Matte Box or Screw on Filters at DVinfo.net

David Dwyer · January 17th, 2006, 06:35 PM

I'm looking to buy some Graduated Filters but whats the best option the Matte Box or just the screw on filter?

Ive got a Tiffen UV one at the moment; are Tiffen any good?

Any links to Graduated Filters UK or USA?

Thanks

David

Boyd Ostroff · January 17th, 2006, 06:41 PM

See: http://www.centuryoptics.com/products/filters/index.htm

Also see the thread I just posted here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=58525

The Century HDV Sunshade looks like a nice low cost alternative to expensive matteboxes. However I'm not sure whether it will work on the Z1 by itself, or only when using the Century lenses discussed in the thread above. When I receive mine in a few days I'll be able to answer that, or you could just call/e-mail Century with questions.

Alex Horvath · January 18th, 2006, 01:41 AM

Formatt Filters
While I don´t like their (crappy) mattebox, they have pretty good filters
http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/format44.html

Schneider´s are more pricey, but personally I couldn´t find any difference in quality to formatt filters (speaking of 4"x4")

In Europe I don´t know what happens with Tiffen, but no good service here.

alex

David Dwyer · January 18th, 2006, 02:04 PM

Any links for UK? These are really hard to find..

Boyd Ostroff · January 18th, 2006, 04:43 PM

David: please take a moment and click on the "controls" link in the menu bar, then edit your profile and fill in your city/country. It will help people understand the context of your questions in the future... and it's required for all DVinfo members.

Thanks!

David Dwyer · January 18th, 2006, 06:01 PM

Sorry done :) I'm close to Liverpool or Manchester if you know them?

Alex Horvath · January 19th, 2006, 05:39 AM

http://www.formatt.co.uk/home/default.asp

Jon Fordham · January 19th, 2006, 11:14 AM

David,

Though matte boxes can be pricey, I would advise you to work with non screw on filters for grad use. The purpose and beauty of a grad filter is to have precise control over just a certain area of the image. The use of a matte box with square filters will allow you to "dial in" just the right amount of grad, covering just the area you need or desire. With screw on filters, you won't be able to adjust the amount of the grad.

There are many quality filter manufacturers out there. I personally have been partial to Tiffen, Schneider and B+W filters.

Things to look for in filter quality are clarity and "even-ness". Glass filters are preferable to Resin filters for durable and long lasting use. But resin filters will often have a much more even tone or grad fall off than glass. The higher priced glass filters usually 1do have much greater clarity and even tone as well as even fall off from clear to grad.

PS: Alex, noticed you're in Innsbruck. I was in Innsbruck back in November shooting an episode of the travel show Any Given Latitude for the Fine Living Channel. Loved the glacier! And the Red Bull...

Alex Horvath · January 19th, 2006, 01:50 PM

@John,

ahh, yes remember, a (d)jungle colleague has made the locationmanager. Another fellow of mine (normally works for me as cam assi but was nosey about your work) has made the (impatient!) driver, heard some nice storys...

Glacier and "Seegrube" are my favourites, I really love them...
Btw: RedBull Owner M. is a huge HDTV-Fan on productionside...

alex

John McGinley · January 19th, 2006, 06:04 PM

The other reason to use a mattebox is that when you get a new camera, there's most likely a 4x4 filter attachment available for it and you'll be able to use all the 4x4 filters you aquire along the way.

David Dwyer · January 19th, 2006, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McGinley

The other reason to use a mattebox is that when you get a new camera, there's most likely a 4x4 filter attachment available for it and you'll be able to use all the 4x4 filters you aquire along the way.

So you would recommend matte box over screw in filters? I do a lot of motor sports and like the arty features they create.

John McGinley · January 19th, 2006, 08:06 PM

Motor sports is fast, it's quicker to drop in a filter than screw one on.

January 17th, 2006, 06:35 PM	#1
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Matte Box or Screw on Filters I'm looking to buy some Graduated Filters but whats the best option the Matte Box or just the screw on filter? Ive got a Tiffen UV one at the moment; are Tiffen any good? Any links to Graduated Filters UK or USA? Thanks David

January 19th, 2006, 11:14 AM	#8
Jon Fordham Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 242	David, Though matte boxes can be pricey, I would advise you to work with non screw on filters for grad use. The purpose and beauty of a grad filter is to have precise control over just a certain area of the image. The use of a matte box with square filters will allow you to "dial in" just the right amount of grad, covering just the area you need or desire. With screw on filters, you won't be able to adjust the amount of the grad. There are many quality filter manufacturers out there. I personally have been partial to Tiffen, Schneider and B+W filters. Things to look for in filter quality are clarity and "even-ness". Glass filters are preferable to Resin filters for durable and long lasting use. But resin filters will often have a much more even tone or grad fall off than glass. The higher priced glass filters usually 1do have much greater clarity and even tone as well as even fall off from clear to grad. PS: Alex, noticed you're in Innsbruck. I was in Innsbruck back in November shooting an episode of the travel show Any Given Latitude for the Fine Living Channel. Loved the glacier! And the Red Bull... __________________ Jon Fordham Director of Photography www.jonfordham.com

January 17th, 2006, 06:41 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	See: http://www.centuryoptics.com/products/filters/index.htm Also see the thread I just posted here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=58525 The Century HDV Sunshade looks like a nice low cost alternative to expensive matteboxes. However I'm not sure whether it will work on the Z1 by itself, or only when using the Century lenses discussed in the thread above. When I receive mine in a few days I'll be able to answer that, or you could just call/e-mail Century with questions.

January 18th, 2006, 01:41 AM	#3
Alex Horvath Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Innsbruck,Austria Posts: 45	Formatt Filters While I don´t like their (crappy) mattebox, they have pretty good filters http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/format44.html Schneider´s are more pricey, but personally I couldn´t find any difference in quality to formatt filters (speaking of 4"x4") In Europe I don´t know what happens with Tiffen, but no good service here. alex

January 18th, 2006, 02:04 PM	#4
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Any links for UK? These are really hard to find..

January 18th, 2006, 04:43 PM	#5
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	David: please take a moment and click on the "controls" link in the menu bar, then edit your profile and fill in your city/country. It will help people understand the context of your questions in the future... and it's required for all DVinfo members. Thanks!

January 18th, 2006, 06:01 PM	#6
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Sorry done :) I'm close to Liverpool or Manchester if you know them?

January 19th, 2006, 05:39 AM	#7
Alex Horvath Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Innsbruck,Austria Posts: 45	http://www.formatt.co.uk/home/default.asp

January 19th, 2006, 01:50 PM	#9
Alex Horvath Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Innsbruck,Austria Posts: 45	@John, ahh, yes remember, a (d)jungle colleague has made the locationmanager. Another fellow of mine (normally works for me as cam assi but was nosey about your work) has made the (impatient!) driver, heard some nice storys... Glacier and "Seegrube" are my favourites, I really love them... Btw: RedBull Owner M. is a huge HDTV-Fan on productionside... alex

January 19th, 2006, 06:04 PM	#10
John McGinley Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 142	The other reason to use a mattebox is that when you get a new camera, there's most likely a 4x4 filter attachment available for it and you'll be able to use all the 4x4 filters you aquire along the way.

January 19th, 2006, 08:06 PM	#12
John McGinley Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 142	Motor sports is fast, it's quicker to drop in a filter than screw one on.