Plz explain Matte box usage?

C

Craig Zarkos

Member
Hey all.. can someone explain the matte box usage with the 7d? what would one generally use it for? Is this primarily an out door piece of gear?
 
Matteboxes, in general, are used on cinema cameras for two main purposes.

1) Reducing the exposure of the lens to undesirable lighting sources. In other words, the mattebox and especially the attached french flags may be positioned to prevent artifacts caused by light: namely lens flares. This is useful outdoors where the sun, or its reflections, may cause problems shooting. It is also useful shooting on set when studio lighting creates similar concerns.

2) Providing a mechanism for the use of filters. Many matteboxes have two or more filter trays (at least one of which rotates) that hold glass or plastic filters - Neutral Density filters, Polarizers, IR hotmirrors, and UV filters may all be stacked in different configurations to allow one to remain at a wider aperture, or produce a different image (usually one less afflicted by various artifacts and abberations). Diffuse filters, star filters, and smoke filters (along with many others) are used to create various in-camera effects such as blur, stars in highlights, and the appearance of a hazy room.
 
As far as filters go, using mattebox mounted filters don't have to be lens specific (where lenses have many thread sizes). That gets to be an issue if you have something like an expensive polarizer.
 
Yeah, it's basically a sunshade with filter slots.

One that makes you look very pro if you want to impress clients. : )
 
Heh. I wonder what the results would be if we had a poll...

I use a mattebox because:

A) It gives me greater control over my final image

b) It looks impressive/cool and allows me to visually subjugate clients.
Click to expand...
 
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