I've been trying to find a Matte Box for use on the XHA1.

Anyone have any ideas?

I saw Cokin is coming out with one, but was wondering if anyone had any other ideas.

Thanks.

I've been trying to find a Matte Box for use on the XHA1.

Anyone have any ideas?

I saw Cokin is coming out with one, but was wondering if anyone had any other ideas.

Thanks.

Try this
http://www.indiesnap.com/DVXuser/

I was actually looking at that one. I saw that it takes 4X4 filters. If your using a ND Grad, how can you adjust it for the scene?

Do you know if they take 4X5 filters?

I emailed them these questions but haven't received a response.


Thanks.
Mike A.

There are probably at least half a dozen matte Boxes that will work with the XH-A1.
I am using an inexpensive Cavision 4 x 4 bellows unit with mine.

Where is the best place to order matte boxes from?

I've checked Cavision 4 x 4 out and it looks good. Although, I think im leaning towards the one from IndieSnap.

The Redrock microMattebox looks interesting but it seems like they've been developing it forever with no real release date.

Tough decision.

Mike A.

Here is one for $189 with a french flag and two filter holders. It doesn't look like the filters will rotate:

http://www.imagewest.tv/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=27

I don't know anything about this, but it looks basic and looks like it will work. To me it looks better than the Indie Snap. I don't know if the Indie Snap will allow a rotating filter.

Of course, if you are going this inexpensive, a round polarizer would would word fine and would be cheaper than a 4x4 (and easier to carry around), so you would need a rotating stage in the matte box probably.

It appears the Indiesnap doesn't allow the French flag to tilt up or down.
Has anybody used this Universal? It's obviously not the greatest in the world, but for that price it can't be beat.

What about this ? -

http://www.cinetactics.com/Page.bok?template=c_mb125h

I mailed Gerhard at Geardear and he now has a lens mount specially for the A1.
This is the box I'll be getting.

http://geardear.com/pictures.html

Trev

Trevor, that one looks very nice and decent.

Trevor, do you know how much it weighs, with French flag? And, do you know if the 4X4 works with the XH A1's lens full wide or do you need the 4.5X6?

I have mailed Gerhard and will let you know as soon as he replies.

Trev

Hi everyone.
I have received mail from Gerhard as follows.
Hi Trevor,

thank you for your interest in our Geardear equipment.

The mattebox weights around 400gr, with french flag 200gr more. I can not recommed the use of any mattebox with a french flag without rods support concerning the weight on the internal lens mount.
One 4x4" filters alone weights 110gr.! And think of somebody bumping into the french flag or heavy movement of the camera - there is much more force than the weight of the mattebox alone.

Here you see the lensmount with the cutout for the sensor. It is a modified "lensmount80" which fits onto a step-up ring of 72-77mm. The step-up ring you need to buy extra, for example from here http://www.camerafilters.com/detail.aspx?id=776

For the Canon A1 with the AIF sensor we have developed a special 4x4" vertical filterstage. The rotating stage "3sixty" runs exactly through the sensor, so it is not recommeded to use with the sensor.

You can have a "starter" pack with a cutout for the sensor.

The starter-package has no filtertray, so nothing runs through your sensor - except of a corner of the filter sometimes. It is very lightweight and I would use it without the french flag, only with the masks

The size 4x4" or 4x5.65" is depending on how many filterstages you want to use. For the first two stages 4x4" is enough to go full wide.

Hope to hear from you
best wishes from Germany

Gerhard


GEARDEAR.COM
mattebox solution
Gerhard Hirsch
www.geardear.com

Hey, Trevor, did you ever get your mattebox?

http://www.vocas.com/links/dvfitchart_xha1g1-link.htm

That Vocas stuff is pretty slick, but it appears they sell in every industrialized nation in the world but the U.S. Makes me feel like a third world country. Any idea on prices?

I`m really confused if one can use a mattebox at all with 109mm diametre original Canon WA converter on XH A1?
4x4 (100mm) filters will not cut it I assume?
The Vocas 250 is the widest and most WA usable compact 1+1 stage mattebox out there but the rear opening is only 105mm by the specs so it will not be usable with the uber good original WA converter from Canon.

Any thoughts?
T

That Vocas stuff is pretty slick, but it appears they sell in every industrialized nation in the world but the U.S. Makes me feel like a third world country. Any idea on prices?

Vocas matteboxes are distributed through Century Precision Optics in the US.

