Introducing the New OConnor O-Box WM Mattebox

[Gursimran Dhillon]

Eric, thanks for your response, deal done and I look forward to getting the O-Box by end of this mnth (fingers crossed).

I was thinking of replacing Ocon 19mm studio adapter (part #1118) and using Abel-1519 (15-19mm) adapter with the standard 15mm supplied with the O-Box. This gives me flexibility to use O-Box with another camera that uses 15mm rods or if reqd a different MB with Red One. Can someone tell me if this will work?

 

[Eric J. Johnston]

Eric, thanks for your response, deal done and I look forward to getting the O-Box by end of this mnth (fingers crossed).

I was thinking of replacing Ocon 19mm studio adapter (part #1118) and using Abel-1519 (15-19mm) adapter with the standard 15mm supplied with the O-Box. This gives me flexibility to use O-Box with another camera that uses 15mm rods or if reqd a different MB with Red One. Can someone tell me if this will work?

That’s great Gursimran,

Yes the O-Box will work with both the Abel AB-1519 for adapting the 15mm LWS bracket to 19mm studio rods and the Abel AB-1515 which adapts 15mm LWS bracket to 15mm studio rods. The AB-1515 is shown on page 11 of this thread in Ryan’s O-Box review for reference.

 

[Jim Elias]

That’s great Gursimran,

Yes the O-Box will work with both the Abel AB-1519 for adapting the 15mm LWS bracket to 19mm studio rods and the Abel AB-1515 which adapts 15mm LWS bracket to 15mm studio rods. The AB-1515 is shown on page 11 of this thread in Ryan’s O-Box review for reference.

With the Abel rod adapters, the centers will be correct.

But there have been some no-name plug adapters around that have been off by surprising amounts, or cause other problems with collisions, etc. We always recommend going with a reputable, known supplier when buying third-party rod adapters.

 

[Rubens Angelotti]

Hi there, I'm thinking on buying an Obox to use with with a RED PRO ZOOM 18-85
Right Now I'm using 15mm LWS in My RED, does any one know if it's possible to use the lens and the Matte Box in that configuration

Thanks

Rubens
Brazil

 

[Eric J. Johnston]

Hi there, I'm thinking on buying an Obox to use with with a RED PRO ZOOM 18-85
Right Now I'm using 15mm LWS in My RED, does any one know if it's possible to use the lens and the Matte Box in that configuration

Thanks

Rubens
Brazil

Yes the O-Box will work with the 18-85 RED Pro Zoom without vignetting. Since the rear opening of the mattebox is 150mm and the lens front diameter is 142mm you may want to use a neoprene doughnut to make up the 8mm difference. Supporting the O-Box with 15mm LWS is also not a problem via it’s built in (but removable) bracket. It is also easily adapted for studio rod configurations.

 

[Eric J. Johnston]

O-Boxes on the way….

 

[Rob Castiglione]

Excellent timing ...

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Hey Eric, I borrowed an Obox for my last shoot and was able to make it work on a 14mm lens without vignette

 

[Eric J. Johnston]

Hey Eric, I borrowed an Obox for my last shoot and was able to make it work on a 14mm lens without vignette

I'm not sure you were?

It's complicated.

E

 

[Shawn Nelson]

I'm not sure you were?

It's complicated.

E

Huh? I used a 14mm on my Red, 2:1 ratio, no vignette at all, even had a filter in there.

 

[Rob Castiglione]

OConnor matte box and lenses which have axial movement forward

OConnor matte box and lenses which have axial movement forward

Just a question before I take the plunge. At the moment I am using Nikon still lenses which barrel forward increasing their length when focusing. Can the O'Connor reduction rings accommodate this or is this a problem I need to consider?

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

Hello Ryan,

I’m beginning to think the threading on your bellows ring may have a small burr in it. I would be happy to take a look at it and using a special file tool “scrape” the threads to make the connection between to two less difficult to unscrew. Send me an email at my address below and we can figure out what’s most convenient for you and your shooting schedule.

Thanks again and we are happy to hear you continue to enjoy the mattebox.

Eric,

I've sent a couple of emails your way, but I have not heard back yet. Any chance you can still take a look at my bellows ring? I have gone over it several times, and everything seems fine on my end in terms of smoothness, yet it continues to be difficult to use / unscrew ...

Other then that, I am very happy with my purchase and I am looking forward to when the rest of the accessories for it arrive!

 

[Eric J. Johnston]

Huh? I used a 14mm on my Red, 2:1 ratio, no vignette at all, even had a filter in there.

Shawn,

Can you clarify the setup? It sounds like you only had one 4x5.65 filter in the front stage with the lens butted up against it which would make it more wide angle friendly than if you were using a second 4x5.65 and 138mm round in the bellows.

Thanks-

 

[Eric J. Johnston]

Eric,

I've sent a couple of emails your way, but I have not heard back yet. Any chance you can still take a look at my bellows ring? I have gone over it several times, and everything seems fine on my end in terms of smoothness, yet it continues to be difficult to use / unscrew ...

Other then that, I am very happy with my purchase and I am looking forward to when the rest of the accessories for it arrive!

Hello Ryan,

I thought I had answered all your emails? My apologies. At last we left it you were going to send your ring to me for evaluation and repair/ replacement…did you send it?

Let me know-

 

[Eric J. Johnston]

Just a question before I take the plunge. At the moment I am using Nikon still lenses which barrel forward increasing their length when focusing. Can the O'Connor reduction rings accommodate this or is this a problem I need to consider?

External focus lenses are always a problem when using a mattebox. The rubber bellows does have some “give” to it but usually not enough to accommodate for all the travel of the lens barrel. I would suggest you test out the setup however I think you will find you have the same limitations regardless of the bellows system used.

 

[Rob Castiglione]

Thanks Eric. I guess that it is just an inherent problem of using still lenses for cinema use. I guess that I can just use the clamp on option.

 

[Rob Castiglione]

I see from the OConnor website that there is a clamp on unit reduction ring down to 80mm which is the diameter I need. Is the matte box light enough to work as a clamp on unit?

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

Hello Ryan,

I thought I had answered all your emails? My apologies. At last we left it you were going to send your ring to me for evaluation and repair/ replacement…did you send it?

Let me know-

I just sent you another email. Thanks for following up- I'm looking forward to getting this issue resolved, as it is my only big frustration with the Matte Box. It continues to hold up well otherwise.

 

[Eric J. Johnston]

I see from the OConnor website that there is a clamp on unit reduction ring down to 80mm which is the diameter I need. Is the matte box light enough to work as a clamp on unit?

Yes- the O-Box was designed to be used as either a rod supported or clamped onto the lens unit. The weight of the mattebox itself (with the LWS bracket removed and two 4x5.65 filter frames inserted) is 802 grams. You can also remove the top “cheese stick” which should shave off another 80 grams or so.

The issue here with still lenses is if they are robust enough to handle the weight (keep in mind this goes up quickly as filters are inserted.) Cine lenses are no problem but you need to proceed with caution in this case to make sure you are not over stressing the mechanics of the lens design.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Shawn,

Can you clarify the setup? It sounds like you only had one 4x5.65 filter in the front stage with the lens butted up against it which would make it more wide angle friendly than if you were using a second 4x5.65 and 138mm round in the bellows.

Thanks-

I was inside the bellows and had one filter in there. I dont recall if a 2nd one would have fit or not.