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Matte Box, what are you using?

Adrian Weinbrecht

Adrian Weinbrecht

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Hi Everyone

My Matt boxes do the job, but I'm thinking it might be time to upgrade.

What are people using for different scenarios?

Bright Tangerine and x seem to have some interesting Matte Boxes.

Thanking you all
 
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Hi Adrain just sent you a PM so we can discuss your options if you want


Hi Everyone

My Matt boxes do the job, but I'm thinking it might be time to upgrade.

What are people using for different scenarios?

Bright Tangerine and x seem to have some interesting Matte Boxes.

Thanking you all
 
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Adrian Weinbrecht said:
Hi Everyone

My Matt boxes do the job, but I'm thinking it might be time to upgrade.

What are people using for different scenarios?

Bright Tangerine and x seem to have some interesting Matte Boxes.

Thanking you all
Click to expand...

Adrian,

You just can't go wrong with Bright Tangerine! I use the Strummer for studio work. I use the Viv 5 for my "every day" type stuff. I use the Misfit Atom for Gimbal work. The best thing is that it's a SYSTEM! A ton of the accessories work within the other matteboxes! If you want an all around great mattebox, at a good price, great features and decent weight look into the Viv / Viv 5! That's what I use about 90% of the time now. It's clip on, rod mount (all three types: 15mm LWS, 15mm Studio and 19mm Studio), can be swing away if you'd like, has top/side/bottom side flags, 2 rotatable stages. Anywhere from 1-3 stages, your choice. The weight is perfect.

If you do high end, studio stuff, where the camera is on a Dolly all day... can't beat the Strummer. It's the Rolls Royce of matteboxes! It does all the Viv can do, plus, you can use it with several different sizes of filters too! Don't buy different sized boxes... just get the Strummer!

If it's all about weight... then Misfit and Misfit atom are your tickets!

All BT stuf is made with exceptional craftsmanship and quality! I've had the Strummer since 2012. Still kicking ass, like the day I bought it. (I chose VIV because I do tons of handheld work). They have exceptional customer service and are very nice guys to work with!
 
Curt Pair said:
Adrian,

You just can't go wrong with Bright Tangerine! I use the Strummer for studio work. I use the Viv 5 for my "every day" type stuff. I use the Misfit Atom for Gimbal work. The best thing is that it's a SYSTEM! A ton of the accessories work within the other matteboxes! If you want an all around great mattebox, at a good price, great features and decent weight look into the Viv / Viv 5! That's what I use about 90% of the time now. It's clip on, rod mount (all three types: 15mm LWS, 15mm Studio and 19mm Studio), can be swing away if you'd like, has top/side/bottom side flags, 2 rotatable stages. Anywhere from 1-3 stages, your choice. The weight is perfect.

If you do high end, studio stuff, where the camera is on a Dolly all day... can't beat the Strummer. It's the Rolls Royce of matteboxes! It does all the Viv can do, plus, you can use it with several different sizes of filters too! Don't buy different sized boxes... just get the Strummer! ...
Click to expand...

I've had the same experience with the bright tangerine strummer DNA. Pretty much love it especially for larger anamorphics doing cinematic drama. I only use the strummer on a tripod cinema setup (i.e. I have it on 19mm rails with paralinx arrow, FF5, large cinema lenses, 190 wh batteries, 9 inch monitor for AC, etc). I haven't used the other bright tangerine products.
 
I use the Tangerine Viv, love it, if I rent a big zoom I just get a 6x6 matte box with it
 
Definitely give my vote for any of the Bright Tangerine matte boxes. These days my go to is the Misfit and Misfit Atom. You really can't go wrong with any of them because they all (With the exception of the Misfit Atom) can be rod mountable, swing away, and clamp on. Like Curt mentioned, the accessories, bellows, and step down rings all work on the range of matte boxes so you won't have to re-buy anything. The swing away arm for the Viv, Blacklight, and Misfit are the same. So it's a very smart system with many options to choose from. To top it off their customer service is unmatched. If you don't need rotating filter stages then the Misfit will probably be your best option in terms of compact/light weight setup.

Best of luck in your search!
 
It blows my mind that they've never existed until recently, but I think the most interesting options at the moment are hands down the modular matteboxes available from Bright Tangerine (most of their range), Arri (their SMB studio matteboxes), and most affordably Chrosziel (with their upcoming Cine.1 MB 565). All of these options can be made to have 3 filter stages (or more in the case of the Arri), can do 15mm or 19mm rails, and offer tilting and swing-away options for minimising filter flares, and speeding up lens/filter changes.

I'm particularly keen on the new Chrosziel, both because of the price, and the more streamlined design.
 
I've used most in existence at this point and I have a few I'm fond of.

Interesting ones in no order:
- Bright Tangerine VIV, Strummer, and Atom - Andy is very focused on making very high quality gear.
- Chrosziel MB565 - A polar opposite change in build quality and functionality and a nifty case to boot.
- OConnor OBox - Had to modify it for 19mm, but it's a damn tough MB.

Get something well made and it will last you a lifetime or until you do something silly like catch it on fire :)
 
Curt,
Your website says that in 2010 you were the exclusive US distributor for bright tangerine matte boxes. Its misleading for you to give a glowing review of the product system without stating your bias or conflict of interest.
 
Interesting topic because actually I was looking for the Tilta 4*5.65 Carbon.

Still looking.
 
I'm another very satisfied Bright Tangerine user! Personally, I use a VIV for everyday. With the swing-away bracket, black hole adapter, 15mm studio and 19mm brackets, I can adapt to pretty much any situation and lens. I also purchased a Misfit for the college where I teach…we use that on 15mm lightweight rods and swing-away bracket with cinevised still lenses (using the black hole adapter). Great engineering, great quality, great people and support…win, win, win!
 
Hi Guys

Quick update, Robert Eagle (great Guy) from Bright Tangerine dropped over to my place this morning (he was kinda in the area) I'm super impressed with BT. Whilst I'm not in any rush, I will definitely pick up a Misfit Atom for our Ronin.

However my dilemma now is to decide between a Misfit or a Viv.

Has anyone used the round Polarisers with the Donut ring on the Misfit?

If one tray rotated on the Misfit then it would be a no brainer. I really like the size of the Misfit, is the Viv much bigger?

Thanks all
 
Adrian Weinbrecht said:
Hi Guys

Quick update, Robert Eagle (great Guy) from Bright Tangerine dropped over to my place this morning (he was kinda in the area) I'm super impressed with BT. Whilst I'm not in any rush, I will definitely pick up a Misfit Atom for our Ronin.

However my dilemma now is to decide between a Misfit or a Viv.

Has anyone used the round Polarisers with the Donut ring on the Misfit?

If one tray rotated on the Misfit then it would be a no brainer. I really like the size of the Misfit, is the Viv much bigger?

Thanks all
Click to expand...

I use the 138mm bellows on the Misfit in swing away mode. Works perfectly, same for rod mounted. Keep in mind you can't use the bellows in clamp on mode obviously. Personally, I haven't needed a rotating filter stage since I can use the bellows to house the polarizer and rotate it. Misfit has become my go to matte box on Epic since its size and weight are a perfect match.
 
Stirling Bancroft said:
Curt,
Your website says that in 2010 you were the exclusive US distributor for bright tangerine matte boxes. Its misleading for you to give a glowing review of the product system without stating your bias or conflict of interest.
Click to expand...


+1

Totally agree.
It's something I have felt for a long time and tried to speak to a while back, but could not put my finger on exactly.
Thank you for pointing that out.

This has nothing to do with BT or Robert (whom I do think makes very good products), it has to do with the ethics of certain behaviors that go on here all the time at Reduser and which I find very troubling.
 
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Does anyone make rota pola trays for the Misfit? Or the Viv for that matter? I feel like you still really need to invest in 3 boxes:
Viv - 4x5.65 studio and small builds
Misfit - Clamp on LMB alternative but lacks rotating trays but better for gimbles/steadi when you have oddball lenses that can't take clamp-on (old super speeds, anamorphs, stills glass) but want light control.
Misfit Atom - Super light but lacks rod mounts and light control from flags.

Shame someone hasn't invented a system that has a matching cassette module that can be either LW or rotating AND a LW clamp-on/rod mount hybrid that you can dedicate to steadi/gimble and still add flags.

2 boxes is fine....you don't want to have to rebuild your whole box every time you jump off steadi. 3 boxes though becomes a collection of gack.

One nice thing about BT though is they've combined the arri LMB and MB1 into a single box which is really great. For rentals it's hard to beat MB19 or MB20. AC's are typically more lenient on their clamp-ons.
 
I currently have the O-Box. Might be a bit heftier than the Misfit, but I like that it gives me two 4x5.65 trays (one rotatable) as well as bellows that hold 138mm. Has clamp-on option, too. Downside is that it has no adjustments, fixed height, no swing-away. If I had to do it again, I'd seriously consider the Misfit with swing-away (and fixed 15mm, just for the ability to switch if needed).

I like the Misfit Atom, but since I use mostly stills lenses, I just bought one of these Cokin-style filter holders. Holds 4x4 and 4x5.65 and the whole unit rotates freely (well, snug enough to stay in place once you set it in position) so you can use polarizers. Doesn't have a sun shade and can't clamp onto PL lenses, and there is no 15mm rod option, but if you're wanting to use your nice filters on a gimbal (especially rotating filters), it's damn hard to beat a $14 investment.
 
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