I am looking at the Proaim mattebox for the 7D, and have seen a few users' rigs with them on it. It looks like it would be adequate for my needs. However, I am confused as to which one to get. There is a jumbo mattebox, a v11 mattebox, etc. I want one that sizes well with the 7D and has the additional side flags, and is able to mount to rails. Anyone have any experience with these and know which one is best?
Which Proaim Mattebox for 7D?
- Thread starter wildfly
- Start date
Alpha Beta Omega
Veteran
I have a v11 and it's really useful.
Amuse-WS
Carbonite Member
I have a pro-aim mattebox mounted on red rock eyespy rig. Honestly, ProAims mattebox is the best bang for buck mattebox out there. It's only real problem is that it doesn't mount via swing arm like the RedRock mattebox - then again, not many matteboxes utilize this mounting technique yet.
I have this same exact kit:
http://thecinecity.com/tcc/product.php?productid=199&cat=0&page=1
I have this same exact kit:
http://thecinecity.com/tcc/product.php?productid=199&cat=0&page=1
I have a pro-aim mattebox mounted on red rock eyespy rig. Honestly, ProAims mattebox is the best bang for buck mattebox out there. It's only real problem is that it doesn't mount via swing arm like the RedRock mattebox - then again, not many matteboxes utilize this mounting technique yet.
I have this same exact kit:
http://thecinecity.com/tcc/product.php?productid=199&cat=0&page=1
I think that's the one I want. I like it's profile. I am shooting training videos for a government agency and I think that perception will be key as far as the size of the camera goes. Are the CineCity rails/mounting plate usable? It appears it costs only $30 more to get it with the rails and plate.
evanbutson
Active member
Agreed the ProAim gear is pretty good for the cost, I also did the frankenstein approach, Rails and Mattebox from ProAim, shoulder mount and bars from RedRock and a few other bits from Cinevate and DVtec. Heres a runthrough on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/7306588
Amuse-WS
Carbonite Member
Hey Nice rig! I actually have something simliar, but mines a little bit more "compact". I actually mounted a RedRock shoulder pad on the 15mm rods that hook up to the DSLR rail for the ProAim MatteBox and DSLR mount. I am planning to get the redrock DSLR baseplate sooner, than later though - when doing field work, it gets annoying when the camera sort twists off the rod support and gets unaligned!
But overall, I'm extremely happy with the ProAim products, for what they cost
Good video by the way - and I agree, definitely spend the money where you need to. You can't go wrong with RedRocks modular mounting options for the shoulder mount!
Amuse-WS
Carbonite Member
I would assume it's to recover from "R&D", the cost to create the product, and not necessarily the materials.
We're in a niche market - and you have to assume they're not selling more than a few hundred of these products, so they make up for it, by increasing product cost. It's not a shady tactic, it's quite justifiable imo. Yet I still can't justify purchasing most of Zacuto's products. Their quality is outstanding but, it's just way too out my league for price.
Yeah its just kinda frustrating to me to see this stuff going on. As someone who actually worked in a lab building prototypes, i know that some complex R&D can go into detailed machinery, and robotics. But for very simple mechanical things like these, seems a bit exorbitant. But as you pointed out we are a niche market, and until someone steps up to undercut them, well be forced to either DIY or pay the price.
evanbutson
Active member
Agreed they are pricey but this is the Pro video/film market, gear for this industry has always been very expensive, its just how it is. I have a Cinebag laptop bag, on the face of it it looks like any normal laptop bag, but price wise it was around the $300 mark from memory, what do you get for that, a product that after 5 years of use has not had a single problem, torn strap, broken zipper etc. Same with Pelican Cases, why are they out and out the best for gear transport, and why do people spend hundreds on what is basically a giant pladtic case? Because they just dont fail. Most film gear is designed so it just DOES NOT FAIL, as if a piece of hardware fails on set it can cost tens of thousands of dollars in lost time. That and also when you get the Redrock gear, you see the build tolerances of their gear, each part fits EXACTLY with the next, has mounting holes everywhere for all different threads, heck even the base of the shoulder pad is dove tailed so that it can be used as a quick release plate on a standard Manfrotto tripod head, these are all the little things that add up to justifying the price. Now the ProAim stuff is good for what it is, and definitely for certain parts it is good enough, but you deffinately notice the build quality difference.
Alpha Beta Omega
Veteran
I like the small size and how easy it is to assemble and take apart. Everything fits in my backpack also.