@QuickHitRecord, oh I should have specifically said the total cost of the mate box setup. I know, things can quickly add up. I have a collection of lenses that I have invested on that I will always use. I am just looking for a small and versatile mate box setup that will do the job and it's seems like this setup will be just what I need.
Lenses and rig will outlast the camera. Yearly cost might be quite low.
True. The key is not to switch camera systems every time something new comes out.
it's about $4K
Lenses and rig will outlast the camera. Yearly cost might be quite low.
@Sangye It's the Edelkrone FocusOne Pro. It's a really neat design. I highly recommend it.
@QuickHitRecord thanks for sharing the pictures. What follow focus is that?
@HillTop1 When I add everything in the picture up, it's about $4K. Never thought of it that way... yikes.
@QuickHitRecord, thanks!! How much total has this set up cost you?
@arknox I have only ever used Schneiders so I have no grounds for comparison.
Here are a few pictures taken with my coworker's iPhone.
I have two Cavision ND filters in their sturdy, moulded metal holders. Also a range of Cokin P's which will fit into the flimsy plastic holders. Once fitted, the holder firms-up pretty much.
@QuickHitRecord once I figure out a cloth light-blocking solution..
Sleeves from some garments can make nun's nickers. (If you go browsing for them at a St Vincent de Paul's store, be careful how you reply to staff asking if you need any assistance). ;-)
@QuickHitRecord - Thanks for the info. Have you used anything other than Schneider, would you recommend them over Tiffen or other brands?
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Ok, I thought's what would happen of course but just wanted to make sure I wasn't taking crazy pills.
It would if you added them behind the lens. You'd essentially get a macro lens from that. What I did was add them to the front of the lenses, similar to a lens hood. I am hoping to do away with that solution altogether once I figure out a cloth light-blocking solution.
Wouldn't adding tubes to your lenses change the characteristics of the lenses? Am I just a dumbass for asking this? :)
The Cavision aluminum filter holders that I bought for this matte box are much sturdier than the plastic ones that it comes with and I am comfortable using them with my 3x3 Schneiders.
To anyone who has bought this matte box, what filters do you use? Are most of you cutting up larger filters to fit this size? How would you do this safely? The Cavision filters are reputed to be shit from the reviews I've seen so looking for alternatives.
@QuickHitRecord - You say you have Schneider 3x3 filters but would not trust them in this matte box, is there another 3x3 matte box you would trust them in?
@Meierhans It depends on how you have your camera rigged up. I have mine so that the swing away support can get very close to the camera body -- almost underneath it. With my current rig, a quick measurement suggests that this would work with a lens as short as 7cm (from camera body to lens tip). However it will be difficult to attach a follow focus with a lens that is that short (unless you add a top-down rod system to hang one above the camera). For this very reason, I have had to add extension tubes to several of my lenses to allow for enough space to use my follow focus (i.e. prevent it from bumping into the matte box). For instance, I have doubled the length of My Nikkor 50mm AIS f/1.8 with an extension tube. It looks a bit silly on its own, but it doesn't vignette, and it allows me to put a follow focus into the system.
@goanna @HillTop1 The eternal dilemma of only owning one camera (and no smart phone). I'll post something as soon as I can.
@QuickHitRecord +1 for pictures of your set up please.
How about short lenses when using with swing away? What the minimum you can use?
Sounds good. Could you post a pic of your rig when it's fully set up?
I showed my Mini Matte Box to an industrial designer who was impressed by the build quality. Cavision seemed to have used the best of the practical materials currently available, along with engineering calculated to suit the task and reasonable use.
Their R&D and manufacturing costs will have been high and the price for the item might be reduced as those costs are recouped. Or else, Cavision's unit will soon be competing with rival, look-alike copies which are unlikely to be anywhere near as good; followed by nearly-as-good, cheaper imitations or even counterfeits.
I'd have bought a good, cheap imitation if one had existed. As it is, I'm delighted with the lightness and mobility, as well as the ability to use extendible zoom lenses.
I just got my Cavision 3x3 matte box in the mail. I ordered it with the swing away (specifically equipped for the 3x3 matte box), the 52mm to 85mm Deep Offset Step-Up Ring (AR85M52), and extra filter trays. Here are some first impressions:
Though the build quality could be better (especially the flag hinges), this matte box is the perfect size for the GH2 and any other DSLR. I'd consider getting the version without the flags unless you really need them. I have assembled my kit to be lightweight and functional with nothing extra, and this matte box fits right in.
Just placed an at B&H for this matte box with a couple Cavision 3x3 filters. This thing seems perfectly suited for DSLRs / SLTs, especially smaller ones like the GH2. I do really like the Cinematics box I have at the moment, but it's so disproportionately huge and heavy! I also like the prospect of paying a lot less for 3x3" filters, than for unnecessarily large 4x4"s. I'll post my thoughts once it arrives!
Another word on filters and hard mattes:
If you do get yourself a 16:9 matte, you theoretically only need a 3" x 1.7" piece of glass*. You buy bulk, cut up a bigger filter and save.
*Of course a 16:9 matte is more like 16:10 or more - you need a little margin for error. Even more so with a clip-on M/B because of slight angle-of-rotation errors when attaching or focusing.
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