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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 :)

Group purchase of Arri Matteboxes

i am also interested in getting an MB 20 II and FF4. i am looking forward to seeing what deal can be done. i am not very familliar with the MB 20 II can you get trays for it that takes 4x4 filters. i normally work with MB 16 and MB 14. i am based in the UK will this be a problem.
 
Hi,

I just want to clarify that I'm not interested in an MB20. I don't think it's enough for me and when shooting I've usually used the MB 16 and then for wider lenses etc, MB 14. So I want to purchase those 2 + one LMB 4 as well. So I hope this group purchase is about ARRI equipment and not one kind of a Mattebox only.


Thanks,


fred
 
Jay,

Even with the upcoming mattebox info from RedRock, I think it would be wise to continue on this course for the ARRI power buy. Let's not pull the plug yet like has been mentioned in today's mattebox thread.

Also, if I decide to spring for a RR mattebox, I'll probably still be very interested in that FF4.
 
Agreed Jeff,
I haven't seen much about the New Mattebox news thread that would worry me too much.
On paper the Red Rock ($500) sounds like it is good value but really it sounds a little like Arri buyers are in another market. We're shopping for a porsche and they announce a new honda.

The stuff I'm looking for in any Matte Box is this:

Quality of build/parts.
Functionality - lots of good options that work well!
Maturity of product - road tested and I know doesn't break.
Flexibility - adaptable accessories I can throw anything at.
Pre sales Support-I've been bugging the living bejesus out of the local Oz rep and he (mainly) keep coming back answering all my questions.
Post sales Support- Wait and see but I'm expecting the kind of support Red is giving post sales....oh yeah....it breaks and local Arri give me a replacement loan.
Price - Huge discount wanted (Go Jay). The more discount, the less all the noise is heard.
Resale value & Hire appeal - Speaks for itself.

Obviously it's a personal choice and the $500 RedRock may be right for some & a $5K will be right for others. The real trick is what weight you place on the above individual criteria.

Same goes for CVB's offering. If it only fulfilled half the above at half the price I'd probably still go with the Arri.

Saying that, I hope it is the Arri killer at $1K or $2K but actually delivering most of the above in the next couple of months may stretch them harder than Jim was in the weeks leading up to the Red release.

Like everything, saying stuff is one thing...actually is, is another!

Cheers,
 
Agree too!

I would prefer Arri - simply because it´s the industry leader, recognised by all. With an arri kit my RED would fit in the hands of everyone.

I want to get the details of this deal- if they are reasonable I am ready to move ahead on fairly short notice!
 
I also agree, even though I started the thread about the RR and will very likely be picking one up, if I could afford the ARRI I would certianly buy it. And the probability that one day I will own one is very high indeed.

Jay should very definitely continue with this as it's a very good idea indeed. I simply posted the other thread just in case people had given up on RR or Curt, both of which seem to be alive and kicking in one form or another.

My apologies Jay, didn't mean to cause you any kind of headache. And David all of your points are very good ones.

Paul
 
Thanks Paul,

Everything is cool guys, we are moving forward.. Just waiting on a final word from Arri which should be Tues or Wed. Our guy is in Germany at a sales meeting right now.

Once that is done I have to do one last shop-around for the best rates from a vendor. Once that's done, then I will be able to post what I have with a recommended list.

As for the MB-14. I am not sure, I will look into it. Arri said the MB-20 works for every lens except the optimo's. Those are huge.

I will do what I can for you, but no promises. I am only sure of the MB-20 and MB-20II.

We are working on the FF-4s as well.. I hope to have some photos of this product for you all soon

Jay
 
Jay,

I have to admit that as a Cinematographer I'm very unsure about the MB 20. 1st of all it's not a 19mm system. You need an adapter for that. The MB 20 is clearly created for EFV/ENG work, yes it's adapted to work with film camera gear as well, but it's not ideal (as I see it). 2nd of all I hate 4*5.65 filters, they annoy the sxxt out of me (pardon my french) and I know I'm not the only one that thinks so. Yes they're handy sometimes but the occasions they're handy for me are few. What if I suddenly need to go handheld and I need to be extremely light weight and for unknown reasons need to tape the filters onto the lens (I do it all the time). Well then I have a lot of glass sticking out on the sides. Then what is all this about the new filter formats they support 5*5 , 5.65*5.65 etc. As if we don't have enough of them already? The 3rd reason for me is a simple YES I need the MB 14 because I will use the Optimo and that quite often. I will also very often use anamorphic lenses and they definitely need 6*6. There will also be occasions when I will use wider lenses than 18mm - up to 10mm and at that point I'll need a 6*6 MB 14 mattebox. So I think my point is that I really want the MB 14 and the MB 16. Now I personally don't see why ARRI would have a problem with that since it only means more business for them. Unless they're trying to get rid of their MB 20's :w00t: (sorry ARRI couldn't help myself). I will investigate with some people and see what they say about the MB 20 as a mattebox from a cine POW. Until then, please ask and sort out with ARRI so this is about a group buy for ARRI equip and not for a MB 20 mattebox.
Thank you Jay don't think we don't apprecite your efforts here :weight_lift:.

