O'Connor O-Box Mattebox modifications

[Ned Wilson]

Emailed oconnor several times already about the annoying tiny screws, the solution is dead simple, longer and thicker replacement screws. No idea why they don't do anything about it..

It's a small piece but a big deal. It slows down our filter changes and I'm one of those DP's who does numerous filter changes all day. I notified OC about this as well, no response. It's such a POA that if I know I have a big filter job and I'm not on my shoulder, I'll put the O'Box to sleep.

 

[steven moreno]

Lose the inexplicable rise in the eyebrow.

I think that the rise is actually a dip, meaning that you are mounting it upside down. I believe that it is designed to fit closer to the mattebox when the eyebrow is swung all the way down to protect the lens.

 

[Steve Sherrick]

I think that the rise is actually a dip, meaning that you are mounting it upside down. I believe that it is designed to fit closer to the mattebox when the eyebrow is swung all the way down to protect the lens.

Yes, it should fit snug when swung down to protect lens. Otherwise it's the wrong way. Took me a bit to figure out what was wrong the first time I did it that way.

 

[Steve Sherrick]

So, I am going to my source with 3 fixes for now.

- Mattes
- Metal frames
- Better screw/knob options.

Will report back.

 

[Ted Parkes]

+ 1 on all three.

 

[Jack Shanahan]

+1 on these mods...

 

[Daniel Stilling]

Go for it. I'm in!

 

[Paul Rondeau]

Any news? Really interested in the mattes.

 

[Steve Sherrick]

Materials are being tested. I'll see if I can get an update.

 

[Cliff Hokanson]

This would be great with a third filter option. C

 

[Matthew J]

Any updates on this? I broke a tray and would like to replace it with a metal tray. Or did anyone find other trays that would work fine in the mattebox?

 

[Jon Carr]

I would love adjustable flags for the mattebox

 

[D Anderson]

So, I am going to my source with 3 fixes for now.

- Mattes
- Metal frames
- Better screw/knob options.

Will report back.

Steve, Very interested in the screw/knobs option. Did you make any progress?

Also what's the best option for adding swing away to the OBOX? Is it possible? Thanks

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

Bump

 

[Will Keir]

Steve,

Have you looked at Bright Tangerine Matteboxes?

I love this mattebox but there are two things I would like for it. A set of masks to control stray light better and the option for metal filter holders. I actually like the plastic ones when I need to go really lightweight but I would like to have metal ones with really tight tolerances for when weight isn't an issue. I may have a source for doing this work but I need to know how much interest is out there for these accessories. Add your name to the list here and if we get enough people I think we can get this done and the mattebox will get that much better.

O-Box mask set
Metal filter holders

Thanks guys!

 

[Will Keir]

By the way. If you live in LA and need O'Connor to fix your gear, expect to wait a LONG time.

We had trouble with the O-Box alignment, two months later...

We broke a piece on our O'Connor CFF1 Follow Focus at the end of May... It's November, nothing...

Pathetic...

I love this mattebox but there are two things I would like for it. A set of masks to control stray light better and the option for metal filter holders. I actually like the plastic ones when I need to go really lightweight but I would like to have metal ones with really tight tolerances for when weight isn't an issue. I may have a source for doing this work but I need to know how much interest is out there for these accessories. Add your name to the list here and if we get enough people I think we can get this done and the mattebox will get that much better.

O-Box mask set
Metal filter holders

Thanks guys!

 

[Ted Parkes]

+1 for all of the upgrades. Those tiny screws are horrible when the fingers get cold.

 

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Wow! Sad for that van. However, can't believe that the matte box saved your Angenieux. You got saved from some excruciating pain.

heres the short story about this mattebox we were on shooting few weeks ago it was 3 day shooting and we had 3 Red Epic equipped with Angenieux zooms+2 LMB 15 and one O-Box.On the first day tried to shoot van with low loader equipped Foxy Crane sadly from behind while it was going 40mph after few attempt we hit the rear end luckily crane entered inside and camera stayed on bumper cuz of cable.thought camera and lens died there after checking whats alive i see we lost only one pola filter no scratch on camera or lens whatsover.Huge thanks Oconn and O-box from here it saved our angenieux zoom even now Obox is %100 operational and solid as brand new.Its not like waffle arri matteboxes and price is unbeatable.Please trust me and go for it!

 

[Naim Sutherland]

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.

 

[Matthew J]

Does anyone know what thread size those screws are? I am temped to try and have some spec'ed or find something that "will do" for my purposes.

And has anyone found metal trays yet? The problem is that they are 7mm thick (width doesn't seem to be an issues since most trays seem to be a standard width)