Matte Box kit at DVinfo.net

Jason McCormy · December 7th, 2008, 10:53 AM

Ok, thank you all for your previous advice about mattebox and 4x4 filters. This is the route I am going to and was recently given 5 4x4 filters so as soon as I get the mattebox etc I should be set. So now I have a more specific question.
I have a budget under 1000 dollars and wonder if it is possible to do this. Everything needs to look good and I can't have anything manufactured. For that price, could I get a mattebox, eyebrow, side shades, 15mm support system so if I later add (or use without) a 35mm adapter, I'm good to go?

Is this possible for this amount of money? If so, any advice on what to get? There are so many items and I'm not sure what I need to get to use the support rods.

Thank you again for your help with this.

Shaun Roemich · December 7th, 2008, 11:23 AM

Jason: on the advice of my retailer, I'm looking at Cavision.

Check out: Cavision Enterprises Ltd

I'm looking at the bellows version.

Jason McCormy · December 7th, 2008, 11:35 AM

Thank you for the recomendation. I am very new to using a matte box, as I have never actually used one before. I'm not sure how the support rods work but like the idea of them very much.

Shaun Roemich · December 7th, 2008, 11:46 AM

Support rods attach to the matte box and to a mount on the camera to help negate the weight of the matte box (or 35mm adaptor or other heavy thing that would otherwise hang off the front of your camera or lens).

Jason McCormy · December 7th, 2008, 11:59 AM

Ok, thank you. do you know which of the Cavision rods and mount I would need to get?

Shaun Roemich · December 7th, 2008, 01:16 PM

Cavision 4x4 Bellows Matte Box is what I'm looking at.

Liam Hall · December 7th, 2008, 01:58 PM

Get a Reddrock Micro mattebox, it's the best bang for the buck on the market.

Jason McCormy · December 7th, 2008, 02:29 PM

I was looking at those and they look really good. In addition to the mattebox, what do I need to buy to use rails with it on the JVC?

Thank you all for your help with this.

Shaun Roemich · December 7th, 2008, 02:51 PM

That is a nice looking kit. I'll need to try and find a Canadian reseller OR wait until the Canadian dollar makes a bit of a comeback.

Jason McCormy · December 7th, 2008, 02:57 PM

Hmm, it seems I need to buy the support too. Will the 4 inch rods do it for me, and is there a much cheaper alternative than spending the 369 for it? That looks like a really cool system. The total for it all loos be around 1200 counting shipping.

Adam Nelson · December 10th, 2008, 04:54 AM

Hyson Films has a really nice Matte box. Solid construction and I think everything is cut out on the water jet. Precision to the max. Also the Redrock is really nice too, I am tossed up in between both of them.

Jason McCormy · December 10th, 2008, 08:34 AM

Thank you for all your advice. I managed to purchase a Cavision Matte Box and rods and mount off of Ebay for around 390. I don't think it is as nice as a lot of the ones you have recommended, but it seems good enough and will do the job. I appreciate all of your help with this.

I also have one more question. Is it a really bad idea to use a 4x4 filter and a screw filter at the same time?

Christopher Glavan · December 10th, 2008, 07:27 PM

I think it would depend on what filters you're using and their quality. I can't imagine using a high-quality threaded uv filter in combination with drop-in filters is gonna change your image more than using a drop-in uv filter. Could be wrong though...

Adam Nelson · December 15th, 2008, 01:14 AM

I really think its just glass. a screw in filter vs. a square filter. Matte boxes are made to keep the light beams off the face of the lens. They just put filter slots to make it easier on the set. As well as it enables you to slip a couple of filters in at the same time. I really don't think that it will make a difference just as long as you are getting a good exposure still and they are clean you should be fine. I but that is where I would spend some money to get a good set of filters.

