To mattebox or not to mattebox

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djkoz

Well-known member
From what I’ve read from this forum and other sources it appears that a mattebox is used to help hold filters, gels, etc. I thought that such items could be attached directly to the camera.



My questions:

-[font=&quot] [/font]Why / when would I want to consider using a mattebox ?

-[font=&quot] [/font]Are there different features / types I might want to consider?

-[font=&quot] [/font]Are mattboxes specific to a camera (like the DVX100A) or does one size fit all?

-[font=&quot] [/font]Why are the damn things so expensive?

-[font=&quot] [/font]Is there a way to make one or obtain one at a reasonable price?

-[font=&quot] [/font]If I were to use a mattebox should I NOT buy filters that fit directly on the camera?

Thank your very much for your advice.

Dan
 
1- you would want to use a mattebox anytime that you want to control the light coming into the camera. This can be through blocking studio lights, sunlight, or using filters.

2-Yes, there are many different features that matteboxes have. You might consider, filter holders, if they rotate, flag size, and even how it mounts to the camera.

3-There are matteboxes built specifically for the size of camera and front diameter as the DVX, but I havn't seen any DVX brand matte boxes. No, one size does not fit all.

4-I guess the excuse is that they are well machined products and you pay for the features that you need, and the brand name. Personally I feel the same, many matteboxes seem very over priced for what they are. But so are a lot of camera accesories, that's just the name of the game.

5-yes, you can check out the format 500 or even cinetactics mattebox advertised on this site. This of course depends on your view of reasonable, but they are much more reasonable than most matte boxes.

6- Many matteboxes will not allow you to use the screw on filters with the matteboxes, however other may allow one. SO if you decide that you want to use the mattebox you need to make sure that you have filters that will fit that specific mattebox, usually 4" filters for the wide lense of the DVX.

Hope that helps.
 
-Why / when would I want to consider using a mattebox ?

We have used matteboxes (Chrosziel and Cavision respectively) on two documentary films, so I'd recommend them even in run-and-gun situations. It might seem contrary to add another piece of gear to the kit, but I've found that the mattebox adds major flexibility and adaptability to any show.

Threading filters onto the end of a lens takes valuable time and keeping dust clear from between elements is also tedious with screw-on filters. Single element drop in filters in 3x3, 4x4 and 4x5.65 sizes are much easier to clean and care for in almost every situation than those with a metal ring around them.

-Are there different features / types I might want to consider?

Most matteboxes combine fixed and rotating stages for use with polarizers, graduated, diffusing, effects and color correction filters. The quality of the rotating stages typically improves somewhat on the higher-priced matteboxes. They, to varying levels of success, use sprung ball tensioners in channels to keep the rotating stage in place. The number of rotating stages you'll want is a matter of personal preference. In a documentary application, based on our previous experience, we have decided that one fixed and one rotating stage is enough. Feature guys might well have three rotating stages.

The sunshade or bellows are the second most important sorting criteria to consider when choosing a mattebox. Again, from a documentary standpoint, I think the cloth bellows are difficult to keep clean in the field - though many swear by the added flexibility of adjustable depth you get with these. I like the Cavision sunshade okay, but the Chrosziel and Panavision (not available for sale) hardshell shades are much better in design.

All matteboxes should allow for the easy attachment of a shade or French flag on the top of the box. Because they are designed to keep hard light off the elements of the lens train, you may find yourself needing to extend the mattebox using these aluminum or plastic cutters. They are most often an additional, extra cost piece of equipment and not included in the basic package.

Some matteboxes have adapters which allow direct attachment to fixed-front (internally focusing) lenses. I have not had issues with our Cavision unit coming loose, though others report issues here. That said, most matteboxes are happiest and easiest to use when mounted to industry-standard or lightweight (15mm) iris rods. The iris rods mount under or over the lens of the camera (depending on model) and hold the mattebox and follow-focus perpendicular or parallel to the focal train.

-Are mattboxes specific to a camera (like the DVX100A) or does one size fit all?

They are camera / lens specific. Most can be adapted to work with any camera and lens combination, though you'll need to be careful when configuring for anamorphic photography. Each camera has its own unique characteristics (e.g., height from baseplate to center of gate) so check each mfg. for what you'll need in your particular situation.

-Why are the damn things so expensive?

They don't make or sell many of these things, and often use ultralight materials like aluminum magnesium, carbon fibre et-cetera in their precision construction. Tooling to work universally with most commercially popular cameras costs money and this is passed onto you! If you look at something like the Cinetactics cloth solution, you can see why the pricepoint is so low - it is made to literally strap over your lens, negating special camera specific tooling in most instances. Also, the materials used in the construction are commercially available anywhere, which cuts down on R&D build-out costs significantly.

-Is there a way to make one or obtain one at a reasonable price?

No.

-If I were to use a mattebox should I NOT buy filters that fit directly on the camera?

I'll let others chime in here. We keep a high-quality clear glass filter screwed onto the front of our camera for added protection even when using the box. It keeps most debris from the hard-to-reach DVX lens and is the sacrificial element if we ever get in too close to our subject!

Cheers,

e
 
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e
 
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