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Redrock Micro Mattebox RED Edition Review

Alexander Nikishin

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I've been lucky enough to receive one of the first shipping (still pre-production) units of the new Redrock Micro mattebox and I must say that this is an amazing piece of gear not only for the price but also for it's ease of use, compatability with the RED and feature rich design.

First off, aesthetically the mattebox is purty. Although the version I have of the mattebox is a pre-production model, it still has the appearance of a mattebox costing triple the price tag (which is a surprising $795!). I've used both the Petroff and Chrosziel offerings and don't find them to be bad matteboxe's by any means, but I do find the Redrock offering to have more features, a better aesthetic appearance and a much more generous price tag!

The finish on the pre-pro model of the mattebox is mixed with both glossed and matte parts. I like the look of the gloss/matte finish personally, but I tend to go for the flashier things in life, hence the RED and my affliction for anything RED inlcuding sports cars and red heads. :red_bandana:

The final shipping version of the Micro Mattebox will have a completely matte finish taking the gloss away from the filter stages and swing-away arm sun shade frame. Speaking of swing-away, what other mattebox in this price range has a swing-away funtion?

The Micro Mattebox RED bundle offers 2 dual-sized stages allowing for either 4x4 or 4x5.65 filters. Each stage is fully rotateable, perfect for polarizers or effect filters. Filters lock in securely with a top end spring loaded lock pin.

As far as upgradeability goes, the mattebox also offers the ability to add as many additional filter stages as you'd like. This model currently has 2 stages but I can see the possible need for 3 stages, flexibility is key. There is supposed to be an additional dual stage available in the future which will be both 5x5 and 6x6 also.

The Micro Mattebox mounts onto either 19mm by 104mm center spaced (Studio) or 15mm by 60mm center spaced (Lightweight) rods depending on which rod adapter you choose to purchase. The shade will house a lens with a barrel diameter up to 138mm. The widest lens I've tested with the MB is an 18mm and saw no vignetting.

The sun shade can be both horizontally or vertically adjusted to match various lens' lengths and diameters via the swing-away arm rods or the frame locking screws.

All in all it's a great mattebox! I don't see myself needing an MB20 or the like considering that the Redrock Mirco mattebox is soo close in performance that it leaves both my bank account and my camera happy. :wink:
 
Hey Alexander, thanks for the breakdown and the beautiful picture of your rig w/ the redrock. Very nice.
 
No problem, I've added a few more rough pics......My apologies on not "Jarred-izing" them with a nice coat of wax and extra contrast, but you get the point. :turned:
 
Thanks Alexander. Would it be possible to post a few more pics - some without so much contrast so we can see MB and it's structure on the Red. Your current pics are great - just looking for more info.

Thanks,

Nick.
 
very nice! thank you alexander! I too am waiting for this set and appreciate the review. Sorry to digress, but does anyone know if the redrock follow focus will work with the red 18-50 lens?
 
I too have a pre production unit like his, and I too agree this thing is amazing. it really is all that they say it is....I have been putting it through some rough shooting and even a car jacking and high speed chase and it's holding up well!
 
very nice! thank you alexander! I too am waiting for this set and appreciate the review. Sorry to digress, but does anyone know if the redrock follow focus will work with the red 18-50 lens?

The diameter of the lens connector on the Micromattebox is 140mm(...I think) and the Red 18-50 lens is about 114mm. So the answer is yes-it works with the Red 18-50mm lens.
If the lens were a little bigger than 140mm, you'd then remove the lens connector and make the opening 155mm, thus being able to acomodate larger lenses.
 
The diameter of the lens connector on the Micromattebox is 140mm(...I think).

I've measured the opening and it turns out to be 138mm.

Edit* 140mm it is.
 
Thanks Alexander. Would it be possible to post a few more pics - some without so much contrast so we can see MB and it's structure on the Red. Your current pics are great - just looking for more info.

Thanks,

Nick.

I'll post some for ya!
 
Yet no threads for a 138mm pola?

No threads.

And there is no removeable "lens connector". The lens connector is screwed down onto the stage frames, so there is no way to create a larger opening unless the entire bellows portion were removed and replaced with a new, larger one.
 
That means that the MB would work with the Red 18-85mm but barely right?
 
The bellows back of an MB20 holds 138mm filters (as does the back of many Chrosziel matteboxes) but the outer diameter of the bellows assembly is 143mm. So if the back of the Redrock unit is 138mm, then it would not fit.
 
Hi All

Would it be possible to use the bellows adapters from a MB20 ?

Yes.

Also a few other clarifications:

Lens connector diameter is 140mm

You can remove the lens connector (remove the screws) to get a larger 15mm opening. Larger lenses would abut the rear filter stage.


Thanks

Brian
 
typo fixed thanks!
 
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