My new Mattebox rig

Dan Brockett · April 1st, 2009, 05:58 PM

Hi:

This is for Dan and the others using the Genus matte box. It looks awfully shallow to me to be of much use in actually shading the lenses from reflections. Have you shot in bright sunlight with it and have you had any flares or light pollution creeping in on the edges? I have the Cinevate matte box right now but I agree with Dan's assertion that the Cinevate or the Red Rock boxes are too damn bulky for such a small camera and rig. I barely use my Cinevate right now on my HPX170 because it is too big and bulky, especially with the side flags on. I have kind of gone back to mostly screw in 72mm filters as I find using the matte box to be a nuisance unless we have permits or I have an AC with me.

I do mostly run and gun type of shooting and when you put on a matte box and rods, you instantly look a lot more obtrusive. That begs another question. Dan, I love your Beijing footage sequences, do you find it is more difficult to shoot observational documentary footage when your 5D looks like a film camera than when you were shooting with the just the naked 5D? It seems that for just a while longer, we can pass as tourists with an SLR rather than videographer/filmmakers with an HD camcorder. Often, still photographers can get away with shooting in places where videographers get grilled for permits and "will this be used for a commercial project?" Comments? Are we kind of losing one of the best features of the 5D MKII by turning it into a motion picture camera-looking rig?

Thanks,

Dan

Toenis Liivamaegi · April 2nd, 2009, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Brockett

Are we kind of losing one of the best features of the 5D MKII by turning it into a motion picture camera-looking rig?

Dan

Somehow matte box loses it instantly but it comes down to morals anyhow.

Sean Seah · April 13th, 2009, 02:23 AM

How, how is the mod for the rig? I saw a setup that Stillmotion uses with the rails from Cinevate. Pretty interesting solution too.

Alvise Tedesco · April 19th, 2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Chung

I've just received the Red Rock Micro so will test that to see if its better.

Dan

Please Dan, can you check then if adding a RR follow focus to your actual Genus+5D rig works with shorter nikkor lenses as well?
Thanks (also for all the beautyfull Guardian videos)

Alvise Tedesco · May 24th, 2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven S. Miric

Dan,

I have the same issue with short (prime) Nikon lenses on my Genus rails (lack of space for FF). I don't have the FF yet, but this is what I am getting to solve the distance issue:
Manfrotto 357 Universal Sliding Plate Tripod Accessories 203570 Bogen - Vistek Canada Product Specs

Hi. Steven. Have you found if we can use Redrock ff with shorter Nikkors (worst case probably been 50 1.4) and Genus rails?
I already have all this stuff but still waiting for my 5d.
Thanks

Steven S. Miric · May 24th, 2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvise Tedesco

Hi. Steven. Have you found if we can use Redrock ff with shorter Nikkors (worst case probably been 50 1.4) and Genus rails?

If you put the Manfrotto 357 adapter on top of Genus rails, it works even with the shortest Nikon prime..

Alvise Tedesco · May 25th, 2009, 10:28 AM

Great. Thanks. BTW I sent you an email 1 hour ago

Dan Chung · May 25th, 2009, 07:44 PM

Alvise,

A word of caution. If you do a lot of running around with your rig you might find that the 357 quick release plate moves a little on the 5dmkII causing issues with matching the follow focus gears. I see Steven uses a RRS bracket on his camera and I think this may alleviate the problem by giving a better surface for the rubber of the 357 to grip to. Your mileage may vary.

I'm actually thinking about using the Redrockmicro DSLR2.0 mount in preference to the Genus version, or until Genus has a better alternative.

Dan

Alvise Tedesco · May 26th, 2009, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Chung

Alvise,

A word of caution. If you do a lot of running around with your rig you might find that the 357 quick release plate moves a little on the 5dmkII causing issues with matching the follow focus gears. I see Steven uses a RRS bracket on his camera and I think this may alleviate the problem by giving a better surface for the rubber of the 357 to grip to. Your mileage may vary.

I'm actually thinking about using the Redrockmicro DSLR2.0 mount in preference to the Genus version, or until Genus has a better alternative.

Dan

Thanks. But then Redrockmicro new mount doesn't solve the problem with follow focus (Redrockmicro v1) and shorter nikkors ai/ais, or am I missing something?

Dan Chung · May 26th, 2009, 02:35 AM

Alvise,

Sorry but I'm not too sure about that one, I use the Redrock V2 FF unit. Even with this unit I imagine very short Nikkors might be a problem unless you reverse the FF.

Dan

Alvise Tedesco · May 26th, 2009, 02:40 AM

Ok. I don't think there's a difference between v1 and v2. Gear box is the same one in the same relative place. I'll wait for my 5d to arrive and I'll try out something.
Thanks again Dan for sharing all those infos

April 1st, 2009, 05:58 PM	#31
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Is the Genus much of a matte box or more of a filter holder? Hi: This is for Dan and the others using the Genus matte box. It looks awfully shallow to me to be of much use in actually shading the lenses from reflections. Have you shot in bright sunlight with it and have you had any flares or light pollution creeping in on the edges? I have the Cinevate matte box right now but I agree with Dan's assertion that the Cinevate or the Red Rock boxes are too damn bulky for such a small camera and rig. I barely use my Cinevate right now on my HPX170 because it is too big and bulky, especially with the side flags on. I have kind of gone back to mostly screw in 72mm filters as I find using the matte box to be a nuisance unless we have permits or I have an AC with me. I do mostly run and gun type of shooting and when you put on a matte box and rods, you instantly look a lot more obtrusive. That begs another question. Dan, I love your Beijing footage sequences, do you find it is more difficult to shoot observational documentary footage when your 5D looks like a film camera than when you were shooting with the just the naked 5D? It seems that for just a while longer, we can pass as tourists with an SLR rather than videographer/filmmakers with an HD camcorder. Often, still photographers can get away with shooting in places where videographers get grilled for permits and "will this be used for a commercial project?" Comments? Are we kind of losing one of the best features of the 5D MKII by turning it into a motion picture camera-looking rig? Thanks, Dan

May 25th, 2009, 10:28 AM	#37
Alvise Tedesco Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Milan/Italy Posts: 63	Great. Thanks. BTW I sent you an email 1 hour ago __________________ vimeo.com/alvisetedesco web.mac.com/alvise.tedesco/DP/home

May 26th, 2009, 02:40 AM	#41
Alvise Tedesco Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Milan/Italy Posts: 63	Ok. I don't think there's a difference between v1 and v2. Gear box is the same one in the same relative place. I'll wait for my 5d to arrive and I'll try out something. Thanks again Dan for sharing all those infos __________________ vimeo.com/alvisetedesco web.mac.com/alvise.tedesco/DP/home

April 13th, 2009, 02:23 AM	#33
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	How, how is the mod for the rig? I saw a setup that Stillmotion uses with the rails from Cinevate. Pretty interesting solution too.

May 25th, 2009, 07:44 PM	#38
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	Alvise, A word of caution. If you do a lot of running around with your rig you might find that the 357 quick release plate moves a little on the 5dmkII causing issues with matching the follow focus gears. I see Steven uses a RRS bracket on his camera and I think this may alleviate the problem by giving a better surface for the rubber of the 357 to grip to. Your mileage may vary. I'm actually thinking about using the Redrockmicro DSLR2.0 mount in preference to the Genus version, or until Genus has a better alternative. Dan

May 26th, 2009, 02:35 AM	#40
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	Alvise, Sorry but I'm not too sure about that one, I use the Redrock V2 FF unit. Even with this unit I imagine very short Nikkors might be a problem unless you reverse the FF. Dan