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Matte Box and Follow focus for Epic-X(other than Arri products)

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Ragesh Raju

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Hi All,

As my budget is limited, can anyone suggest a Matte box which support 6x6 filter, a Follow focus and a shoulder rig for Red Epic-X please? Would it be possible to suggest anything other than Arri products? My primary lenses are Ultra primes and HR Zoom 25-250mm. Anyone heard about 'Cavision' products?

Thanks in advance.


Regards

Ragesh
 
Ragesh,

The filters are 4.5x6. Pretty standard dimensions. Not sure about 6x6 filters. All the filters I've seen are rectangles, not squares.

I can't suggest any "budget" mattboxes or follow focus system. We use O'Connor, O-Box and FF1 follow focus. I was looking at the cheaper stuff, but they didn't have the build quality, O'Connor is tuff. Arr FF4 or FF5 I hear are very good follow focus system, industry standards.

For shoulder mounts. There's a few out there, but nothing I've actually purchased because they do not fulfill all my desires.

The one's I've considered:

x Premium. $1,500
http://x.corecommerce.com/RED/Shoulder-Rigs-RED/Shoulder-Rig-Premium-Rubber.html
This is a dovetail shoulder mount, goes directly into your epic via a standard dovetail cheese plate.

RED's "The Clutch" Battle Tested version: $3,250 New: $4,900 (why go new, all metal parts)
http://www.red.com/store/products/clutch-shoulder-rig-bt
Just too expensive IMO. The balance is great, evenly distributed but you are limited in your tilt movements, VERY difficult to go vertical 90 degrees.

Action Productions "Razor Shoulder Mount" $700
cinemecanix.com/
Pretty basic shoulder system, you can do your own front handles with O-Gribs on an O-Box mattbox.

ET Mantis
Very basic shoulder system, widely used. $2,000
http://www.abelcine.com/store/Element-Technica-MANTIS-Handheld-Kit-with-6-Extension/
I never liked the shoulder pad, the front handles are very basic, nothing fancy here.

CUSTOM Options. Search the forum. Here are a few discussions.
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?86739-Actually-liking-the-Quad-Module
Look at Bob's post. Cool idea, the Velcro shoulder pad is less than $200.

REMEMBER. What makes a shoulder mount work is BALANCE. If you are front heavy, you will get tired fast and your shots won't be as smooth. In all my testing this is the key feature, you need a well balanced setup. Then you can go relatively hands free. Unless you want a great arm workout, there is no reason to fight your equipment, you buy it to make your life easier, purchase the one that makes you free. You'll want this if you are pulling your own focus with your shoulder setup.

Thanks enough for now. If anyone else has some shoulder rigs they love, please post them as we are always looking for a great shoulder rig.
 
Thanks a lot Victor Lazaro & Matt Ryan. Bright Tangerine looks cool n sexy! But the model that supports 6x6 filter costs a lot... But still I'm gonna check it out.. Any one recommend Zacuto flippable Follow focus?

Cheers!
 
Matt Ryan said:
Definitely recommend Bright Tangerine!
Check out Curt's video reviews of the Bright Tangerine matte boxes:
http://vimeo.com/43275849
http://vimeo.com/48182672
Andy, the owner and engineer for Bright Tangerine was an engineer at Arri for years. He left to start this company and financed it all himself. The customer support is great and Andy is a great guy.

brighttangerine.com
http://matthayslett.com/bright-tangerine-matte-boxes/
Click to expand...

I agree, these matte boxes are very very good. Our preference for Follow Focus is Chrozsiel manual or RTMotion.
 
I've had 5 years hard use out of my Vocas MB-450 and it's still going strong...think it will support up to 5.65" square filters.

That too is pushing up towards the price of an ARRI kit though.
 
Ragesh Raju said:
Thanks a lot Victor Lazaro & Matt Ryan. Bright Tangerine looks cool n sexy! But the model that supports 6x6 filter costs a lot... But still I'm gonna check it out.. Any one recommend Zacuto flippable Follow focus?

Cheers!
Click to expand...

The Strummer and Blacklight support 6x6. The VIV supports up to 4x5.65 which is all you need unless your using really large lenses.
 
Chris Sharman said:
I've had 5 years hard use out of my Vocas MB-450 and it's still going strong...think it will support up to 5.65" square filters.

That too is pushing up towards the price of an ARRI kit though.
Click to expand...

Need something that support 6.5x6.5 or 6x6 filter Chris.. Yea, Vocas is bit pricey too.
 
IMHO, I think it is a good investment to get a good quality matte box. I struggled so much with cheapo plastic trays and hard to dight/loosen knobs. When you get a matte box, it is a standard that should outlast you RED Epic/Scarlet (even if it made obsolescence obsolete).
For the Follow Focus, still cant beat a good Arri, or Wireless follow.
 
Victor Lazaro said:
IMHO, I think it is a good investment to get a good quality matte box. I struggled so much with cheapo plastic trays and hard to dight/loosen knobs. When you get a matte box, it is a standard that should outlast you RED Epic/Scarlet (even if it made obsolescence obsolete).
For the Follow Focus, still cant beat a good Arri, or Wireless follow.
Click to expand...

Bright Tangerine Matte box looks stunning!! Right, if u pay for peanut u'll get peanut.. :yesnod:
 
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