was wondering if anyone know of any links to sites that have drawings/plans on building a nice matte box for dv cameras? Thanks

Hello Charles !
Nice to see you here (seems we all end up on dvinfo.net)...

As it so happens there is an article on a home-made DV matte box right here on this site:
http://www.dvinfo.net/dvarticles/production/berube1.htm

BTW: Do you have any news about Ron Peperkamp? His webpage is down and I can't seem to reach him.

Oh, and I have another exclusive for your website: a very nice looking new little stabilizer from the famous company Beaulieu. I haven't tested it yet but should be able to fairly soon.

In french:
http://www.beaulieu-images.com/fluidcam.htm

In german:
http://www.beaulieu.de/pages/fluidcam.html

Very good price, too (compared to GlideCam in Europe).

Thanks for your reply Steven. I'll check the links you posted. No. I too have been trying to get in touch with him but to no avail. His e-mail is also not valid any more. I'll get back to you.

Steven, I must have missed something but there is no how-to article or plans at the link you gave me.

Sorry, you're right. I confused two links.
I know I saw a page with plans very recently but I just can't seem to find the link again right now...
Maybe someone else has it. I'll keep looking.

Maybe it was this article (from the original DIY series):
http://www.super8mm.org/pdf/v9n1.pdf

A bit old but I can't seem to find anything else in my archived links right now.

Thanks. I'll keep looking

So, is it done, yet? The matte box, I mean!

Actualy, just wanted to say "Hi!" to an old friend! :)

Hi there Cosmin. Cool to see you here as well. Yep, almost done. I'll post it on the site when it's done.

Here's the link to the my homebuilt/kitbashed mattebox cosmin:

http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/mattebox.html

Looks cool!
What did you make the bellows out of and how long did it take?

I got the bellows from a photography store that sold it to me cheap. So that part was not that hard to put together. Like I mentioned it is a kitbash/homebuilt model. The 'flags' were taken from an old spot-light. I sand-blasted the parts after long hours of removing the paint, which were terribly stuck together and spray-painted it a base color before painting it black. The flags could have also been made from thin aluminum sheets which is easier to cut into profiles.
I incerted new screws making the flags easier to adjust. The rod that the flags are attached to are pre-bent for that rectangular look.
The black Mask at the front end of the matte box was done from cutting out a thin piece of poster board bought from a stationary store. I had to lend support to the entire box by attaching a 2mm steel plate under the camera that holds both the matte box and the camera in place for more studiness. So there you have it.

I'm impressed, that looks great - very professional looking and well made. You could probably sell it and get a good price too. About how long and how much did you invest to create it?

Yup, great design as usual, Charles ! :-)

(You might want to change XL-2 to XM-2 in your text or else you'll probably start yet another rumor and get inundated with email asking you about it ;-))

One question though, does your design allow you to change the distance between the lens front and the filter? And if not, aren't the bellows mainly cosmetic?

"About how long and how much did you invest to create it?"

Thanks for the kind remark Christopher. I invested about a 100 dollars. Not bad considering what those professional ones cost. It took me two days to make. If I want something, I want it now. :)

Steven-Marc ,

"(You might want to change XL-2 to XM-2 in your text or else you'll probably start yet another rumor and get inundated with email asking you about it ;-))"

I was referring to the XL-2. You probably misunderstood the sentence. I was referring to the pic of the XL-2 mounted on a handheld support grip like the link below: http://www.cavision.com/Mattbox/for_canon.htm

...and yes Steven-Marc, the distance between the lens front and the filter can be adjusted.

<<<-- Originally posted by Charles King :
I was referring to the XL-2. You probably misunderstood the sentence. I was referring to the pic of the XL-2 mounted on a handheld support grip like the link below: http://www.cavision.com/Mattbox/for_canon.htm

-->>>

That's an XL1(s). The XL2 isn't here yet. I'm curious why you thought it was an XL2?

Okay. I'm sorry. XL-1 , XL-2, regardless. I'm only referring to the two hand grip under the camera.

congrat on your new matte box, Charles!
I gues you needed some relaxing time from all that stabilizer building, ha? :)

Nice work, like always!

Just want to add the new link to the mattebox I had build. The link is different then the one already post in my previous post. Someone wanted to view it but got the wrong link. So here is the new link:

http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/charlesmattebox.html

Hey Charles,

Nice work on the matte box.

Thanks Dale

Can I order one? :)

Nice one Andrew. :)

What is the big deal with a matt box? Isn't a matt box basically a device/hardware to "soften" the edges of the frame/picture?

I think this is an effect that is easily done with an editing program, which would offer more flexibility in post.

The only advantage I can think of having this device is to save a little editing.

Maybe I am deep left field with this. Please enlighten me.

Mark

How's the view from deep left field? :)

A matte box as like a combination of a big lens hood and filter holder all rolled into one. It has no effect on the picture, unless you put filters in it.

Now I can see the infield.

Mark

Does the matte box get the ladies wet? It sure makes the camera look bigger...

Now if someone would offer a steadicam system for less than the "commercial" systems....

"Now if someone would offer a steadicam system for less than the "commercial" systems"

Here, here, I second that motion.

I'd buy one of those homebuilt steadicams. Some of them look better than "real" models!

<<<-- Originally posted by Dylan Couper : I'd buy one of those homebuilt steadicams. Some of them look better than "real" models! -->>>

True dat. Hence my question up above. Seriously, can I buy one? :) I've been eyeing up a mattebox with rods and grips, but this home made one looks mighty impressive.

"...Seriously, can I buy one?

Are you refering to the matte box combo with plate handles and rods or homebuiltstabilizer?

I think there would be a market for both.

