Stupid MatteBox Questions

G

galt

Well-known member
Why would I want a mattebox? Is it just to control extraneous light from hitting the lens, like a super-sunshade? Or does it do other things too? When would I want one, they seem to be pretty big?

Also, it looks like they all take filters (4x4, 4x5, etc). Is there an advantage to using filters at this point, rather than the screw-in types? Better quaility? Interchangeable among other cameras? Cheaper?

Does a mattebox interfere with anamorphic lenses? Will the same mattebox work for the DVX and HVX ?
 
Couple of things come to mind. First of all, a matte box makes you look cool.
Here are the practical reasons to have one..

1. Control/Reduce/Eliminate lens flare.
a. achieved with french flag
b. achieved with side wings

2. Advantage over rotate-in filters
a. you can use several 4x4 filters at once, most matte boxes fit two at a time.
b. you can use your 4x4 filters with any lens--so you can add a wide angle or a tele-converter
c. you can use your 4x4 filters with any camera you ever use--so your investment lasts longer
since you don't have to buy the filters again when you have a different camera some day.

3. Having a matte box and 15mm rods support system open doors for other accessories
a. Follow Focus units require a rods support system to connect to.
b. Mechanical servo remote zoom/focus controller also require a rods support system.

There are plenty of good reasons to have a matte box. They make you look cool.
In the case of the Vocas carbon fiber matte box, really cool.

Hope this helps.
 
you really shouldn't use an anamorphic adapter. if you did, your option would only be Chrosziel.
no other matte box was ever adapted to fit the anamorphic because it wasn't worth the trouble.

the hvx camera is already widescreen and you won't need an anamorphic adapter.
 
matte box

matte box

I basically bought my mattebox for use 4X4 filters that are great for creative and tecnical shoots (fundamentally ND grads and pola). If you have a 4x4 matte box you can attached to a DVX or a lot of cámeras that are now and the cams that wiil come. It is a good gadget.
 
thisiswells' comment hit it right on the nail. I have heard the anamorphic adapters aren't worth the trouble, and although the chrosziel boxes are nice, people seem to get by with the formatte 500 which costs 300 bucks as opposed to 1200
 
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