It's just that people have different preferences.


fred
 
Fred,
You can buy a dedicated 19mm adapter (studio console)which takes the place of the 15mm lightweight adapter. This means the MD20 is a dedicated 19mm system. Arri have told me the 19mm studio console (K2.55032) places the Matte box at the same optical axis height as 19mm adapter you mentioned. I'm asking for drawings thou. As for size, 5.65 had the most support in all the thread posted here. Having said that I too am hoping Arri will allow other matte boxes...bit like the o'connor thread. I know Jay's been chipping away at them.
Let's see how far they'll mix and match so as not to lose sales.

Dave,
 
Thanks Dave for your info.

I know that you can change the studio console with the MB 16 but don't know if you can with the MB 20. As far as I can see from all PDF's and pics provided by ARRI they have an adapter. Now I haven't checked this with ARRI so I don't know. As I said I will check the MB 20 with my colleagues to see what they think about them from a "film" DP POW. I do though know that I've never been keen on the 4*5.65 filters and most of my fellow DP's and camera assitants aren't either. Now these is based on shooting film only. I can't speak for digital media such as HD since non of my colleagues does shoot that. Now I am going to make inqueries to see what the word is about the MB 20, who knows maybe it's brilliant. I do though know that I need an MB 14 and if you check the thread made by sharkguy called "1st AD...." you'll see why. Me to will be shooting with optimo and similar wide lenses.

So far my list would be MB 14, 16 and an LMB 4 (most probably) and an FF4

But I have no problem of changing the MB 16 to MB 20 if proven wrong.


fred
 
Timage said:
Hey guys what's the widest primelens you can use
with the mb20II?

RED will have a 15mm soon. Will this one work?

What about a 12mm elite?

Cheers
Tim
Click to expand...

Question to Arri : What is the widest lens I could but on the Red/MB20 configuration. Red has an S35mm sensor (24.4mm x 13.7mm) so I expect it would be similar to other S35mm stocks/cameras. Any ideas?

Answer (Arri) According to the measurements above the Red-sensor seems to be similar to the D20-sensor in size. It is situated somewhere between S35DIN (24mmx18mm) and S35ANSI (24.9mmx18.7mm).The 13.7mm of course are tribute to 16:9. I can’t tell if the Red-Cam has a 4:3 sensor like the D20 or if the sensor ends at 16:9.

Comments: Over the phone with Arri, I’m told that a 14mm lens on the Arri D20 with a MB20 is fine but a 12mm may cause problems.
Note: I'd expect there would be other considerations like filter size (I think it was 5.65...will check), number of filter trays and other stuff I don't know.

Hope that helps. I’m sure this requires more investigation.

Dave,
 
10mm and 12mm lenses usually come with a clip-on matte box from the rental house. The MB20 will not cover a 12mm lens, but how many times do you use a 12mm or 10mm and why would you want to carry around a larger matte box and filter set just for those few occasions? In those cases I use the LMB-4A clip on.
Personally I prefer the MB20 as a overall matte box for daily use over the 14.
 
Digitalfx there's no question that the MB20 is a better overall mattebox to the MB14 for daily use. That's not what I'm saying. I'm questioning that i would prefer it to the MB16 as an daily mattebox. As for me wanting a MB14 well that's simply because I quite often shoot with anamorphics and have now taken the plunge and bought myself a full set, therefor I need the MB14. It's very rare that I shoot with the 10 or the 12 even though I have them as well but I do very often shoot with the Optimo, which also needs the MB14. So my guess is that I need an MB14 about 35% of the time which I see as enough for buying one. Why I don't have one from before is simply because I was about to get an 235 or an ARRI lite before I got hooked on ordering the RED but I didn't have my own camera. Not until very soon :biggrin:


fred
 
Fred,
I wasnt questioning your needs, I was really just answering the general question by most of the new users on the board.
Obviously you know what you need as do I...I was really addressing the others that had questions.
I think between our two posts they should have enough info to decide whats right for them.
 
Digitalfx,

Still on the topics I hoped to steal a little of your wisdom when it comes to the MB20. You most probably have experience with both that one and the MB 16 and even if you don't I'd like to know your feelings about it, since you use it with the 435. How do you compare them both and how do you find it. I've prefered the 4*4 filters in the past and I do filter heavily. I'm an old timer in that aspect and like to try to make it as much as possible in camera.

Thanks,

fred
 
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