Matte box advantages

[Jonas Klittmark]

Hey Jonas, your situation sounds quite similar to mine. Shooting an Indie feature. Need to be able to go Guerilla. I prefer not to have the weight etc.

Another point is that Mattebox filters are more expensive than screw ons. And another bonus to no Mattebox for Scarlet set up, is that you don't have to worry about a riser to bring your Scarlet up to standard height. So there are a fair few cost savings.

I have gone the screw in route also. You'll probably want to seriously consider some IR ND's though and the Vari's are supposed to be atrocious on Scarlet and 4k. There is a good screw in 77mm route - via the Tiffen Indie Pros which is the way I went. If you haven't already read up on the IR ND's, it's definitely worth reading up on here on RU.

All that said, dropping in filters fast and easily with a Matte Box is great obviously, grad filters as you mentioned, and I can see why generally it's an essential pro tool, as Phil is right of course about the importance of controlling light. And one other thing that I know might sound a bit ridiculous, is that it's not just clients who see pro when it comes to Matteboxes, it's some actors. Some really do respond to a "Film" camera look.

I will certainly get myself a Mattebox sometime after my Indie is over, if I'm not living on the streets that is, and i can afford something decent and the filters to justify it. But for now all I've done to help with flare control is buy a $35 dollar pretend piece of crapbox off ebay, which gives me few basic flags, that I can also drape/cover further if required. Dirt cheap. Super light, height adjustable and may even just help with the odd actor lol :) At the very least help should stop any cop from asking me for a permit for my professional production... "Sorry sir, carry on, I didn't see your mattebox" :D

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Filmcity-Mat...ht_1861wt_1348
(Note mine goes up to 80mm fronts - which just fits my widest lens - this one is only 77mm - but there's plenty of 80's around)

Best

Lliam

Hilarious! Yes, the officer would probably be deeply embarrassed for even thinking that something professional was going on once he sees that. But I might still pick up a copy to use for my 5D or whatever :)

[Rob Castiglione]

I agree that that is a pretty amazing example from Phil. Also, I am interested to hear that the O'Connor CAN accommodate lens movement.
I can answer some of your questions about the Shoot 35:

Now onto the question of which one to get... The Shoot35 looks great! A few questions:
1) I imagine wide angle lenses will be used quite frequently in combination with the matte box. I will be using the Tokina 11-16mm and Zeiss ZF 21mm. Will these vignette at 4K? What about 3K?

I was told by Shoot 35 that it covers full frame from 24mm I think and 4K from about 17mm. I was prepared to live with this compromise given the incredibly low price and excellent quality and the fact I could not find another matte box that would accommodate the significant lens travel of my Leica Rs and some of my older Nikkors.

2) My lenses do breathe. The ZF 100mm f/2 is a real pain and travels about an inch. The 21mm does not breathe at all. The 35, 50 and 85mm all breathe about 1/2" or less. The Tokina I'm not sure about because I'm waiting for the new version to come out at the end of March before buying it. Which of these would work with the Shoot35?

I don't think that you would have a problem with any of these lenses.

3) I notice it uses 15mm with studio spacing. I use 15mm LW right now... Is there a way to mount it anyway? I would rather not have to switch to studio and get new rails, a new follow focus and everything for the time being :/

You will have to check with them directly about this. Is 15mm LW an arris standard with an offset?

Cheers

Rob

[M.D. Hilton]

I agree that that is a pretty amazing example from Phil. Also, I am interested to hear that the O'Connor CAN accommodate lens movement.


Rob

I have the OBox and it's easy to use a variety of still lenses with it without any hassle if set up right. Don't bother getting screw on step down rings for each lens - it's expensive and time consuming to have to keep screwing them on.

This is what I ordered and it works perfectly for my needs (still lenses - one of which moves with focus).

Item	Qty	Item Description
OCOBSFS	1	O-Box WM Side Flag Set (2 Flags)
OCOBSFB	1	O-Box WM Side Flag Bracket Set (2 Brackets)
OCRR114110	1	Reduction Ring (114-110mm)
OCBR	1	C1243-1117 Bellows Ring
CHSDR5085	1	AC-450-22 Flex-Ring Flexible Step-Down Ring (110:50-85mm)
OCOBLS	1	O-BOX WM Set (15mm LWS)

The Bellows ring takes it from 150mm to 114mm, then I use a 114mm-110mm reduction ring to get it down so I can use a flex step down ring which is made of rubber and moves with your lens when you focus.

Here's a link to the flex step down ring:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search...tialSearch=yes

In addition to moving with your focus the advantage of this is that it doesn't screw on to the lens so it's very quick and simple to change lenses even without a swing away mattebox.

[Rob Castiglione]

So, the flex step down ring is a Chrosziel part and all your lenses have to have 85mm fronts?

[M.D. Hilton]

So, the flex step down ring is a Chrosziel part and all your lenses have to have 85mm fronts?

No, your lenses need to be anywhere between 50mm and 85mm. The flex ring stretches over the front of the lens. It takes a second to insert any size lens (from 50mm-85mm) into the flex ring.

[Eric J. Johnston]

Here is an image of exactly the same setup that M.D. describes above:

[Rob Castiglione]

Ok, that is very helpful information. Thanks.

[George Butterfield]

A Matte Box is essential for all those times you are using a Matt.

[Eric J. Johnston]

haha, so true eric, i love the look of my mattbox on, it just..completes the camera. =].

The "look" is not complete until you have your Oakley's on too!

[Jonas Klittmark]

No, your lenses need to be anywhere between 50mm and 85mm. The flex ring stretches over the front of the lens. It takes a second to insert any size lens (from 50mm-85mm) into the flex ring.

That sounds great! So the fact that the OBox is not swing-away is not such a big problem then since you can just move the lenses in and out of the rubber ring without having to reposition it and/or screw in anything?