Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Hi Guys

I got one Camshade mattebox to go with my rail system and it works very well actually. However I would only consider it on my tripod mounted camera ...the rail and box certainly looks cool and works well keeping flares out but if you are using it handheld it simply adds way too much weight to the camera (especially front end) and kills your back!!! Definitely will stick to a non matte box system with just the lens hood only for all handheld work as it's way, way lighter to use the camera and better balanced too.

Might keep the Matte for my static but that's about it or it might just go onto eBay for guys that want a cool looking camera!!

Chris

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

As a sun-shade to prevent lens flare, the 'Camtree Camshade' probably works fine but with only one filter holder (which does not rotate!) it is next to useless as a true matte box. http://www.thecinecity.com/eshop/CAM...Matte-Box.html

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

I can see the point especially if you use grad ND filters Craig. My biggest issue however, however professional a matte box makes the camera look it sadly just adds too much weight on the handheld camera and the EA-50 on your shoulder is already front heavy so I will look for something else that doesn't add as much weight to the front end.

The Camtree unit works and looks great on the EA-50 but only for tripod use not handheld. Toting the rig on your shoulder for long periods makes life (and my back) just too much to be practical sadly.

Chris

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Of course, you're right Chris so what about this lightweight sunshade model? I used one a few years ago with the kit zoom. It certainly stops lens flare and you can zoom right through it if your lens is not internal focusing or parfocal: DSLR Matte BOX FOR 15mm Rail ROD Support Follow Focus System 5DII 60D 600D D90 | eBay

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Thanks Craig

Due to using multiple lenses the matte box idea wasn't to look "cool" but to have a universal ND filter system ....At weddings it would be tough to have to scramble in your bag for French flags and side flags with minutes to go. The Cokin system is neat BUT seems to rely on a fixed filter thread size!! My stock lens, Tamrons, Sigmas and Tokinas all vary from 66mm to 85mm filter sizes

That sunshade link is purely a sunshade with no square filter holder ! I cannot see any advantage in having piles of filter adapters to try and piece together when I need to change lenses and having even just one variable ND for say, 4 lenses is pricey!

Chris

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Chris, my problem is that the lens is not in the middle of my mattebox. It's almost on the bottom of the mattebox. I don't understand it. Don't you have this problem?

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Have you considered using a holymanta nd filter? I don't see people talking about it so not sure if they are any good, a bit expensive but a lot easier to use then screw on filters.

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Hi Tom

Under the Camshade is a mounting for the rails and it has 2 allen screws in it. Loosen these and the whole matte box slides up and down so you can adjust the height. Adjust it so the lens is in the middle of the big hole and you are done. I found that the factory set position is way out!! I had to go almost to the other end of the adjustment to get it central. If you are unsuccessful let me know and I'll take a pic of the adjusting piece?

Don't you find your camera impossibily front heavy with the matte box ...even without the flags it kills my back PLUS you have a huge weight on the back of your camera ...you must work out at the gym every day!!

Thanks Noa ..I'll look at that .... maybe the answer is a really tiny little box that could sit in front on the lens hoods and be there just for ND filters only. Trouble is that all my lenses have different hoods too.

Chris

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

CHris,

I can't slide the mattebox lower than this (see pictures) I don't understand what i'm missing.

I have a handmade counterweight that's heavy so there is no front weight anymore. Yes it's heavy but I do gym every week (lol)

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

now with the pictures

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

now the lens is in the middle but the camcorder is not more horizontally...
It's ugly for me. the baseplate needs to go higher but it's not possible.

The mattebox is already on his lowest possible setting.

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Hi Tom

The front plate can go down a bit more ..take it off the rails and loosen the allen screws and it will drop an extra few millimetres.

You camera should be horizontal unless something is not sitting right? The Camtree camera plate should be flush against the camera base .... that, or the tripod QR plate are the only two places that can cause the cam to not be horizontal. Are you sure your camera rail fitting is clipped correctly onto the rails ...If you grab the front of the camera can you move it up and down ....mine initially wasn't in correctly and wobbled up and down. Apart from those items the rails have to be parallel to the camera base!

Chris

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Chris,

can you post some pictures of your setup please? the bars in the base plate are a bit wobbling.

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Hi Tom

Yours looks like it's assembled correctly. I also found some play when the QR camera mount was on the rails. That camera side QR plate is the one you need to look at. Take the rig off the camera and loosen the silver thumb screw that locks the adapter onto the rails. If you loosen the thumb screw the unit can snap on and off the rails so first of all make sure than it snaps on correctly and that the little spring inside is doing it's job. If it sits snuggly on the rails and can still move up and down the rails then it's sitting correctly. I had to undo the thumb screw a couple of times before the camera plate clipped onto the rails correctly. Once that's right then tighten the thumb screw really tight and there shouldn't be any wobble in the plate and with the camera back on you also shouldn't have any forward back rocking. I found the screw has to be REALLY tight !! If you camera plate doesn't snap onto the rails accurately and still wobbles with the silver thumbscrew done up tight, then you have a badly engineered unit and need to sent it back to your supplier and get a new one.

Chris

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

tom the problem with the centering of the lens to matte box , solved;, and how;

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Now that I have a EF-NEX Adapter i see I really need a Hood with the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. I notice just in testing it I get flare immediately indoors from ceiling lights. I'm going to try to adjust the Tamron hood a bit and see if that helps, but it looks like a after market hood will be needed. Reading this thread I like that camshade... I know Chris is against it but I feel the need to give it a go. If it doesn't work out I will use it on my AX2000 or my third cam that I will be getting shortly. So Tom did you ever get that camshade to adjust to your liking? If so, how do you like it?

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

A bit late, but I only just spotted this That's incorrect Chris. It relies on an adaptor system, adaptors come in different thread sizes and the Modular Hood simply slides on to the adaptor, where it clips in place so it doesn't fall off. Being self-supporting, it needs no heavy rails, in fact it's remarkably light.

It has no French flags, but being a bellows construction is adjustable for angle up to a point and, as it has a built-in holder for up to three filters, when changing lenses the filters go with it.

I find it particularly useful with my vintage, mainly single coated lenses which tend to flare much easier than modern multi-coated ones.

I think it just depends on whether or not you want to be seen with a red matte box!

Dave

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Hi Aaron

I just gave my honest opinion ..Tom is happy with the CamShade so by all means grab one!!

My Tamron 28-70 has no flare issues ..are you sure the hood hasn't rotated?? Your other alternative is to grab a generic rubber hood they work very well!!

Chris

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Ok, so I had flare issues yesterday in my wedding shoot.

Cam: EA50
Lens: Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Full Frame

Here are a few pics from my position (images taken from my smartphone):

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...011_150355.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...011_150404.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...011_150415.jpg

The overhead lights gave me problem with light glare. I had to adjust the cam in a certain position to avoid the glare. There was a couple of shots where i could not avoid as i was following the wedding party down the isle. So now of course i'm thinking Matte Box or at least a different type of hood.

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

Hi Aaron

I very much doubt whether you would get any better even with a huge matte box ..the bottom line is that the spotlights on the roof are going straight into your lens. Only option is to reposition the camera or make the shot a whole lot tighter ...there is no way anything will help you if you point the camera at the spots on the ceiling.

Chris

Re: Matte Boxes Feedback on the EA-50
 

What I ended up doing was raise my tripod extension up vertically and pointed my cam at more of a downward angle. Even then i had to still watch for the glare.It worked out but it was quite the exercise.