Need new mattebox for AF-100, any suggestions?

Kindredmachine

Kindredmachine

Well-known member
The lens mount on the Af-100 sits a bit lower than my other Panasonic camera so I noticed that my old 4x5.65 Cavision mattebox no longer sits low enough for the center of the lens to line up correctly. I have two bases, a standard Redrock micro and a Zucuto Universal... when the base heights are extended to max, it's still not high enough to get the vertical center of mattebox.

Soooo... who has a mattebox on their AF-100 and what are you using? I'm interested in the Redrock Mattebox but does that have any sort of vertical height adjustment? Maybe an Arri MMB-1 too? Any help would great since it looks like I'm now in the market for a new one.
 
Here's a photo. current I'm playing with the Zacuto base. It's slid all the way up to max height... and the Cavision matte box is slid all the way down to as low as it will go... I think I just need another matte box that can go lower...

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If you will get 85mm lens to rod an adjustable baseplate will work. But if it's a non standard height it might not work. The one I have from Berkey makes you adjust as much as you need even with the AF. I've tried it myself.
 
Thanks, I'll look iinto this a little more. Both the Redrock base and Zacuto base are really high quality standard bases so I can't imagine why it doesn't line up my lens to my Mattebox...
 
I have a Redrock mattebox on my AF100 and I couldn't be happier with it. It is well build and does have verticle adjustments.


Just my 2 cents.

Get it. You won't regret it IMO.
 
I use a Manfrotto universal quick release system with mine. The quick release is mounted to the Zacuto baseplate instead of the camera directly. Then the Manfrotto plate is attached to the bottom of the camera. It adds about 7/8" height to the camera, gives you more sliding maneuverability with the camera, and you can quickly get the camera off the rods if you want to go completely handheld for any reason. I put another Manfrotto quick release system between the tripod and the Zacuto baseplate system (Manfrotto plate on the bottom of the Zacuto plate and Manfrotto quick release on the tripod plate) as well so I can still put the camera on the tripod without the rods if I want. For example, I can quickly pull the head off the tripod and put it on my hi hat and use the camera on the hi hat without the rods getting in the way.

EDIT: I'm using a Cinevate Titan matte box. I just got it, and the jury's still out on it. It's great except that the smart side pillar is in the way of the Cinevate Durus follow focus so I'm having trouble using the follow focus with all of my lenses. I might have to get rid of both the Titan matte box and the Durus follow focus because they're just too big and getting in the way with everything else. I don't know why Cinevate designed the Durus so freakin' big.

Does anyone know of a matte box with a quick release similar to what Redrock uses for their follow focus? It would be nice to just be able to pull it off. Right now I have to take my grip handles off, then the matte box, and then the Durus if I need to flip it around and reconfigure it. It becomes a hassle at that point.
 
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Wow, nice solution. In many situations I'm swpaping from tripod/slider to shoulder rig so that definetly sounds nice.
 
QUESTION...

I was just crudely measuring the Cavision mattebox and it does look like as low as it can go from center of rods to center of mattebox is about 95mm so it's 10mm too high. Now for those of you that have the Redrock Mattebox with the standard 85mm from rod center to MB center, I heard it can be adjusted + or - 10mm so does that mean it has a vertical range of 75mm to 95mm?
 
Mike@AF said:
I use a Manfrotto universal quick release system with mine. The quick release is mounted to the Zacuto baseplate instead of the camera directly. Then the Manfrotto plate is attached to the bottom of the camera. It adds about 7/8" height to the camera, gives you more sliding maneuverability with the camera, and you can quickly get the camera off the rods if you want to go completely handheld for any reason. I put another Manfrotto quick release system between the tripod and the Zacuto baseplate system (Manfrotto plate on the bottom of the Zacuto plate and Manfrotto quick release on the tripod plate) as well so I can still put the camera on the tripod without the rods if I want. For example, I can quickly pull the head off the tripod and put it on my hi hat and use the camera on the hi hat without the rods getting in the way.
Click to expand...

Ditto...that's what I do.
 
I'm using the Redrock. Fits perfectly, works well, and it's reasonably priced. The swingaway feature is great for interchanging lenses. However, be aware that the Redrock is a huge beast. H U G E. You'll have to account for that when getting a case. But it also comes in handy if you ever use big lenses like the Compact Prime set, they have a 4.25" outer diameter and the Redrock easily accomodates them.
 
Thanks Barry, that's what I'm going to order! The Cavision mattebox is 95mm from rods to MB center so it sits too high. I had no idea it wasn't industry standard.
 
@LightMast - no spamming i can assure you, i'm just very pleased that they helped me with customizing a solution for my cam and wanted to share this with you.
 
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