December 7th, 2008, 10:53 AM	#1
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	Matte Box kit Ok, thank you all for your previous advice about mattebox and 4x4 filters. This is the route I am going to and was recently given 5 4x4 filters so as soon as I get the mattebox etc I should be set. So now I have a more specific question. I have a budget under 1000 dollars and wonder if it is possible to do this. Everything needs to look good and I can't have anything manufactured. For that price, could I get a mattebox, eyebrow, side shades, 15mm support system so if I later add (or use without) a 35mm adapter, I'm good to go? Is this possible for this amount of money? If so, any advice on what to get? There are so many items and I'm not sure what I need to get to use the support rods. Thank you again for your help with this.

December 7th, 2008, 11:23 AM	#2
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Jason: on the advice of my retailer, I'm looking at Cavision. Check out: Cavision Enterprises Ltd I'm looking at the bellows version. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

December 7th, 2008, 11:46 AM	#4
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Support rods attach to the matte box and to a mount on the camera to help negate the weight of the matte box (or 35mm adaptor or other heavy thing that would otherwise hang off the front of your camera or lens). __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

December 7th, 2008, 01:16 PM	#6
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Cavision 4x4 Bellows Matte Box is what I'm looking at. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

December 7th, 2008, 01:58 PM	#7
Liam Hall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 969	Get a Reddrock Micro mattebox, it's the best bang for the buck on the market. __________________ Writer-Director-DOP www.liamhall.net

December 7th, 2008, 11:35 AM	#3
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	Thank you for the recomendation. I am very new to using a matte box, as I have never actually used one before. I'm not sure how the support rods work but like the idea of them very much.

December 7th, 2008, 11:59 AM	#5
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	Ok, thank you. do you know which of the Cavision rods and mount I would need to get?

December 7th, 2008, 02:29 PM	#8
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	I was looking at those and they look really good. In addition to the mattebox, what do I need to buy to use rails with it on the JVC? Thank you all for your help with this.

December 7th, 2008, 02:51 PM	#9
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	That is a nice looking kit. I'll need to try and find a Canadian reseller OR wait until the Canadian dollar makes a bit of a comeback. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

December 7th, 2008, 02:57 PM	#10
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	Hmm, it seems I need to buy the support too. Will the 4 inch rods do it for me, and is there a much cheaper alternative than spending the 369 for it? That looks like a really cool system. The total for it all loos be around 1200 counting shipping.

December 10th, 2008, 04:54 AM	#11
Adam Nelson New Boot Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Inland Empire, Ca Posts: 9	Hyson Films has a really nice Matte box. Solid construction and I think everything is cut out on the water jet. Precision to the max. Also the Redrock is really nice too, I am tossed up in between both of them.

December 10th, 2008, 08:34 AM	#12
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	Thank you for all your advice. I managed to purchase a Cavision Matte Box and rods and mount off of Ebay for around 390. I don't think it is as nice as a lot of the ones you have recommended, but it seems good enough and will do the job. I appreciate all of your help with this. I also have one more question. Is it a really bad idea to use a 4x4 filter and a screw filter at the same time?

December 10th, 2008, 07:27 PM	#13
Christopher Glavan Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 260	I think it would depend on what filters you're using and their quality. I can't imagine using a high-quality threaded uv filter in combination with drop-in filters is gonna change your image more than using a drop-in uv filter. Could be wrong though... __________________ Reel Impressions Media - Make it more than a memory GY-HD100- 7D- PSC Promix 3- Lectro/Sennheiser- Zoom H4- MPB- CS6/CC

December 15th, 2008, 01:14 AM	#14
Adam Nelson New Boot Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Inland Empire, Ca Posts: 9	I really think its just glass. a screw in filter vs. a square filter. Matte boxes are made to keep the light beams off the face of the lens. They just put filter slots to make it easier on the set. As well as it enables you to slip a couple of filters in at the same time. I really don't think that it will make a difference just as long as you are getting a good exposure still and they are clean you should be fine. I but that is where I would spend some money to get a good set of filters.