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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 :)

O'Connor O-Box Mattebox modifications

Jack Shanahan said:
These might work.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/627070-REG/cavision_mbh4x5_65v_4x5_65_metal_filter.html

They are in my BH wishlist bc I saw someone post about them - Never tested though.

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?89478-Metal-tray-for-O-box&highlight=metal+tray
Click to expand...

So I ordered one of these and here's my report. The picture and some of the description at B&H is inaccurate. If you order that tray, this is what you will actually get: http://cavision.biz/mbh4x5.65v.aspx

The tray is 7.4mm thick and has the longer neck on it. The good news is that it works pretty well with the o-box. Even though the original o-box trays are 7mm, the .4 thicker metal doesn't make a huge difference. It's pretty snug, but it does slide in and out without too much force and it does have a nice fit as far as not letting light in (I was worried that it would be 6mm and let light in at the edges.) It stinks that the neck is so long, but it does give you more to grip when putting in a filter. It would also be nice if the spring was a little stronger, but it should hold a filter just fine and you could possibly replace it. So all and all, I would say a very good buy.

Does anyone know where I can buy the red knobs that hold the top and side flags on? Some of mine have broken and I want to replace them.
 
Naim Sutherland said:
Longer screws is the simplest thing they could ever do. They should offer those free to any customer who wants them who doesn't have damn doll hands.

I want to take the designer of those screws out on a 14 hour day in the rain and snow on the side of a mountain and make him change a filter. There is no excuse.

Plus, when you first put on the mattebox, the pins or the metal pads that push against the rods are on the top of the assembly that holds the mattebox to the rods. So they fall down due to gravity, and thus you have to stick your fingers in there to push them up as you mount the mattebox on the rods. If those metal pads were on the bottom, gravity would help, not hinder. I assume they have gravity at the O'Connor facility, and just decided to go ahead and put these on top even though it's really annoying to get the mattebox onto rods.

Those bone headed design decisions, as well as the weird top flag and the other issues mentioned in this thread really hold this matte box back from being great. I never recommend it to anyone wondering about it.
Click to expand...


Did anybody find a solution for the tray screw problem on this matte box?

Last-ditch effort before I go back to Arri.

Cheers,

Milan
 
Sabyasachi Patra said:
I think OConnor will launch a new Matte Box in NAB.
Click to expand...

That would be cool. My well abused, but not even close to broken O-Box WM has been treating me well.

However, Chrosziel just dropped this sexy beast:


That's the Chrosziel MatteBox MB565 CINE.1. Lot's of quality options for Matte Boxes out there now.
 
Just updated my O-Box with the Black Hole.
_1090018-M.jpg


And I'm trying out my Cinevate handle, which I am able to do using a 3/8 to 1/4 20 adapter thread. Not sure if it will be strong enough and certainly a poor man's version of the O-Grips which I have not yet been able to drop the cash for.
_1090022-M.jpg
 
Sabyasachi Patra said:
I think OConnor will launch a new Matte Box in NAB.
Click to expand...

Well, that won't make the O'Box we have any better.

Got the metal trays from B&H from the link earlier in this thread. The fitting is much better than the original cheap plastic O'Connor trays but the springs are so weak on them that filters tend to pop out. Also, had to tape the bottom of the matte box with velcro to prevent the trays from slipping out. :sadface:
 
Any news about the masks and longer screws?
I hope someone find a solution.

Thanks
 
Pulling this one out from the dead to give an update.

To remind every one of what we were trying to solve:

- Red thumb screws used to tie down filter holders are too small and too recessed to easily access which makes filter changes on the O-Box harder than they should be. Oconnor is planning some updates but I only have limited information on that so for the time being I'm still searching for a better solution. If you have ever taken the screws out you'll see they are actually fairly long but are so recessed that it's difficult to find a suitable replacement but I have a lead on one now. I'll let you guys know what I discover. My next solution is to have a new head welded on the screw but I'm trying to avoid that.

- The next issue was the lack of hard mattes for the O-Box. As it turns out the source I had inquired about trying to make these came out with their own matte box so this never happened and probably won't with the current O-Box design. Maybe they will update the design in the future.

- Another complaint has been the thumb screws that hold in the flags. I will also try to find replacements for those as well.

There are a lot more matte boxes on the market now, including the excellent line from BT. But the O-Box is still viable if we can fix a couple of these issues. I'm also looking for a low profile swing-away option but so far haven't seen any that I like.
 
Neil, that is not the point! there are lot of us with O-Box out there, why would i sale my MB for cheap just to buy new Wooden MB, when i can just find screws that are not as nasty to use in cold as originals? i got O-Box by chance, it was grate deal and i couldn't say no. personally am not head over heals about it. its heavy and HD but some critical points are too delicate. i have V2 bellows and old metal trays, but still i would love new screws and metal matt's. so count me in
 
I am resurrecting this tread form the dead; as our problem didnt go away. I absolutely hate o-Box in the winter due to that ridiculous poorly designed small filter locking screw. My plan is to go to machine shop on Friday and get a quote for 100 screws. My plan is to have longer and ticker screw, that is glove friendly. if you guys are interested, let me know and please give me your input, what would you like that new upgraded screw looks like?
thanks
 
Nino Tamburri said:
Ive replaced the red filter tray locking screws with longer screws from another matte box. Im pretty sure its from a chroziel. I also replaced the the hollow red (what were they thinking) top flap screws with some solid thumb screws off Amazon. All work great

https://photos.app.goo.gl/AT2PX1AV6iB25Kvi1
Click to expand...

Can you share which matte box you took them from? And also the link to the top flap screws

I am still amazed they never offered replacement screws for this.
 
i can also look in to making a flag screws as well. solid mattes are the things that are worrying me the most: size, vignetting issues, rigidity of the material, how they are going to stay in place... i need to make a prototype before i start cutting carbon fiber sheets.
 
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