Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Best Non-Arri Mattebox? 15mm studio swingaway

O'Connor O-Box, I think their swing-away module is available now. Also take a look at the Vocas matte boxes.

A big question is budget... On the cheap, there are matteboxes like the RedRock... You get what you pay for.

What's wrong with Arri? If you look hard enough, you can usually find an MB-19 that's in good shape and a lot cheaper than a new MB-20.
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
O'Connor O-Box, I think their swing-away module is available now.
Click to expand...

Hey Jeff, you have some inside skinny on an OCon swing away module? I just got a quote from Abel for a O-Box kit but they didn't mention a swing-away option.
 
Nothing against arri, I get really confused by the chrosziel model numbers but I like their gear.

Would love a used mb-19. Guess I just have to keep looking.

O-box looks nice, but yeah - I want swing away.
 
I've owned both Chrosziel 450-01 and 456-3. They're okay. Light and decently built. Had light leak issues between stages with the 456 and the screws that hold the stages together bolt into a plastic thread. The side wings have a flimsy attachment. I actually find the 450 series better built but limited in filter sizes. I've had this strip out. Pretty cheap feature for a 3G plus MB. I still think, though expensive, no one touches Arri for build and design. They just work and can take hard everyday use. Got rid of all my Chrosziel gear for an MB 20. Probably be getting an LMB 15 or LMB 5 next, IMO, the best clip on there is.
 
Ned Wilson said:
They just work and can take hard everyday use.
Click to expand...

Not to put down anyone else's products, but the O-Box can take as much and probably more punishment (that's punishment -- not just wear-and-tear) than anything else out there. O-Boxes have been in crashes (that would have literally totalled other matteboxes) and still survived with no more than a few cosmetic scratches.

However, we don't have a swingaway option for the O-Box and don't currently have any plans for building one. Different market, different price.
 
The O-Box is built like a tank at a very attractive price. It is possible to use a Zacuto Zwing-away adapter but that device is really something you have to accept as an adapter because it means you fight rod positioning and other issues.

The Vocas MB450 is a very nice swingaway mattebox. There were some design quirks I wasn't into so the Vocas people went back to the drawing board and really improved the product. If you really don't want ARRI for some reason and want a swingaway then it is definitely worth checking out.
 
Jim Elias said:
Not to put down anyone else's products, but the O-Box can take as much and probably more punishment (that's punishment -- not just wear-and-tear) than anything else out there. O-Boxes have been in crashes (that would have literally totalled other matteboxes) and still survived with no more than a few cosmetic scratches.

However, we don't have a swingaway option for the O-Box and don't currently have any plans for building one. Different market, different price.
Click to expand...

I would think you could use that sturdy top mount to attach a side wrap down swing-away rod mount.
 
David W. Jones said:
I would think you could use that sturdy top mount to attach a side wrap down swing-away rod mount.
Click to expand...

Many things are technically possible, but there are already a lot of excellent studio swingaway matteboxes out there to choose from -- more than the swingaway market will really bear. We've got enough inside info and market data to tell us that an O-Box swingaway bracket would most likely sell a few pieces, then peter out. Which in turn means we'd have to make it pricey, which then begs the question of why.

I know it's hard to believe for some, but for every situation where a swingaway mattebox is a must, there are many more where a non-swingaway mattebox does fine, and the people in the latter are often on tight budgets. The O-Box was intended to help the little guy with a product that will always keep on ticking at a nice moderate price, and we're happy to just keep on doing that with it.
 
Hey Mitch, Jim,
When will Abelcine have Obox back in stock?
 
axel ebermann said:
anybody knows which of these matteboxes has an option for a third stage ?
needing a Hot Mirror filter on a Red I do not feel 2 stages are cutting it for me...
Click to expand...

I'm with you Axel.
the O'Connor O-Box only has two stages possible, although you can add a circular pola in the rear donut, which gives you 3-stages. But one is fairly limited.
Options for non-Arri 3-stage seem to boil down to:
Vocas MB-450
Chrosziel 450 series
RedRock

(probably this list is also ranked in relative price/quality order)
 
A little bird told me that a well-known three-stage conversion kit manufacturer is getting ready to offer an O-Box three-stage kit. As with all additional stages, you'll lose some wide-angle capacity, so make sure your lens can even be covered by three of your filters before you go for whatever MB you choose.

Shawn: O-Boxes are now regularly coming out of the factory, there are a lot of backorders to clear but we'll be caught up from our end soon. We did get caught short for a bit there, so the resellers may be somewhat reluctant to say anything from their ends until they see the first couple of lots roll in. Best to give it a few days until all the supply chains are rolling.
 
Never used a Petroff but I've heard very very good things about them.
 
We are fulfilling backorders on O-Boxes and should have them available soon. Jim, keep 'em rolling in!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top