The shoulder support system is a little easier to handle then building a rig system. More work more money. It can be done, but I've always said. If you are going into the business of manufacturing a stabilizer you better know all the ins and outs of the technical side things. It's never easy just slapping together something and selling it as a stabilizer. Trust me, I've seen many new stabilizer business blowing up all over the place with little or no technical know-how. Don't get me wrong. Some are good and some are really bad. I'm not saying I'm better but truthfully speaking, if you want excellent performance in a very low budget rig then you might as well built it yourself. The reason - it cost.

I've been into homebuilding stabilizers for almost six years now and I'm still learning new things. I've been asked many times to build for people but never thought I was capable enough to jump into this venture. The first and only rig I've built for someone was back in 99' . You can see the model in the full rig section under the title : 'A friend's rig' I sold that rig to some who call me from the states and begged me to build a rig for him. The reason. He was about to do a low budget movie and needed a stabilizer proto. I advice him to rent one. It would have been cheaper but he wanted to own on for this shoot.

Finally I agreed and build a rig for him. It took 2 1/2 weeks to complete. Working day and well into the night to get this rig ready before his shoot. He was surprised that it took such a short time but I mentioned to him that it did not have any real bearings in the arm (I made he knew about this before building) and told him I couldn't garentee the smoothness of the arm.
Any way, to make a long story short. He got it was surprisingly and finally made his shoot with the stabiliser. The only problem was that the spring that I had surplied was too light. He managed to exchange.

If I was to build a rig a again, it would, definately not take two 1/2 weeks. It will difinately have bearings in every part of the arm. The sled would be better etc. I've learned alot during the years and always tell people if you want to built a homebuilt rig then do your homework. Know exactly want you want in terms of features.
I always tell people to read the article under the tip section on the homebuiltstabilizer site, that Thanh Le wrote. Then if you think you're up for it, then do it; but be prepared for a lot of work.

In short gentlemen - If you want to buy a homebuilt rig then it would be better to either build one yourself or buy an already made low budget rig. It'll spare you the headache.

Sorry for the long post. I could say much more but I'll kill here before I get a head of myself :)

What did you charge, or what would one of the home built full rigs be worth to someone to build and sell it.

For the one I sold to this guy, I charged 700 dollars. This was for the sled, vest and arm. A handheld type would be cheaper,way cheaper but I would rather buy a ready made one from Glidecam instead.Now, Like I said it mostly workshop time that took most of the bulk.
Today, I can get it cheap because I know the people better. The parts are not really that expensive if you know where to look depending on what one decides to use in terms of quality. Everything depends on the quality of the rig. I would definately want to make a quality rig if I was to build for someone. It doesn't have to be world class otherwise you might just as well buy a pro rig.
When I was at the IBC in Amsterdam last year, I met with the VD of the Glidecam company who recognized the name on my name tag as owning the homebuiltstabilizer site. I was stunned such a person would even view the website. I Was honored and we talked. He mentioned that he usaully direct people to my site who were interested in a cheaper alternative. He would tell that it was the closes thing to a professional rigs. Now that, took the icing. I felt great when he said that. We talked for and hour. Nice guy.
Any way, for someone to built you a rig they will have to know what your preference would be(at least I would like to know) before giving you an estimitation. Like what the maximum weight will be and how much finesse you will want on the rig, etc. These things will determine the type of material and the density(quality) of the material in terms of the maximum weight that will be used.
So I'm giving a rough estimate between 800-1800 dollars. This will include monitor and battery.
You have note that this is my estimation. Someone else might do it cheaper but then again who knows.

Charles, you should consider offering a few custom built full rigs for sale. I would be interested in one later this summer, and probably many people would be interested in one now. I would keep it closer to $800, leaving out the monitor and battery if you had to.

Dylan, i'll certainlylook into it but first I'n going to start offering the shoulder support system first. Anyone interested? I'll get back with the estimatation.

What does your shoulder support look like Charles?
I'm interested. I have a Mightywondercam right now, but it is kind of weak, and doesn't put enough weight back on your shoulder.

Take a look at the link: http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/charleshandheldsupport.html

Like the pic but minus the matte box and the support at the battery support at the back. The frame would be slightly curved with added plates to produce a little more weight. The handles will be little shorter than the ones you see. The rods can rotate depending on the angle you choose. I'm putting together a prototype to show you guys what it will look like. Hopefully it will be done in about three weeks.

Should be interesting!

Could someone tell me what a matte box does? Sorry to sneak in...

Hi Joe,

You can refer to the following thread as a starting point:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&postid=58445#post58445

- don

Thanks Don... kindly.

Hi all!
Charles is making a realy great offer here! I know his work and I know how valuable are his knowledges. 800 to 1800, it will all worth it!
Good luck Charles!
You should make for sale the shoulder suport and the matte box also. And make a discount for the package (suport+matte box). I'd like to have them both!

Thank you for the support Cosmin. I do appreciate the kind words. BTW, I am doing a prototype of the shoulder support to be sold. I will hopefully get it done by the end of next week to post on the site. So be looking out for it.

For the mattebox, I havn't really decided yet. I'm looking into other methods of putting together one but I have not completely ruled it out. For now, I will start just with the shoulder support system.

Once again Cosmin, your support is welcome.

Charles,

Thank you for your support and explenations. Much appreciated!

As said before I truly am interested in a Steadicam rig (I wouldn't
be interested in a monitor or battery system) for my XL1s.

If you want to consider building it now or in the feature please
drop me a line at my e-mail below.

Thanks!

I will let you know rob. Thanks for understanding.

on the homebuiltstabilizer site. Check the forum for details. The owner is Cosmin. Something for you Rob. Just thought I'll let you or anyone, whose interested know.