Need Help Buying a Matte Box
- Thread starter davehanna
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J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
I use the CAVISION 3 x 3. The drawback? The second stage rotating vignettes when rotating. What does this mean? Nothing much, no rotation of Polorizer or Grads.
I can and have lived with this minor issue. Other than? I am very satisfied with it.
I use the CAVISION 3 x 3. The drawback? The second stage rotating vignettes when rotating. What does this mean? Nothing much, no rotation of Polorizer or Grads.
I can and have lived with this minor issue. Other than? I am very satisfied with it.
Bill__Turner
Well-known member
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
Just thought I would throw in some thoughts based on my experience. First of all, CAVISION products typically are good value for the money but there are reasons other products are more expensive.
But the two points I think you should consider are first that rental customers get to choose where they get their gear and typically want quality gear. And quality gear like the Chrozeil or Century will hold up better in a rental enviornment (in my opinion).
I would also strongly suggest you consider a 4x4 system. 4x4's can be rented easily, I suspect 3x3's are hard to find in rental. To my knowledge grads are not available in 3x3 and I can tell you that at Schneider we will most likely not offer new filter types in 3x3 unless there is a much greater demand than we currently see.
4x4's are a better investment for you, futureproofing yourself as new cameras are introduced.
My point is that what one does when the equipment will be rented, may be different that what one does if they are the only user.
Just some food for thought.
Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
Just thought I would throw in some thoughts based on my experience. First of all, CAVISION products typically are good value for the money but there are reasons other products are more expensive.
But the two points I think you should consider are first that rental customers get to choose where they get their gear and typically want quality gear. And quality gear like the Chrozeil or Century will hold up better in a rental enviornment (in my opinion).
I would also strongly suggest you consider a 4x4 system. 4x4's can be rented easily, I suspect 3x3's are hard to find in rental. To my knowledge grads are not available in 3x3 and I can tell you that at Schneider we will most likely not offer new filter types in 3x3 unless there is a much greater demand than we currently see.
4x4's are a better investment for you, futureproofing yourself as new cameras are introduced.
My point is that what one does when the equipment will be rented, may be different that what one does if they are the only user.
Just some food for thought.
Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
Beautifull. Thanks for all the help. First time I've used the site. Love it.
Beautifull. Thanks for all the help. First time I've used the site. Love it.
pookie_old
Veteran
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
Now, I am NOT implying anything, only making an important point.
Bill Turner is an employee of Schneider Optics (Century Division), so you need to take his comments with a grain of salt. Century products are good, but he does sound a little to much like an ad "CAVISION products typically are good value for the money but...".
I use a CAVISION 3 x 3 like John Hudson does, and I have had no problems either, and they're considerably cheaper.
Now, I am NOT implying anything, only making an important point.
Bill Turner is an employee of Schneider Optics (Century Division), so you need to take his comments with a grain of salt. Century products are good, but he does sound a little to much like an ad "CAVISION products typically are good value for the money but...".
I use a CAVISION 3 x 3 like John Hudson does, and I have had no problems either, and they're considerably cheaper.
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
well i have had both, the formatt and now the chrosziel, unless you are doing anamorphic or have some other reason why the formatt won't work, i HIGHLY recommend the formatt.
you can buy it for $299 and sell it used if you feel the need to spend almost as much as the dvx costs for a chrosziel + anamorphic etc.
i am still having one issue with my week+a day old chrosziel, do you guys who have a chrosziel ever have problems where it slips forward on the anamorphic lens shield??
this is of course assuming you have the rods on the bottom i guess.
i tried the chrosziel with just the factory lens and it fit great without the problem of the little screw not being enough to keep it from riding forward on the lens shade.
matthew.
well i have had both, the formatt and now the chrosziel, unless you are doing anamorphic or have some other reason why the formatt won't work, i HIGHLY recommend the formatt.
you can buy it for $299 and sell it used if you feel the need to spend almost as much as the dvx costs for a chrosziel + anamorphic etc.
i am still having one issue with my week+a day old chrosziel, do you guys who have a chrosziel ever have problems where it slips forward on the anamorphic lens shield??
this is of course assuming you have the rods on the bottom i guess.
i tried the chrosziel with just the factory lens and it fit great without the problem of the little screw not being enough to keep it from riding forward on the lens shade.
matthew.
