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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 :)

Any reason not to go MMB-1?

Ryan De Franco

Ryan De Franco

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Most folks spend 4 grand on the MB-20, but swing away isn't the world to me and I generally work with small lenses--old Cooke, old Zeiss. My ACs can deal with gear that isn't big and standard. Anyone out there try the MMB-1 and end up trading up? Any advice in general?

I'd rather have a wireless follow focus, an FF-4 and an MB-20 then a big matte box I don't need and only one follow focus...

Thanks everyone.
 
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Wise words. Thanks Greg... my biggest concern is weight. The feature set of the MB-20 is not worth having to carry it on my shoulder, at waist height and all the strange places I like to put my camera, whereas the MMB-1 (despite being not much lighter) seems just the right balance of sturdy and light.

Does this sound right?

If it's mounted on 19mm rails, one could use a zacuto or chrosziel swing away adapter on the 15mm MMB-1... has anyone done this?
 
I chose the MMB-1. It is really well-built and works very well for my lightweight setup. Zeiss standards or speeds, Nikon primes, etc. I rent a bigger matte box if I rent a big zoom.
 
Ryan De Franco said:
Wise words. Thanks Greg... my biggest concern is weight. The feature set of the MB-20 is not worth having to carry it on my shoulder, at waist height and all the strange places I like to put my camera, whereas the MMB-1 (despite being not much lighter) seems just the right balance of sturdy and light.

Does this sound right?

If it's mounted on 19mm rails, one could use a zacuto or chrosziel swing away adapter on the 15mm MMB-1... has anyone done this?
Click to expand...

I use it on 15mm lightweight rails. That's kind of how it's designed, and adding 19mm rails makes the whole rig bigger.
 
I've had the MMB-1 for a couple years now. It's a solid mattebox. With the bellows back and bunch of step-down rings, it can mate with a variety of lenses. for handheld, its nice and light, but still sturdy enough to hold onto.

the side load trays are a bit annoying, it makes using grad filters difficult.

the Arri eyebrow that goes with the MMB-1 is ridiculously sized, and the paint is kind of shiny which seems unfitting for an eyebrow.
 
Greg M said:
If you were buying today, would you go with the MMB-1 or MMB-2?
Click to expand...
I own the mmb-1 and like it a lot but if I was buying today, I'd buy the mmb-2 as I like to grab the mattebox when shooting handheld
and it allows you to attach handles to the frame.
 
Shane Kelly said:
I own the mmb-1 and like it a lot but if I was buying today, I'd buy the mmb-2 as I like to grab the mattebox when shooting handheld
and it allows you to attach handles to the frame.
Click to expand...

The MMB-1 is great for "grabbing the mattebox" for shooting handheld.

If I were to buy a new mattebox now, I'd get the MMB-2, for the top load filter trays.
 
I have the MMB-1 and dig it. I did add the top load stage conversion for Grads. It's a perfect setup if you're running 15mm LWS as that whole rig keeps weight way down.

CB
 
Mitch Gross said:
MFF-1 v. MFF-2
MFF-2 has simpler design for rod clamp. Can take alternate knobs [and extension] from the various ARRI follow focuses, including the FF-3's dual-speed knob. Kitted with a basic wheel it is less expensive than the MFF-1.

MMB-1 v. MMB-2
MMB-2 is a smaller, lighter weight mattebox than MMB-1. Wider angle coverage but less shading from stray light. Can accept side handles. Available in 4x4 or 4x5.65.
Click to expand...

Mitch sums it up there, more good advice in the thread... http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?70129-Arri-MFF-1-Vs-MFF-2-and-MMB-1-Vs-MMB-2

I'll have to take the MMB-1 because I want stray light suppression without always needing the massive top flag. Wish the MMB-2 had a detachable sunshade like Chrosziel. Then again the Chrosziel fell off just as talent found the inspiration to cry for a scene last weekend. Reminded me why I'm buyng Arri...
 
Greg M said:
and what about the MFF-1 vs MFF-2?
Click to expand...

I was using a mff-1 on a job a couple of weeks ago. I ended up bringing in my o'Connor Ofocus as we were switching sides with the follow focus a lot and the arri was becoming a huge pain. Take a look at the o'connor before you purchase.
 
Will the rods pass thru the front of the MMB-1 or MMB-2?
In other words, on the Epic the 15mm LW rods are deadended against the body, on the mattebox side do the rods also deadened (or hit the shade) or will they slide thru so that length is not critical?
 
George Su said:
I've had the MMB-1 for a couple years now. It's a solid mattebox. With the bellows back and bunch of step-down rings, it can mate with a variety of lenses. for handheld, its nice and light, but still sturdy enough to hold onto.

the side load trays are a bit annoying, it makes using grad filters difficult.

the Arri eyebrow that goes with the MMB-1 is ridiculously sized, and the paint is kind of shiny which seems unfitting for an eyebrow.
Click to expand...

Hi George,
My solution to using grads with the MMB-1 side load is I bought vertical grads and use them only in the rotatinh stage which I turn 90 degreees, in this way it's topload, of course only 4" wide, but gives you a lot of freedom as to where you want the ND graduation to be placed.

Greg M said:
Will the rods pass thru the front of the MMB-1 or MMB-2?
In other words, on the Epic the 15mm LW rods are deadended against the body, on the mattebox side do the rods also deadened (or hit the shade) or will they slide thru so that length is not critical?
Click to expand...

15mm rods go under the MMB-1 and can stick out in front (ie. length is not critical).

Cheers,
Damien
 
I have both the mmb1 and mmb2, and both with the Zacuto zwingaway adapter...it works very very well. Really liking the mmb2 and maybe even a little more than the mmb1 but they both have pros and cons for little lightweights but with the swing away function its a great solution. The mmb1 also has the larger 143mm back end substitute for my 18-85 Red zoom and it works great.
 
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