Follow focus & Matte Box, Zeiss ZF still lens ...

[Vincent Thomas]

Hi fellows

I have been working on films and photography for many years but not as a DOP or Cam op so please pardon my ignorance on the subjet.. Okay

i was wondering in which case i will regreat not having a matte box instead of using filters fixed on some Nikon/Carl zeiss still lens ? I was thinking it will alow me to be more mobil and well my first worry is the price of a great matte box like Arri is around 2000$ isn'it?

I'm thinking to buy one when i could but at the moment im trying to find the priority between an EVF, a great matte box or a great follow focus...

I like better to buy something i could be satisfy for years than just buying something cheap but i will not be happy to use at the end or who may just break.. Now for both the matte box and follow focus, Arri is the name i was thinking, is there a more affordable great solution?

If i get some Carl Zeiss ZF lens converted to cine lens (from RP Lens), is it possible to think doing the focus with this only? with patience and a skilled hand... Will the modified lens still be convenient to use with my still camera?

I'm doing narrative work and music video...

Thanks for your help

vincent*

 

[Gunleik Groven]

Once you have a MB/FF, you will regret NOT having them earlier.

But you can do just fine without them and feel fine untill then.

 

[jon erwin]

The Red Rock matte box is awesome for the value! The follow focus is great as well but I can go with or without the follow focus b/c the viewfinder is so detailed. I use Ziess ZF lens and the look great!

 

[Evin Grant]

I'd recommend the Arri MMB1/MFF1 combo...

http://www.abelcine.com/store/product.php?productid=1001192&cat=285&page=1

 

[Vincent Thomas]

Thanks. Like i said, i know they are great but also 4000$..

Fact is my ambition are more artistic then commercials, and spending 30 000$ of my own money just for than without a business plan behind is maybe fine but will be more difficult for 45000$ especially because i need to pay over things as well

If i have to choose only one for the start, i'm still not sure between and EVF instead of a small LCD, a Arri follow focus or a Arri matte box..

PS: By the way easy question for the camera op.... Do you need something else to make a Arri MFF-1 Follow Focus work with Zeiss ZF still lens?

v*

 

[Mitch Gross]

If you have your lenses converted by RP Lenses (or others), then they will have the integrated .08 gearing on the lens, which is how the follow focus drives the lens. The Arri MMB-1 and MFF-1 are designed to mount to lightweight 15mm rods. If you have the standard 19mm rods on your RED there are two possible solutions. Abel offers a universal 19mm to 15mm adapter to fit these units to the RED's rods. Using them the standard 19mm rods are retained so that you can use other accessories, such as RED's 19mm universal mount, which is how many people mount their hard drive cradle and battery mount. The other option is to go with lightweight 15mm rods on the front of your camera, either via RED's adapter or the soon-to-be-available unit from Doug Underdahl. With these you can mount the Arri devices directly and avoid the extra weight of the bulky 19mm system.