You can see the part numbers here (http://www.schneideroptics.com/ecommerce/CatalogSubCategoryDisplay.aspx?CID=1390)

B&H has most of them (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=search&A=search&Q=&ci=0&sb=bs%2Cupper%28ds%29&sq=asc&ac=&bsi=&ci=2118&shs=&at=Brand_Century+Precision+Optics)

Hi Bill
Not yet. As soon as I stared to use my wonderful A1 I realised I needed more computer grunt. I had to use all my funds to upgrade my ageing G5 imac. (New 2.8 imac on the way).
Hopefully first quarter 08.
Still going to be the GEARDEAR.

Trev

I've been fine without one but there are situations where it might be nice. So far Geardear seems the overall best deal for the money.

One concern is my quick release plate. I use the Canon quick release plate (which cost about $135) because the camera has a typical still camera tripod thread, ie., 1/4" instead of the normal 3/8". And when I use a teleprompter, which requires the O'Connor 50 and it has only 3/8". The plate has both, so that's cool. But I'd have to put it on top of the rod holder platform, and then the tripod's plate on the bottom, if that makes sense. I don't know what that extra height would do to matte box alignment. I'd have the same problem with any matte box, obviously, that required rails, which is pretty much any mattebox that I'd want.

Bill,
I used to use Geardear mattebox with rails on my M2+DVX combo.
I ordered a 72-77 step-up ring to use it w/o rails on my new XH-A1. I'll tell you how it performs

Alvise, did you get the stepup ring yet? And if so, are you using the Geardear without rails, and do you use the French flag with it? How do you like it?

Hi everyone, long time reader first time poster...

I've been shopping matte boxes pretty extensively for my A1. I was set for the longest time on a geardear due to value and what all you can get. I was disappointed to find out they were molded from some sort of foam injection type process though so I began looking elsewhere....

I think I'm going with the redrockMicroMatte. They are finally being released in limited quantities but should be full force by Feb08 according to their forums. These look (and judging by redrock's rep) are made to be very top quality and offer everything that geardear does for even cheaper it appears. Full set up for $500. Then I think you have to add the rail support about $290. Still a shade cheaper then the deluxe A1 set up quote I received from geardear...($870ish I believe)

Does anyone have a MicroMatte they are using with their A1? I'd love to get some feedback cause I'm pretty sure I'm set on that one, or at least until I hear some really positive feedback about the geardear...

Chrosziel matte box fits Canon XH-A1/G1 with Canon 0.8x WA attachment with 1 mm to spare.

They have a XH-A1/G1 kit, with WA you just do not use the normal fill-in adapter, if you want to fill the 0.5mm gap this leaves (110 opening, 109mm lens) they sell you a rubber seal...

Chrosziel matte box fits Canon XH-A1/G1 with Canon 0.8x WA attachment with 1 mm to spare.

They have a XH-A1/G1 kit, with WA you just do not use the normal fill-in adapter, if you want to fill the 0.5mm gap this leaves (110 opening, 109mm lens) they sell you a rubber seal...


Are you referring to the WD-H72 Wide Angle Adapter? I was under the impression that this WA adapter was not compatible with ANY matte box kit...

It is the one Canon sell with the camera (at a price).

Yeah that's the WD-H72. So then you can still use 4x4 filters in front of that WA adapter? And since it's made specific for the XHA1 it won't block the sensors in front?

That's very cool if it will allow the use of the WA and a filter.

I am selling my soft mattbox I used before I sold my xha1. I have the step ring to put it on the xha1 if you are intrested in buying it. Let me know. Here is the site if you want to check it out first. http://www.cinetactics.com/StoreFront.bok

There are probably at least half a dozen matte Boxes that will work with the XH-A1.
I am using an inexpensive Cavision 4 x 4 bellows unit with mine.

David,

Were you referring to this one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/402967-REG/Cavision__4x4_Bellows_Matte_Box.html

It is for a 72mm lens so that would fit the XHA1 but it is not specific to the XHA1 in the description just the XL2/DVX100. I'm wondering if the baseplate piece is adjustable height wise so that it could fit the A1...

That Vocas stuff is pretty slick, but it appears they sell in every industrialized nation in the world but the U.S. Makes me feel like a third world country. Any idea on prices?

Hehe, the rest of the world is trying to avoid America because we're all scared the USA is going to target us next for the introduction of 'democracy'.

Yeah that's the WD-H72. So then you can still use 4x4 filters in front of that WA adapter? And since it's made specific for the XHA1 it won't block the sensors in front?

That's very cool if it will allow the use of the WA and a filter.


It blocks the focus sensor. That sensor is not mattebox friendly. But then again, with a clumsy mattebox you would most likely shoot on manual focus anyway. Then again, I have shot on auto even with the box...

They have a proper kit for XH-A1/G1 with the correct baseplate thingy and rails. Side wings extra. Not cheap.