What kind of Matte Box are you using for your DSLR??

Don't use one, sorta defeats the purpose of having a smaller rig. Though I am keeping an eye on the development of the D|Matte from D|Focus, that looks interesting (and affordable).
 
I use the small Vocas 250. You can get them really cheap. I went from a full size matte box to this and love it. 2 4x4 trays (one rotating) that also take 3x3 and series 9. It takes all Genus rings so I have the nuns nickers. But the size is the best part, and super light.
 
Hmmm... I like the Vocas 250, but I can't seem to find any good prices on that one... what's the nuns nickers btw?
 
Yeah, I know all too well about buying cheap equipment and then regretting it later. I was actually looking at the Century Optics/Vocas 250 DV Matte Box which looks slick and works very well (other users have it and I have used larger Vocas matte boxes on union shoots). I want to buy one, but I'm worried about the cost of finding a 12mm to 15mm adapter for it: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._0DS_MPBA_00_DS_MPBA_00_DVMB_Bar_Adapter.html. I think that is a ludicrous price and it reminds me of the old adage "Paint it black, say it's for camera, and charge a fortune!"
 
The Cavision model MB4169H-2M works well for me. It moves smoothly between my XL2 rig w/ P+S Technik 1/3" DOF adapter and my Zacuto rig for my T2i. It has two filter stages (2) 4 x 4 or (1) 4x4 + (1) 4 x 5.65 and donuts for lenses up to 130mm wide. On a tripod or in-line shoulder mount, it provides enough adjustment options to fit any configuration I need.

It is not made of bomb-proof construction and poses some issues on my shoulder mounted DSLR rig when using only the Z-finder because lining up viewfinder with my right eye pushes my camera too far to the right and the matte box in an unusable angle. It gets the job done, just don't be too rough with it and you will be pleased with the bang-for-the buck.
 
anybody know a good one that uses cokin p sized filters? I usually use the cokin filter holder with their square hood and it works OK. The big problem is when the sun is behind the light reflects off of the filter giving me unwanted weird flares. I would love something that uses these small filters because they are cheap and super easy to come by plus it would make for a small size for our nice small rigs.

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I found this one but it seems kinda expensive for how cheap it looks
http://cgi.ebay.com/Veedion-Matte-B...mcorder_Accessory_Bundles&hash=item1e659e2a7a
Maybe I'm wrong and its better quality than the pictures show. Anybody own one?

I found another answer that i kinda like
http://www.cinetactics.com/Page.bok?template=c_mb100m
about the same price when you add the threaded adapter and a couple of filter holders. Would be great for travel.
 
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@treynolds: that is way too expensive for a piece of junk that will probably fall apart in less than a year lol. Be careful about the Cinetatics Matte Blox. I would get some reviews from websites like this one here: http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/matteblox/. There are limitations and some drawbacks for this type of system. One of the major ones is the flares that this type of matte box can produce. It is also fabric, so it is not too robust (though it probably does hold up quite well in most situations).

I'm going with the Century Optics/Vocas 250 DV Matte Box as I know they make solid industry products. I'm never going to order cheap knock offs.
 
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I will be ordering the cinebox by shoot35 in a few days.

shoot35-cinebox-review-800-53.jpg
 
Nice! Love the Shoot35 gear, but why does it have to be so darn expensive lol? I'd go with the DlMatte matte box, but the darn thing is not out yet.
 
bumping this to ask if anyone has experience with the clamp on Genus Wide Angle Matte Box?

do you think that the Genus with two 4x4 filter would be too much weight for the T3i/60D mount or would it be all right?
 
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OutlawsDelejos said:
Don't use one, sorta defeats the purpose of having a smaller rig.
Click to expand...

^^^^ This ^^^^

That's how I feel about 99% of the "rigs" people insist on using around here. To me, the biggest advantage these camera have is their size, yet most seem to want to destroy that advantage with add-ons that are ultimately unnecessary.

Screw on filters and the hoods that came with the lens FTW.


treynolds said:
The big problem is when the sun is behind the light reflects off of the filter giving me unwanted weird flares.
Click to expand...

Here is how pros deal with that: http://www.filmtools.com/2perphotblac.html (note: cheaper brands often suck).
 
i don't really get the whole "main advantage" of DSLRs being that they are small. The reason they got popular was the ability to get a large sensor camera with interchangeable lenses which allows for greater control of the image for accessible prices. Sure it's great that they are small but that not the main reason to use them.
 
A mattebox is a matte box, to some degree. It is just there to block diect light from spilling into the lens, not too complicated. The more expensive ones are just more well thought out and generally durable/light-weight. If your budget is tight, just get a cheap one that has a semi good rep.

I've like the vocas/century optics brands. I have used a small century optics matte box made for the JVC 1/3" broadcast cameras. It was extremely small, had internal mini eyebrows which served the purpose of a french flag without the extra few inches jutting off the front. It is a true run and gun matte box.
 
No matte box.

Analyze why you might want a matte box?

1) Blocking light from the lens
2) Use large filters
3) To impress clients / other people on set

I don't know how still photographers ever managed to take good pictures without attaching their cameras to rails and putting matte boxes on the front of them!

It's a relatively safe bet that if you're using a camera that costs between $600 and $2000, you probably aren't going to spring for a whole collection of $300 4.5" x 6" filters.

The looks of a matte box may impress some people.

The reason pros use them is because they have a series of cinema lenses that are all the same length, and they can use their rented collection of $300 a piece filters with all of their lenses. Additionally, the matte box provides a little bit of shade for the lens if you have bright lights nearby.

I really feel like most DSLR shooters just buy these things to look cool. Save your money until you really just can't live without one.
 
I use a cheapo Cokin-style bellows hood that slides into the front rail of a P-type holder. Could do with a 16x9 size hood but that's just not a recognised photo format.
 
robotsound said:
I don't know how still photographers ever managed to take good pictures without attaching their cameras to rails and putting matte boxes on the front of them!
Click to expand...

1) They don't move the camera during the shot
2) They have to the ability to clean up or remove flare in Photoshop, if need be
3) They can shoot hundreds or thousands of stills and choose the one image they like most
4) Straight up: photos are not video; two very different disciplines, aesthetics, and markets


And in regards to screw-on filters and a lens hood, those are an absolute pain for the narrative work I do (most of which involves a DSLR). I shoot with prime lenses of different threads and sizes; my Shoot35 CineBox trivializes the issue of having to constantly screw and unscrew filters and other bits on the lenses. I am also a huge advocate of keeping the lenses "clean," as in not attaching or detaching things from the lenses, saving that for the pieces of equipment that are more expendable on set. (Granted, my matte box costs more than some of my lenses, but if I damage a lens, I'm creatively disadvantaged on set, whereas I can function without a matte box like I used to.)

For ENG/doco/event work, a matte box might not be as practical, especially if you can get by with one zoom lens. But to say that "most DSLR shooters just buy [matte boxes] to look cool" is kind of a narrow point of view, in my opinion. Maybe some do, but I certainly require one for my work, and the CineBox has paid for itself. Whether it looks cool is beside the point.
 
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