Yet another Inexpensive mattebox and follow focus thread...

[Ben Scott]

Right now the Shoot35 Cinebox, including VAT and delivery, is going to cost me £371. (€436.11, US$580.32 Approx.) that's with the current 'sale' on.

Just wondered if there's anything better for that price or anything of comparable quality I should be looking at.

Or is it simply a no brainer to get the Cinebox for that amount I actually use a mattebox, which to be honest is not all that often?


And re Follow Focus units, I USED to have the shoot 35 Follow Focus R2 but offloaded it with a view to getting something I could quick release. Looked at the Tilta FF-T03 which has hard stops and a quick release system, and also the Edelkrome FOCUS ONE PRO which can be adjusted and moved out of the way.

This is for pulling Contax Zeiss glass so longer throws than standard stills glass but not as long as proper cine glass. Currently using one of those Kamerar follow focus units that is pretty amazing for the £60 it cost, but in relative terms only and it's not something I would use on jobs day in day out.

What is the latest lower budget Follow Focus king?


I know O'Connor gets big shouts for both matteboxes AND FF units but the UK prices for them are absurdly high so sadly they're out of the running.

 

[Sandro Klopfstein]

we got this follow focus: http://www.cinevate.com/store2/camera-accessories/follow-focus.html
it's very durable and we're very happy with it.

and the redrock micro matte box, also very happy with it: http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/microMatteBox-for-15mm-Lightweight/microMatteBox-Deluxe-Bundle

 

[Ben Scott]

Thanks Sandro,

I'm wondering if the Redrock (which I know doesn't have a great reputation on here) has any advantages over the Shoot35...

 

[Andy White]

Shoot35 is a 4x4 and the Redrock is a 4x5.65.

 

[Sandro Klopfstein]

Thanks Sandro,

I'm wondering if the Redrock (which I know doesn't have a great reputation on here) has any advantages over the Shoot35...

hehe, I wasn't aware of that. I never (knowingly) tried out a shoot35, so I can't judge.

 

[Ben Scott]

Good point Andy. Not sure I really have a requirement for large than 4x4 filters but that's worth keeping in mind...

 

[Zakaree Sandberg]

same as red rock..

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Bund...=UTF8&qid=1371055805&sr=8-3&keywords=mattebox

 

[Phil Holland]

I'm wondering if the Redrock (which I know doesn't have a great reputation on here) has any advantages over the Shoot35...

Don't know if this puts you at ease, but I still own and use the Redrock Micro Follow Focus|blue even after purchasing an OConnor CFF-1.

Can't say anything on the matte box side of things, I use 4x5.65" filters. I'm a big fan of shoot35 gear though. I use their rings and 15mm-19mm bridge a whole ton.

 

[Ben Scott]

Good to hear Phil, thanks for chiming in. I got my Manfrotto 509HD and 536 legs off the back of your endorsement so that certainly carries some weight

 

[Ben Scott]

same as red rock..

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Bund...=UTF8&qid=1371055805&sr=8-3&keywords=mattebox

Hey Zakaree,

Thanks for that. It';s a great price but it looks near enough identical to the old Proaim mattebox I had. I'm looking for the best product in between that level and the O'Box.

 

[Phil Holland]

Good to hear Phil, thanks for chiming in. I got my Manfrotto 509HD and 536 legs off the back of your endorsement so that certainly carries some weight

Cheers to that. Still use my 509HD/536 combo too. Had the OConnor 1030D on the 536 a couple weeks ago.

The main thing I like about the Follow Focus|blue is that's adjustable. Meaning you can lock down the lash to a nice tight feel if you'd like. As you use the follow focus (usually over the course of a heavy shooting week) it may "loosen", a quick turn of the small screw and adjustment of the lever. Boom, good to go again.

 

[Ben Scott]

So I've just gone to check it out on the site and now there's a 'microFollowFocus Black'... Is this just a rebranding or a new product? Anyone know?

 

[Loren Simons]

same as red rock..

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Bund...=UTF8&qid=1371055805&sr=8-3&keywords=mattebox

Zakaree,

That is definitely not the same as our microMatteBox. Our matte boxes are made in the USA and are up to standard industry spec. That "Red Star" is just a cheap knock-off.

Ben,

The microMatteBox comes standard with two 4x5.65 rotating filter trays, but it can accommodate as large as 5.65x5.65 for things like grad ND's where you want to have a lot of movement and control over your image.

You can also add additional stages to our matte box, turning it into a 3 or even 5 stage matte box. If needed, the microMatteBox can even be adapted to 19mm/15mm Studio rail standards.

Just another option to think about. Email our sales team at sales@redrockmicro.com if you're interested, I think they may be running a matte box special right now.

So I've just gone to check it out on the site and now there's a 'microFollowFocus Black'... Is this just a rebranding or a new product? Anyone know?

The Black line is a re-branding of the previous | blue line, with some additional customer support and service features.

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Ben, we have a Red Rock Micro mattebox for our R1MX, and I am not a big fan of it. Construction is very plasticky, the flags attach poorly and don't stay in place, the swingaway bracket binds and is difficult to adjust, and the filter trays can slide right out the bottom of the mattebox, dumping your expensive filters on the ground. I would strongly suggest you purchase something else.

 

[Ben Scott]

Thanks for the information Loren, much appreciated - As a UK customer by the time import duty/VAT/shipping gets factored in we tend to miss out on all the sexy deals -

And thanks for your experiences with the mattebox Tom.

Nice to hear both positives and negatives when weighing up options

 

[Tom C. Hall]

Anyone who suggests redrock follow focuses are clearly not professional 1st ACs. They are terrible, difficult to turn, not durable and flimsy. I wouldn't suggest any off brand follow focuses if you make a career out of being a focus puller and intend to have your own in your kit.

 

[Ben Scott]

I've made a career that pays my bills using FF units around that same level. As stated, it's for use with contax zeiss stills glass and not anything heavy duty or PL glass. Also 99% of the time I'm self-operating.

When you say 'off brand' I assume you mean 'anything not Arri'?

 

[Sam Goldwater]

Hey Ben, I've used the shoot35 box for a year or so and it's okay but there's a really annoying issue with it's construction. It has some short rods on it's right side for easy adjustment for different lens lengths but with shorter lenses, Nikkor, Pentax etc it's impossible to mount the box and have an FF on the dumb side, these rods always hit the ff knob. I'm out of the country for a week from Monday so you're welcome to borrow it for a few days if you're around Kings X this weekend.

 

[Ben Scott]

Hey Sam,

Took me a while there thinking 'I know that name'.

How's tricks? Thanks for the offer but I've just had a ridiculous deal on a Chroziel mattebox that will hopefully see me okay for the forseeable future. Now just need to sort the follow focus side of things. Might wait until I head over to the US later in the year.

Hope all is well in Goldwaterland.

 

[Alvise Tedesco]

Good for you with you're deal on a Chrosziel. I was suggesting that brand, searching for a used one.
Talking about FF, I do use Leicas and I'm very happy with my Arri MFF2. Before, I used to own a couple of Shoot35 (that I always enjoyed) and previously a Redrock (the first model, bad one). Arri MFF2 is something different. So light and robust, it folds compact needing the smaller slot in your bag. Yet It drives lenses smoothly and very precisely. At least as good as all the bigger models I frequently rent when I rent cinema lenses. I could not use my FF with cinema lenses because I purchased the 1:1 ratio gear, that I much prefer for pulling focus myself on still lenses (contax or leica that is). If I'd own and use everyday cinema lenses I've purchased the 1:2 gear box. Payed 1700€ if I remember correctly. Worth every penny.
Cheers