I need to get a french flag for my FX1, but they seem very expensive considering how simple they look to make. Thoughts?

I know this sounds cheesy.... but have you ever seen those gooseneck bendable things with a magnifine glass on one end and a clapt on the other?

well..... get one of those...... then get 2 8.5"X11" sheets of that black foam sheet stuff they have in the craft section of walmart or at craft stores.....

spray mount/sandwhich the sheets over the mag glass....

clamp the thing on the cam or tripod..... and voilá

cheesy I know. but for under $20 it works.

Of course I would never admit it if I followed your advice, but thanks for sticking your neck out there!

Hey, I would have a great close up shot if I wanted to fry ants with the magnifying glass! LOL!

You might wanna check out http://www.geardear.com/

They are at least a bit less expensive than what I have seen on the market. You might also want to get used to the thought that a french flag is something that last a lot longer than your camera will. Buying something cheaper will probably not last as long as a high quality manufactured product.

cost almost nothing.
just glued a flash/accessory socket on the sunshade so a can slide in a folded aluminium sheet .
http://www.giroud2.com/divers/fx1a.jpg

hey.... what type/kind/brand of glue do you recommend?

Nice job Giroud !

in fact i used double sided tape (the thick one, like with foam, not the thin one to fix carpet).
This way i could fix a small aluminium plate (U shaped) holding the accessory socket (because the top of the sunshade is not perfectly flat) and I can remove all the stuff easily if necessary.
it is very compact because it just out of field from few milimeters.
You can also see at the bottom of the sunshade the modification that allows me to rotate the circular polarizer screwed on the lens inside the sunshade.(not looking good, but works really well)
Here i used glue for PVC (contains solvent that slightly dissolve plastic, so when it's dry it is rock solid)
(hoya makes an ultraflat one that just fit, and you can find it on ebay for less than half price).
the next step will be to cut a cokin filter holder to glue the plastic rails on the front of the sunshade, so i can slide a progressive ND filter (must be the X-Pro size 130mm x170mm).
B&H is selling a kit with filter holder and 3 filters for less than 200$.
(do a search on B&H web site with "X-PRO" as keyword and select cokin.
They got several kit, one with only ND filter, another one with blue and tobacco.
( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=307104&is=REG&addedTroughType=search)

if you want to go cheap, just buy the filter (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=168462&is=REG&addedTroughType=search)
and get a cheap filter holder from ebay (the Z format) for about 10$ (i still have to check with filter thickness, since the X-Pro serie is probably thicker than the Z-pro)

and the last step will be to add a line of white led all around the sunshade so i got a kind of ring led.
that is my Frankenstein-all-in-one sunshade.

I need to get a french flag for my FX1, but they seem very expensive considering how simple they look to make. Thoughts?

DANA
I have attched a french flag to my original sony lens hood on My Fx1 And V1u.

http://www.dvdaction.net/index_005.htm
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?p=641518#post641518

Thanks for the idea! I read that you used a Hama flash mount and bought the shade from eBay. I'd like to do the same, but I don't know enough about finding a shade. What key words should I use for the search, or is there a specific model I should look for?

DANA

try this link the french flag will have to be cut approx. 3/8"

http://cgi.ebay.com/French-Flag-For-Century-Mattebox-Matte-box-Sunshade_W0QQitemZ120083542349QQihZ002QQcategoryZ21165QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

I can do the mode for you if you buy the parts.

That's very generous of you. I have access to a shop, so I would see if i could do it myself, but again, that is really generous.

It seems that you could glue the visor straight onto to the camera. I can't see the need to twist it all around with the flash mount. Thoughts? The only problem I see is the desire to take it off for stowing.

You glue the flash mount to the lens hood using Goop you can buy this product at Home Depot. First remove the lens hood from the cam lightly sand the area with 600 grit sand paper. Apply Goop to the area for mounting and also apply it to the bottom of the flash mount. Let it sit for approx. 3min. Then apply the flash mount to the lens hood, let it sit for approx 24hrs.The French flag is removable.




flash mount
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=89989&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

gosh.... you could make a larger mattbox/flag that wraps aound the side with this solution..... maybe put a flash bracket on both top and bottom ( or sides? ) so the whole thing slides on sturdy..... I'd by one or 2 if it was sub $100!

