can i use a 4x4 matte box if i shoot 16:9 with XL2
 

i shoot exclusively in 16:9 mode and want to add a matte box and filters to my arsenal. Is a 4x4 wide enough with the 20xlens... or do i need a wider box...

secondly, if i eventually invest in the Redrock Micro, and use Nikon 35mm lenses in front (obviously nothing super wide), assuming the 4x4 in the above question was okayed, would it still be wide enough for this future setup with the Redrock/Nikon ?? or is neither setup sufficient and i need a bigger box?

thanks for in advance - Lonnie

I'm rather curious about this too. I have been considering getting a CAVision 4x4 bellows MB for the XL2.

Sure...
 

I do it all the time as I also shoot exclusively in 16:9. Have a look:

I use the Chrosziel 4x4 and always shoot 16:9 with no problems at all. I use the 16x manual, but I have used my 20x on it as well with no issues.

Also, I'm not sure about your second question... I would think unless you use some crazy-wide 35mm lens it should be fine.... but then agin I have no idea.

Joe...
 

The accessory bracket on the back of your XL2 - I have one too, of course, but I have never used it. It looks like you have multiple batteries on yours. How does that work? I have five batteries, I think, but I just put them in one at a time.

You should have no problem at all with the normal 20X or 16X lenses set at their widest settings (down to about 50mm equiv. SLR).

With 28mm or 24mm and wider lenses (equivalent to 35mm SLR) vignette may occur (such as the 3X Canon or 0.7X; 0.6X; and 0.5X on the original AF 20X & 16X Manual or AF 16X lenses ).

I have tested the 20X lens with added .5X and .7X wide adapters, with and without normal hood, and with round single filter, UV, or polarizer filter attached, and also with square filters.

No vignetting at all was observed at 4:3 setting on the XL2, but very slight shadow was seen at the extreme corners at 16:9 setting using the .7X.

I observed bad vignetting with the .5X at 16:9 (So I do not use the .5X with the Canon XL2, only the .7X in 16:9).

I prefer to use a large Bellows hood + square filters because the bellows can be adjusted for each different lens in use (or range of zoom in use) during each shoot and therefore avoid vignette at the corners.

If you are going to show your video direct to TV (or via DVD), then any very slight vignette at the corners will be hidden by the tighter framing of most television screens. Also try to remember that the XL2 viewfinder will not always show the extent of the vignette, so always check the full 16:9 view on your large screen or during post editing.

That's the dual battery holder/charger on the back. I don't remember the model number (it's made by Canon, not 3rd party), but I bought it back when I used my XL1. It holds two batteries at a time and plugs into the camera.

And to think I could have been using this all along!

This is the Dual Battery holder bracket and holds two small or two extra-heavy duty batteries via the Dual Battery charger/holder. The bracket also can hold a radio mic unit.

For extreme longterm shooting away from a power source, I prefer to use a separate XL2 battery belt with wire connected direct to the XL2 body.

Oops! Joe already answered...!

Thanks Guys. I just hope I can find all the bits and pieces to enable me to set mine up that way.

Tony - visited your website. You are indeed a globetrotter! I was rather taken with the Jackdaw in a green field. Maybe I could use it for a logo and build a company name around it. Do you sell the rights?

http://www.wilderness-photo.co.uk/di...p&cat=0&pos=33

Jack, I can be contacted at:

globetrotterworld@hotmail.com

mabey this is a dumb question but what does a matte box do?

thanks guys...

Hi Kelly. No question is dumb if you don't know the answer :)

A mattebox is an "extended hood" that helps to prevent reflections and unwanted light from hitting the lens. They are also used to hold square filters. A mattebox with a french flag on the top can really help in keeping unwanted light off the lens when the source is bright and above the camera (outdoors they are great). Indoors, your lens hood is typically sufficient to handle the job.

attachment
 

Here is another question: How do you place the attachment with the post?? I hav e some to post on the under water/over land group and it would be real handy to know!!

what a great idea to use the charger!!!! Wish I thunk that sometime back!! Great tip!!!!

Thanks for the reply Chris.

