the back &/or longer rails. I'm not against a heavy rig as it dampens movements, but if you need to shoulder it all day then the equation changes. I also wouldn't want a bulky rig for shooting documentary.

Regards,
Bern
 
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for the actual rods i'd recommend the stainless steel ones from RedRock, cheaper than Zacuto's and rock solid.
 
IMHO best matte box w.r.t. price/performance is the OConnor O-Box - and by a longshot. As good (or better) build quality and features as units costing twice as much.
 
eiker_ir said:
for the actual rods i'd recommend the stainless steel ones from RedRock, cheaper than Zacuto's and rock solid.
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I perfer carbon fiber rails over SS... much lighter... I am about to pick up a set of 18" rails from DVXuser imdjay, who just had a batch made, so I am going to be testing those as soon as I get around to meeting up with him. The price point he is planning on selling them at is pretty attractive, and I know he has put alot of effort into getting his made well to very tight tolerances.
 
Steve R said:
IMHO best matte box w.r.t. price/performance is the OConnor O-Box - and by a longshot. As good (or better) build quality and features as units costing twice as much.
Click to expand...

I just received the o-box yesterday!...the price is right, it's nice and solid, it's got mounting points all over it, I've got a pair of the o-grips as well, the only negative I see is that the knobs for loosening the filter trays would be hard for the sausage-fingered.

Also, I chose the hotrod setup because of their pl mount...and use zacuto rods with it.
 
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I want to buy the Shoot35 mattebox. Any advise on filling the gap space between the bellow and the lens since Lens Attachment Rings from Shoot35 won't fit for most of my lens.
I have a set of Pentax lens (~50mm thread) and going to purchase a set of contax zeiss (55/67/72 thread).

I am thinking to get the 77mm Lens Attachment Ring and RedRock Donut. But is there anything more efficient than this?
zacuto universal donut won't fit....
 
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