I'm just a little hessitent to glue anything to my camera ( or shade ) as i tend to sell off my cams for the next best thing every 18 months or so...

have you seen the mattblox? looks cool... but I heard it's to flimsy.

It might increase the value of the cam to have it.

Never had a problem on the resale value on my cams I ussally keep them 12 to 14 months. Here's a better picture on the mod

i purchased the matte box and the french flag described above long time ago.
I should say that if the price is good, the material is cheap either.
the screws that locks the french flag are very weak and i do not recommend it for people moving the camera while shooting. You would see to often the franch flag falling over the lens.
that is why i designed the french flag a described before.

Brian Rhodes wrote :
"I have attached a french flag to my original sony lens hood on My Fx1"

Giroud Francois wrote :
"the screws that locks the french flag are very weak... ...often the french flag falling over the lens"

I was considering doing exactly like Brian did with my FX1, but Francois seems to say it's not a good idea, Brian does this problem happen to you? did you modify the screw? can you only film while on a tripod? or is it stiff enough to film while going up and down stairs with that shaky look? without having the french flag falling over...

I have not experienced this problem. The French flag comes with and allen wrench, I make sure the flag is very secure before I start a shoot. I do mostly wedding so I am moving around a lot; I have never had a problem. The only problem I have had with the French flag is on a windy day its makes the cam hard to hold steady when hand held.

www.flarebuster.com

Never bought one, but toyed with it.

I've heard of viral advertising, but that takes the cake...looks like it would technically work, but if it fell into just one shot it would be in the garbage. It's nice to have options though.

Brian, I'm sold on your approach. BTW, what adapter are you using for your light and mic shoe?

I am using a J-RODE, I added an extra shoe to the J-Rode for my wireless mike. Jeff is now selling the J-Rode with the two shoe attachments. I placed the shoe in a different location away from the cam handle.

www.thej-rod.com

For glue, I'm a big fan of J B Weld for attaching things that need to stay put, it's an epoxy that can be sanded once it's set.

For a pattern, look at the barndoors from http://www.coollights.biz This is primarily the exact same thing, so if you have a removable lens hood, you could add this to an extra one with epoxy for a minimal cost. I would recommend punching a few holes in the bracket that you're gluing to give the epoxy something to grab.

while it is not always important, you should note that the big french flag solution block a little bit the front mic of the camera.
If you are finnicky enough to use a french flag, you probably do not use the this mic.
the second thing is my french flag has less surface in case of wind and can also block light from the side.
and last thing, it is lighter...

Here's another DIY matte box...beginnings at the end of the slideshow for concepts for actually making filterholders as well, never followed up on.

http://www.sticktowhatyouknow.com/bts/mattebox/index.html

Hi Guys

Last week, I ordered the matte box from the Ebay seller in India and was a little worried about the build quality until it turned up today. It's surprisingly robust and very well made - it fits the camera like a dream and all I need now is to get some filters for it!

I've tightened up the french flag and given it a good waggle but can't budge it; there's also no unfinished or rough edges so I'm very impressed. Also, I didn't get charged any import tax or vat as the seller stamped the box as camera parts worth $8!

The camera looks fantastic with it mounted on front!

Regards

T

How much did that set you back Terry? If you don't mind my asking?

Hi Cole

It cost me $140 for the matte box and $15 shipping which worked out to £80 for me. My local camera shop sell just a matte box with no filter holder or french flag for £200 ($380) so this was a bargain!

I ordered it last Tuesday and it arrived today so I'm going to order some more from the guy. I believe that they have a shop in the USA too.

Regards

T

Cole, I think the DIY wouldn't last very long with someone like myself shooting. I'm surprised my cams work from gig to gig as it is. On the flip side, it would be very light, and cheap enough to make for all my cams. Hmm.