Stepping up to non-round filters and mattebox

[Tom Dowler]

As a mainly doc shooter, I've mostly shot with still lenses and round filters. I use the xume system so I can quickly throw filters on and pull them off, and it's worked great for me.

I'm starting to shoot more and more narrative and at some point soon I want to make a switch to owning some "proper" filters and a mattebox so I can easily switch between using still lenses and using cine lenses.

So I probably need to make a decision to go 4x4 or 4x5.65. If I go for 4x4 filters, am I running any risk of inadequate coverage on wider lenses (shooting Helium S35 at the moment)? Do all 4x5.65 filter trays also accommodate 4x4 filters?

Or should I just go for 4x5.65 in general as a more common standard?

Thanks for everyone's 2c.

 

[Rob_Austin]

Buy 4x5.65 in case you switch to lenses or rent ones that aren't covered by 4x4. Almost all MB's of this size will hold 4x4, or you can maybe get alternate trays

 

[Phil Holland]

I'll second that. 4x5.65" are pretty much industry standard for most lenses. If you are using rather large lenses with real big front elements 6x6" is the next step.

Otherwise 4x5.65" will cover you 99% of the time.

I don't recommend 4x4" for motion picture cameras generally speaking unless you're glass has tiny fronts. Even still you might want to avoid that size for wide angle lenses.

 

[Tom Dowler]

Thanks fellas. Confirmed what I suspected.

Always follow the golden rule: if it costs more money, you probably need it.