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  • 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 :)

Matte box advantages

M.D. Hilton said:
Don't get me wrong, A swing away is still easier to change lenses with but the rubber flex ring makes it much easier to change lenses than if you had a screw on or clamp on. It has enough flex that I can easily remove the lens without moving the matte box. The might box might have to be adjusted to put a new lens on depending on the size of the lens you're putting on (for instance, if you're replacing a wide lens with a longer lens you'll have to, obviously, slide the matte box away from the camera to accomodate the longer lens.)

Either way - with a swing away or with a flex ring - the matte box will almost always have to be adjusted on the rods to put it in proper position for the new lens.

Hope this makes sense...
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Makes sense. It's not really the matte box's fault that the lenses are all different diameter and length... But it would be nice to minimize the hassle as much as possible and it sounds like this setup is a reasonable way to do it.
 
I definitely do NOT want to buy multiple filters for each lens, which will vary from Canon to Leica to Rokinon. Is the idea that I buy step up filter rings to get me to 77mm so that I may use just one set?
 
Arnold F. said:
I definitely do NOT want to buy multiple filters for each lens, which will vary from Canon to Leica to Rokinon. Is the idea that I buy step up filter rings to get me to 77mm so that I may use just one set?
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No, if you don't want to buy multiple screw on filters for your lenses then buy filters to use with the trays of your matte box (4x4 or 4 x 5.65 depending on your matte box trays.)

The step down rings don't have anything to do with filters, they have to do with getting a tight fit around your lens so no light gets through.
 
Sorry, I'm talking about getting all my different lenses up to a single standard, which I assumed was 77mm - is this the way to go? Then I would go with something like this, assuming it will allow for a lens as wide as the Tokina 11-16mm.

M.D. Hilton said:
No, if you don't want to buy multiple screw on filters for your lenses then buy filters to use with the trays of your matte box (4x4 or 4 x 5.65 depending on your matte box trays.)

The step down rings don't have anything to do with filters, they have to do with getting a tight fit around your lens so no light gets through.
Click to expand...
 
M.D. Hilton said:
... The step down rings don't have anything to do with filters, they have to do with getting a tight fit around your lens so no light gets through.
Click to expand...

The other alternative when you have different diameter lenses is a little device known a universal lens donut, aka, "nun's knickers." It is made up of a step-down adapter ring that fits into the rear of the matte box and attached to it is some stretchy material that goes around the lens to seal any light leaks. Certainly not as high-tech., elegant, or fancy as some of the other alternatives (i.e., Chroziel) but it works, and it is useful when you have lenses that extend or contract when you focus. Genus makes one and I think Red Rock Micro may as well.

Here is a link to the Genus: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/660866-REG/Genus_GL_GARD_NK_GARD_NK_Universal_Donut_Nun_s.html

____________________________________
SO # 6931 “Betty Page” Canon AL Package
“… preparing to ‘whip’ the competition …”

Zeiss Lenses:

CY 21/2.8
ZF 28/2.0
CY 35-70/3.4
CY 50/1.4
ZF100/2.0

Nikon Lenses:
G 14-24/2.8
G 24-70/2.8
D 80-200/2.8

Tokina Lenses:

11-16/2.8
 
Arnold F. said:
Sorry, I'm talking about getting all my different lenses up to a single standard, which I assumed was 77mm - is this the way to go? Then I would go with something like this, assuming it will allow for a lens as wide as the Tokina 11-16mm.
Click to expand...

I suppose you could use step up rings if you like though if I was in that situation with still glass I'd just use the trays in the matte box for my filters. Though if you have a still camera and take photos too then yeah, the step up rings are probably the way to go (though I must confess I've never used them before, all my still lenses have a 77mm thread.)
 
I have a bunch of step up/down rings. All start at 77mm and work down for all lenses I own. They’re so much cheaper than trying to buy a filter for every lens you own.
As for a mattebox. If you use cine lenses then you need a mattebox. No other way to add filters. How can you open the lens up on a sunny day without adding ND filters?
 
Likewise I have everything stepped up or down to 77mm for my screw ins.
They're cheap as chips and you can usually get free shipping on Chinese/Honk kong ones and they work completely fine in my experience.
 
The step-downs to 77mm work great, until you buy the 16-35 (which I just did), which is 82mm - so now I would have to buy all the filters in 82mm.
Also - I frequently rent some of the larger telephoto formats, like the 400mm, 600mm, etc...

Screw-in filters are good option - but matte-box with trays is the way to go forward, if You are serious about building your own filter bank...

Peter
 
Peter Majtan said:
The step-downs to 77mm work great, until you buy the 16-35 (which I just did), which is 82mm - so now I would have to buy all the filters in 82mm.
Also - I frequently rent some of the larger telephoto formats, like the 400mm, 600mm, etc...

Screw-in filters are good option - but matte-box with trays is the way to go forward, if You are serious about building your own filter bank...

Peter
Click to expand...
Those 82mm's always ruin a good party! :)
 
I think Matte Boxe's are nice, but I use my c-stand with flags like "always" with the lights(i sometimes have up to 3 flags per light). Mandatory flags are silk, one stop down, two stop downs (i use a large silk as my reflector). I really like the Matthew c-stands, as far as matt boxes i use the o-box, but it's off 90% of the time, while I almost always have some type of filter going with the lights. For low budget guys like me, matte boxes and stuff can really add up $ ... but you get way more bang for you buck on on stand/flag kit ... perty good one is under 1k. My "money" priority is camera, lens, lights, dual system sound, mic, flags/stands, jib, dolly, remote follow focus ... then the cool bits.
 
Erik Naso said:
Those 82mm's always ruin a good party! :)
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My Zeiss 21mm is 82 as well but I just step it down to 77. On 4K that setup does not vignette at all (and with a single ultra-thin filter it actually does not even vignette on the 5D).
 
I prefer just to use a variable ND. I don't see any reason for owning a matte-box in my opinion. My cousin owns one but all I've ever heard him say about it is "you should get one , it makes your camera look bad ass" haha
 
Jonas Klittmark said:
My Zeiss 21mm is 82 as well but I just step it down to 77. On 4K that setup does not vignette at all (and with a single ultra-thin filter it actually does not even vignette on the 5D).
Click to expand...

This is rather an exception then a rule. The 16-35 would vignette this way even without the filter...
 
Mitch Fillion said:
I prefer just to use a variable ND. I don't see any reason for owning a matte-box in my opinion. My cousin owns one but all I've ever heard him say about it is "you should get one , it makes your camera look bad ass" haha
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Mitch - no offense to you amd your friend, but this is a perfect example of someone who has no clue about the purpose of a matte-box (or other cine accessories for that matter) making a silly comment like that and other therefore dismissing that accessory as well. This is one of the side-effects of the DSLR "revolution". Putting large budget productions aside I see essential accessories (like matte-boxes, light-meters, etc) disappearing from sets along with the knowledge about their purpose and mode of use. I won't be surprised to see a pro TVC in couple of years being shot on a iPhone 7...

Rant off... ;o)

Peter
 
Matteboxes = fun, easy, fast, effective, versatile

Screw-ins + hacks will get you the images, but you'll spend more time clumsing around.
+ you get the actual mattes in addition to flags etc.

Thus:
A good matte is better for a pro working environment
Whether it makes you "look pro" is up to how good you are at handling it... :)
 
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