Matte Box & Follow Focus for Canon glass recommendation

[Omar Al-Masab]

Hi,
I would like to gain from your experience, Canon glass on an EPIC what Matte Box, Follow Focus would you recommend.
disregarding budget and where a rotating stage is not so important, but what is important is quality, functionality and reliability.


Vocas
RED
ARRI
Bright Tangerine
O'connor
Chrosziel
And so on



Canon Lens Package 17-40mm f4 - 24mm f1.4 - 35mm f1.4 - 50mm f1.2 - 85mm f1.2 - 135mm f2 - 180mm f3.5 Macro - 300mm f4

Thanks for the effort
Omar

 

[Phil Holland]

I went with the OConnor O-Box WM and I've used a rew. I do like Red's lightweight-ness, but it wasn't rod mountable at the time I needed to purchase one months ago.

The O-Box has been really great. Rugged, light, and sturdy. You'll need to get the appropriate step down ring and rubber hood to snuggly fit around your lens from Chrosziel if you go this route. Some folks like swing away matte boxes, and I'm one of them. However, the O-Box just feel really right on Epic and Scarlet rigs.

I personally went with the Redrock Micro Follow Focus|blue as the price/performance ratio was good. If money wasn't a factor an O-Focus would have been my choice with the smaller gear ratio. I use it with EF and PL glass. If money really wasn't a factor an Arri FF4 or 5 would be great, but not as lightweight. I'm not fond of single arm follow focuses when it comes to rigging.

I use all of the lenses you listed and a ton more minus the 17-40mm f/4L with this combo.

 

[Kirk.Attard]

Thanks Phil - very insightful. - Would you be so kind and post some pics of your rig configurations when you have some time. I really like your cine but still light weight style. Thanks a lot. Ur a reference point for me. Really like your gnomon tutorial by the way. It has opened a new horizon as we are in the pre production phase for a tv series including fully animated characters.

 

[Omar Al-Masab]

Thanks a lot Phil
I really appreciate it

 

[Robino_J]

Arri mmb-2 is very lightweight. That's a very nice matte box and I love it. I use the Letus FF. gear ratio is 1:2 so not very good for still lenses but it works for me. If you are strictly using still lenses and have the money I recommend the Arri mff-2 HD.

 

[Ned Wilson]

I personally don't care for clips ons for variety of reasons (falling off, weight on lens, and impact transmitted to lens), but despite this I prefer them for canon glass. Because of the varying length on their zooms when focusing or zooming rod mounted isn't always ideal as where a clip on can just ride back and forth with it. Unfortunately, I find the OC O'Box even though it built like a tank, I would be reluctant to clip it on a canon zoom fully loaded because of the weight. For clip on I'd look into Vocas, Arri MMB2 or LMB, or Chrosziel.

 

[Phil Holland]

Thanks Omar!

Cheers Kirk. Glad you enjoyed the Gnomon video! Here's some quick info.

This is my rig about 90% of the time. However, it's going to change very soon as I've been "gifted" a new cage to evaluate.

Main components are from left to right:
-OConnor O-Box WM
-OConnor C1243-1117 Bellows Ring
-OConnor Reduction Ring (114-110mm)
-Chrosziel 110-50mm Flexible Step Down Ring
-12 inch Cine Arm (with the 5.0" Touch LCD)
-Redrock Micro microMount with microSpud to attach the Cine Arm to the 15mm rods.
-Redrock Micro Handlebar Clamp with two 4" rods to attach the LCD to.
-The upper 15mm Carbon Fiber rods are attached via an upside-down Redrock Micro DSLR Baseplate. This is going away.
-The top handle is my old handle from my Easom Halo Cage.
-Follow Focus, Redrock Micro Follow Focus|blue
-Baseplate is the equivalent to Viewfactors plate with 15mm rods. I had my machinist make this one.
-Wooden Camera Quick Back V-Mount system
-I use Globalmediapro 160Wh Red compatible batteries.

The biggest change coming to my rig is the addition of the top plate. I like the ability to quickly remove the top if I desire at anytime, however, I've found that the additional weight of the top plate won't bother me with the newer mounting points.

What's not in that picture is occasionally I'll add another 15mm rod extension to the opposite side for either a second monitor, audio, or whatever else needs to get mounted over there.

I should add that it's radical to be able to position the 5.0" Touch LCD pretty much anywhere you want. Really handy in tight corners or high/low mounted situations.

 

[Kirk.Attard]

Thanks a lot Phil - Great info as always. - Cheers.

 

[Matt Ryan]

I would highly recommend the Bright Tangerine VIV mattebox. It is a clip on with an optional rod adapter and is very similar in comparison to the OBOX.
http://brighttangerine.com/product_detail/109/112/148/viv-2_stage-kit/

Their line of matte boxes is highly customizable and user configurable. They are easy to swap out stages or add stages with the pressing of two buttons. Not to mention they are built like a tank.

Clint Lealos owns a VIV so maybe he will jump on here and post about his rig. http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?80235-Bright-Tangerine-Mattebox&highlight=bright+tangerine

I have used the OBOX which was recommended to me by Vlad Eugene who owned one at the time. It's a great matte box but needless to say Vlad has sold his OBOX and bought a Bright Tangerine VIV.

I own the Bright Tangerine Strummer which is the best matte box I've ever owned. If you can go get a hands on demo with these matte boxes, you will leave there with one.

Here is Curt Pair demo'ing the Strummer but watch for the patent pending filter tray system and wide field of view that is available on the entire line of matte boxes.
https://vimeo.com/43275849

They are a brand new company but I guarantee you they will catch on fast. Andy the owner was a previous engineer at Arri and left to start his own company. He has included features not available on any other system out there including Arri. There are also tons of new accessories in development and coming soon from Bright Tangerine to always keep your system infinitely configurable. I don't work or have any affiliation with BT, I'm just a happy customer who feels like I need to get the word out. Contact one of the distributors to go over pricing and to check out a demo.

Sydney - Australia
Lemac Sydney office
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Red Apple Camera Rentals Pty Ltd
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+61 2 9437 4643
ali@redapplecamerarentals.com

Munich - Germany
Gecko-Cam GmbH
Brunhamstrasse 21 Geb. 221, Munich Munich - D-81249
+49 89 4521 8100
Karin@Gecko-Cam.com

Los angeles - United States
camadeus Film Technologies Inc
7358 Radford Ave, North Hollywood, Los angeles 3625 - 91605
+1 818 764 1234
sebastian.lumme@camadeus.com

phoenix - United States
Picture this productions inc
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jenc@picturethisproductions.net

Cape Town - South Africa
Moviemart Cape town office
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Moviemart Johannesburg office
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+27 82 552 6562
petros@moviemart.co.za

 

[Mark Phelan]

Matt, what kind of material did they use for their filter trays? I like the looks of it very much and was wondering what the price is of the Strummer?

 

[Matt Ryan]

Matt, what kind of material did they use for their filter trays? I like the looks of it very much and was wondering what the price is of the Strummer?

I believe the trays are aluminum but not 100% sure (If not they are some other light weight metal). Not sure what the current price is, you'll have to contact a distributor. My kit was custom built with 3 stages and plenty of accessories. It ended up around what a basic MB20 kit costs without flags, step down rings, and rod adapters for my custom setup. I love my kit if you couldn't tell :laugh: