Matte Box - What to buy?

[Rodrigo Violante]

I'm thinking in buying a Matte Box, but in total honesty I have no clue, I was thinking in buying something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/CAMTREE-MB-2...rd_wg=3MWBU&psc=1&refRID=0WAAF0XS2518Q2YH1F94

But I'm the guy that doesn't bother in investing a little bit extra if it will last, but I don't see a lot of difference between that one and the one at red.

Can anyone help this amateur guy.

Best

Rodrigo

 

[James Falco]

You get what you pay for. This is a cheep knock off and not worth the shipping money.

You need a matte box for two reasons, to prevent glaring and flares, and to hold filters.
Just consider the fact that most filters cost between, $300 - $500 a pop.
This is like thinking of buying a car that cost less than one tyre.

A decent light weight matte box that has only one filter tray cost around $700-$800
Studio matte box set ups cost between $900-$1800 bare bone and up to $6000 for a fully pimped up version.

Every time you buy rubbish like the one in your link. You end up paying for it ten folds after.

///

 

[Larry McKee]

I have always bought Chrosziel and they have lasted. I still have one that I bought used in the 1990s and it still works. About 5 years ago, I deviated from that pattern and bought a MovCam to save some money. It is now about worn out and needs to be replaced. If you buy quality gear, it will last a long time.

 

[Chris McKechnie]

O'Connor and Bright Tangerine are great. If you're looking for a cheap alternative, the Wooden Camera MB is a great option!

 

[Neil Dearman]

wooden camera and oconnor obox are my favs!!!

 

[Jan Balster]

Love my Chrosziel. Small, light weight, and solid construction.

 

[Scot Yount]

Rodrigo. I am in the unique position of owning that matte box you found on Amazon, AND, the RED Pro Matte Box you mention. First of all, the Camtree thing will work, just not very well. Good filters are expensive. As one poster said, you don't want a car that costs less than one tire. There are cheap filters out there, but they aren't very good. In addition the Camtree matte box is for 4x4 filters only. If you have Panavision sized filters it won't work for you. The RED Box (which doesn't get much love around here) is a good box if you don't need swing away, and can be found used for a song. Check eBay, or the for sale forum. (full disclosure, I have a RED Box for sale there, but I am not trying to sell you mine. The reason I want to sell it is because I want rotating filter stages for grads and polarizer, which it doesn't do easily. I will likely spend north of $3K on the next one, but that is the nature of the beast.)

EDIT: The Camtree filter stages do rotate however......

 

[Devindra S.]

I ended up getting a Tilta 4x5.56 matte box for about 1200 bucks or so a few years back, it is a studio set up that is designed for 19mm rods but it does have an attachment to use 15mm rods. however the mattebox itself is kinda big so you have to be very specific with rod lengths when using the 15mm adapter. Overall i like it, its good quality, has two rotating stages and comes with side and french flags. overall i'm happy with it.

 

[Rodrigo Violante]

Thanks everyone, I end up getting a Tangerine VIV! I saw too many posts against cheap ones.