Low Budget mattebox/filter holder

[Dylan Pank]

They're discussing this over at one of them thar other forums in realtion to the HVX, but I'd like to get a Sony HD specific discussion related to the Indie Snap low budget mattebox/filter holder.

As far as I can see, it has pros and cons.

Basically

Cons:
the flags are not adjustable.
Filters and flags cannot be rotated separately, so if you want to tilt your grads or polariser, you have to tilt the flags too.
Not useable with some on cam mics.

Pros:
The price
The price!
good construction (as claimed on the site)
It's light.
It prevents you from using the on camera mike - as the designer points out, if you're still using the cam mike, don't buy the mattebox, and spend the money on a separate shotgun mike instead!

I should mention that the designer points out the limitations I have mentioned are not flaws, but were conscious design choices to keep the price and weight down.

Are the limitations deal breakers for any Z1/FX1 users out there? has anyone used it yet?

[Boyd Ostroff]

It's not really the same thing, but for some applications you might also have a look at the Century filter holder/matte box which they offer for $125 as a promotion. See the following thread: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=58525 and picture: http://greenmist.com/hdv/mattebox/16x03.JPG

[Gareth Watkins]

Hi Dylan

The one I got in the UK is the TLS Kestrel from Prokit in Chiswick..
www.prokit.co.uk or at http://www.filmcamerakit.com/html/matte_boxes.htm

It's pretty well made is cheaper than others...

You might want to check out the Formatt version too...
http://www.formatt.co.uk/home/default.asp

Regards

Gareth

[Dylan Pank]

Thanks, these are both great links.

Boyd, does the Century Optics allow you to rotate the filter? It's not clear from the B&H site or the photos. This would be pretty essential when using grads or polarizers? It can also only take one filter at a time, the Indie Snap does take 3.

Gareth, the Kestrel and the Formatt look great, but would still be nearly three times the price of the Indie Snap. I don't doubt that they're great products, but I am looking at the indie snap as a something in the really low budget end.

[Boyd Ostroff]

No, the century doesn't rotate... but it's well made and cheap :-) Actually I only use it as a lens shade with my telephoto and wide adaptors, and it works very well for that.

[Giovanni Lombardo]

All of this in terms of quality is very good, but delivered the product? I have bought and paid with paypal a matte box for canon xha1 on 5 June 2008. I have not arrived. I sent numerous e-mail address to request a tracking number, but nothing, no response. Take advantage of this thread for me to respond by the company and understand the why of this incredible behavior. For fear that my mail was spam in the end, I sent this information with an email address, but nothing. So my question is: get the goods?
My mail is info@giovannilombardo.it - I invite you to answer me.

Giovanni

[Steve Phillipps]

You could try a bellows lens hood from Lee Filters Lee Filters Lens Hoods, they're compact, hold 1-3 filters and you can rotate the whole thing. I use them on all sorts of cameras including Varicam etc.
Steve