Steve Ogden
Well-known member
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
Matthew, any concerns (with the formatt) about hanging the extra weight directly on the lens? Maybe I'm old fashioned, but that's what scares me about the Formatt (and has me saving my pennies for one with rods.)
Matthew, any concerns (with the formatt) about hanging the extra weight directly on the lens? Maybe I'm old fashioned, but that's what scares me about the Formatt (and has me saving my pennies for one with rods.)
pookie_old
Veteran
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
You MUST use rods, whichever brand.
You MUST use rods, whichever brand.
FlacaProductions
Well-known member
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
i have the chrosziel 4x4 - no anamorphic. directly to the lens with the screw in adapter and step-downs.
i was a little skeptical about hanging it out there too, but no problems. 100 hours on the camera at this point.
i have the chrosziel 4x4 - no anamorphic. directly to the lens with the screw in adapter and step-downs.
i was a little skeptical about hanging it out there too, but no problems. 100 hours on the camera at this point.
Bill__Turner
Well-known member
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
Pookie,
Sorry I didn't read your post sooner. You are right about my affilliation (which is why I make the point of making it clear in my posts). And you should take everything you see/hear/read with a grain of salt.
The trick is to figure out who is trying to give others the benefit of their experience and knowledge, and who is trying to further their own agenda. Sometimes ones agenda is compatible with educating/informing, sometimes not.
Don't totally discount information based on the source, it would be a mistake.
Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
Pookie,
Sorry I didn't read your post sooner. You are right about my affilliation (which is why I make the point of making it clear in my posts). And you should take everything you see/hear/read with a grain of salt.
The trick is to figure out who is trying to give others the benefit of their experience and knowledge, and who is trying to further their own agenda. Sometimes ones agenda is compatible with educating/informing, sometimes not.
Don't totally discount information based on the source, it would be a mistake.
Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
pookie_old
Veteran
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
Hi Bill, sorry if it appeared I meant to ignore your advice, not my intention.
As there are a number of matte box manufactures there days (good), it's always a concern when one company says "...where [customers] get their gear and typically want quality gear. And quality gear like the Chrozeil or Century ...", implying the others are of a "lesser" quality.
It's true people want quality, but perhaps not slagging off the competitors [quality] would give your post more "integrity".
There are going to be a very singificant number of members here who simply find the pricing of Century products to be too high end, who turn to the more achievable purchase prices of those you imply to be of lesser quality (an incorrect statement broadly painted).
Hi Bill, sorry if it appeared I meant to ignore your advice, not my intention.
As there are a number of matte box manufactures there days (good), it's always a concern when one company says "...where [customers] get their gear and typically want quality gear. And quality gear like the Chrozeil or Century ...", implying the others are of a "lesser" quality.
It's true people want quality, but perhaps not slagging off the competitors [quality] would give your post more "integrity".
There are going to be a very singificant number of members here who simply find the pricing of Century products to be too high end, who turn to the more achievable purchase prices of those you imply to be of lesser quality (an incorrect statement broadly painted).
Bill__Turner
Well-known member
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
Pookie,
Sorry I have not done a better job of communicating with you:
My mainpoints were and are not to simplytake my advise but:
Take everything, including my comments, with a grain of salt but do not TOTALLY dis-regard advice simply because of the source (ie, I work for a manufacturer of the type of equipment I comment on)
Something I have absolutely learned in 30 years in the industry is that when equipment is being purchased with an eye to renting it to others, the decision making process MAY be a bit different than if you are purchasing for your own use-- how rugged is it? for instance, as you might baby something, but your rental customers won't.
4x4 filters are a better investment and hedge against the future than 3x3 , as they will work with larger, wider lenses and attachments, can be readily rented (if you don't want to buy a specialty filter for one shot) and are made in a wider variety of types.