Chrosziel 4x4
 

I also shoot exclusively in 16:9 and have used the Chrosziel 4X4 with no problems. Works perfectly.

I even use the Chrosziel 4x4 matt box with the 3x wide angle lens in 16x9 mode. No problems so far, except that it is a bit tricky to insert the filters because the FU-1000 gets in the way (the 3x lens is much shorter than the 16x manual or the 20x auto lenses). I haven't used the color viewfinder with this combination yet.

Jack, is that a Formatt box you're using? I have one which I used with my XM2 but of course the adapter rings are the wrong size for the XL2. I've contacted Formatt but had no reply yet as to what size I need. I guess it's the 72mm adapter?

Is it a good tight fit on the XL2? I was never convinced about the fit on my XM2 (with either the standard 58mm or the 80mm adapter for the w/a lens) and I have this morbid fear of the box falling off and destroying a couple of hundred quids worth of filters (and shattering my professional veneer in the process!).

Cheers.

Ian . . .

Ian,

Yup, it's the Formatt FM 500 with 72mm adapter. Because it's held in place by a single set-screw that seats right behind the lip of the adapter, it doesn't appear to want to go off on its own, but it will rotate, since the screw doesn't sit in a pre-made dimple or hole. I don't think this is a problem, and I also worry more about the filters than the box myself.

Over at DVXUser, they concluded that the only way to mount it on that cam was upside-down, as the microphone impedes access to the filter stages. There are quite a number using it that way, and i haven't read any reports of 4x4s sliding to their doom.

I like the box a lot. It's very big and very light.

Hi Jack,

Thanks for that.

Have you thought of drilling a dimple or hole into the barrel? Kidding . . .

The mic position problem is exactly the issue I had on the XM2 unless I kept the wide angle lens on. To be honest, I don't often expect to use the on board mic on the XL2 so I think I can overcome that issue by just removing it - and what a shame it would be to lose the flag by mounting it upside down!

Yeah, I like my Formatt as well. From a shallow point of view, it made the XM2 look like a really pro piece of kit. Not sure how I can improve on the XL2 though. Monster cam!

Cheers.

Ian . . .

Some misunderstandings.

The set-screw is chamfered at the end, like a sharpened pencil. The outer edge of the adapter is chamfered all the way around. When you tighten the set-screw, the two chamfers come together to hold the box in place, so my reference to a 'dimple" was misleading.

The problem with the microphone is a DVX100/HVX200 problem only. It doesn't occur on the XL2. The "mounting upside-down" was my mistake. On A DVX100, the box is mounted in the normal way (flag on top), but the filter stages allow for insertion from top and bottom (have a look at yours), and on that particular cam, bottom insertion is the only option, so the flag stays where it belongs.

A good looking matte box can give any camera that look of "Pro".

Aha, see what you mean - and of course I was only kidding about drilling holes!!

Have a great day.

Ian . . .

Jack, I'm interested in purchasing this Matte box from B&H because of the super cheap deal... but I'm worried that it feels cheap and flemsy. Is it pretty sturdy?

Also, how adjustable is the french flag at the top, can it be tilted at a different angle?

Thanks

Nick - the flag swings through 135° - from fully closed (down) to 45° above horizontal, and you really don't need to open it more than that.

As for "sturdy" – well, let me see. It's made from light aircraft aluminum, and has all the right folds and creases to make a lightweight metal rigid. But it is aluminum, so if you're shooting in a situation where it might get knocked, expect to get dings in it. The filter stages are plastic, but well made and surrounded by thicker aluminum. Otherwise, it's sturdy enough. If it were any sturdier, you would probably have to use a rods system, rather than hanging it on the XL2's long lens.

But think about it. You've got a $350 matte box sitting on the end of a $3,500 camera, and holding $2-400 worth of glass. You're not going to toss that around.

I figured if it breaks or is flimsier than I need, $350 is almost disposable and I can invest in a better unit, but for now this keeps me in budget :). I definitely won't be shooting in any rigorous activity (mostly weddings & documentaries) so knocking around shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the info