Need Decent Filters for use with Matteblox

Urine Sane

Urine Sane

Active member
I plan on getting the matteblox 72mm Threaded adapter Kit to use with the .8x Panasonic Wide Angle lense I have on the camera. I also would like a decent polarizing filter and also a UV. Should I go with a 4x4 filter?

Some examples of filters at online stores would be helpful, B&H only has 1 4x4 Polarizer by Schneider.

Any help appreciated.
 
After checking the matteblox site I believe it uses both depending on whether or not you get the adapter ring. 72mm would certainly be more inexpensive.
 
Call rush at EVS... He'll steer you in the right direction..72mm thread filters are a lot more economical that the 4x4. I personally spent my money other things before kicking down big money on filters in which you may not use as often as you like. Unless your work is always outside where a need for multiple filters is a necessity. IE desert shots, environmental. etc... I personally like Tiffen filters..but it is very costly compared to generic or low quality filters that can be found out there.
 
The one thing I noticed is you mentioned the Panasonic .8X Wide Angle Adapter. The camera lens has a 72mm thread , but the WA (which screws into the 72mm thread) has a front that is much larger - approx 97mm or 3.8 inches. 4x4 filters could be used with it but 72mm filters would be too small-

Bill Turner
Schneider Optics
Century Division
 
4x4's are the safest, most future proof choice for the smaller (MiniDV, HDV etc) cameras.
So investing wisely in quality filters in 4x4 makes sense. I am not familiar with the Mattblox (having only read about it and seen pics), but the 4x4 filters will be fine with the .8x (or even the Century .7x) on the DVX100/100a.

I personally am not a fan of fabric shades like the mattblox, but realize cost is important, and there is not much else at its price point. If you could spend a little more I would suggest looking at the Formatt box sold by Bogen in the USA as a good value in a more versatile box---if a Century/Vocas or Chroziel is out of the question now. But the good news is one can always buy a better box later and use the 4x4's that you buy now.

The shade size and shape on 4x4 matteboxs vary from model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer so there is a possibility it could be too small/narrow and cause vignetting even if the filters dont.

I have no reason to think this is an issue with the Mattblox, only pointing out that I do not know for certain.

Bill Turner
Schneider Optics
Century Division
 
Not necessarily -- looks like the Formatt only works with 1mm thick filters. Schneider (and most? glass filters) are 4mm thick. So if you have a collection of 4x4's, I don't think you can use them with the Formatt mattebox -- I think you can only use thin resin filters with that.

Any decently-expensive mattebox should support 4mm thick filters though...

Matteblox filter holders can handle a 4mm thick filter no problem.
 
Thanks for the helo guys, as of right now Im shooting my first feature, and its ultra-low budget so the mattelbox will have to do for now, Ill get something better down the road im sure.

Again thanks to everyone who replied here.
 
For clarification, the 1mm thing is probably a typo on Bogen's page. 1mm thick filters sound awfully thin. Anybody here with a Formatt who can answer definitively if it takes 4mm-thick glass filters?
 
Formatt originally made 1 mm thick filters from C39 optical resin. They developed the glass filters by sandwiching a 1/2 mm thick resin waffer between two sheets of glass. Their glass filters are 3mm thick with a plastic protective frame around the edges that makes them 4 mm thick so they fit into standard holders (Tiffen and Schneider rectangular filters are 4mm thick).

They still offer the 1mm resin under another name. I assume the reference to 1 mm for this Mattebox is an error.

Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
 
Which of these sizes would fit in the matteblox system along with my WA converter?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...es&O=SearchBar&A=search&Q=*&shs=B+W+Polarizer

There are so many different sizes I have no idea what range in mm I can use for filters. Any clarification would be appreciated. Also is Lee a good brand? Ive been looking at mostly B+W (B&H has a lot of polarizers from them) and Schneider (I cant find as many of them).

So basically ive seen a range of 127mm to 49mm, Im not very educated in lenses and filters so which would fit that system? (if you could go to that link and find a specific one that would be awesome.)

Thanks
 
i have the formatt here and 4mm filters fit fine.. its a really hookey system they use (no trays) but it does work. Remember you gotta mount the damn thing upside down.
 
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