If the Cavision 3x3 mattebox meets your needs and you are happy with it, great-- as I said, I believe it to be a good value.
I am sorry if this appears to you to be " a broadly painted incorrect statement."
In reading thru the posts, I see many instances of users who have regretted not spending more in the beginning because they wound up having to go back and buy the more expensive option later.
Money is easier to spend than to make, and I truly understand that it needs to be spent wisely, my council is only to carefully look at your needs, the options, your budget, and taking all the info you can into account, make the best decision you can---afterall it is your money.
as I said originally "food for thought"
Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
Pookie,
Sorry I have not done a better job of communicating with you:
My mainpoints were and are not to simplytake my advise but:
Take everything, including my comments, with a grain of salt but do not TOTALLY dis-regard advice simply because of the source (ie, I work for a manufacturer of the type of equipment I comment on)
Something I have absolutely learned in 30 years in the industry is that when equipment is being purchased with an eye to renting it to others, the decision making process MAY be a bit different than if you are purchasing for your own use-- how rugged is it? for instance, as you might baby something, but your rental customers won't.
4x4 filters are a better investment and hedge against the future than 3x3 , as they will work with larger, wider lenses and attachments, can be readily rented (if you don't want to buy a specialty filter for one shot) and are made in a wider variety of types.
If the Cavision 3x3 mattebox meets your needs and you are happy with it, great-- as I said, I believe it to be a good value.
I am sorry if this appears to you to be " a broadly painted incorrect statement."
In reading thru the posts, I see many instances of users who have regretted not spending more in the beginning because they wound up having to go back and buy the more expensive option later.
Money is easier to spend than to make, and I truly understand that it needs to be spent wisely, my council is only to carefully look at your needs, the options, your budget, and taking all the info you can into account, make the best decision you can---afterall it is your money.
as I said originally "food for thought"
Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
Terry_Lasater
All about the Caption
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
I had a 4x4 Cavision mattebox and felt it was too fragile.
The grip of the cheesy clamps that hold on the side wings and French flag cannot be adjusted. So, they either hold too tightly or they barely hang on waiting to fall off.
I returned the mattebox (unused) within a week because I was unsatisfied with it's design. I was charged a 15% restocking fee by their unfriendly staff.
They have some nice accessories, but I can NOT advise anyone to purchase their mattebox.
I had a 4x4 Cavision mattebox and felt it was too fragile.
The grip of the cheesy clamps that hold on the side wings and French flag cannot be adjusted. So, they either hold too tightly or they barely hang on waiting to fall off.
I returned the mattebox (unused) within a week because I was unsatisfied with it's design. I was charged a 15% restocking fee by their unfriendly staff.
They have some nice accessories, but I can NOT advise anyone to purchase their mattebox.
pookie_old
Veteran
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
Please note that Terry said "I returned the mattebox (unused)".....unused. An opinion of an unused product doesn't mean much.
Cavision's matte boxes are not the fragile objects as they are being made out to be, they perform very well, in fact, as is to be expected.
It's unfortunate that Bill Turner's [Century employee] comments have encouraged such product bashing.
And no, I have nothing to do with Cavision, other than using their products.
Why pay Century prices, when the are other, well made, lower cost alternatives?
Unless of course, you're trying to impress someone, with a label.
Please note that Terry said "I returned the mattebox (unused)".....unused. An opinion of an unused product doesn't mean much.
Cavision's matte boxes are not the fragile objects as they are being made out to be, they perform very well, in fact, as is to be expected.
It's unfortunate that Bill Turner's [Century employee] comments have encouraged such product bashing.
And no, I have nothing to do with Cavision, other than using their products.
Why pay Century prices, when the are other, well made, lower cost alternatives?
Unless of course, you're trying to impress someone, with a label.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Need Help Buying a Matte Box
I'm kinda new about this pro stuff. whats a matte box used for? its benefits?
I'm kinda new about this pro stuff. whats a matte box used for? its benefits?