Your opinion on follow focus, matte box and LCD monitor at DVinfo.net

Joseph Ivey · September 13th, 2005, 01:30 PM

I am in the market for a follow focus rig, a matte box that holds at least two filters (one of which can rotate) and an LCD monitor (something around 7 inches +/-). I have seen some rigs that have handle attachments to the support rails and was curious about that to.

I have heard names like Chrosziel and Cavision batted around and I just wanted to get some feedback as to which brands make the best equipment. Obviously I am not looking to buy all from one company either. Any help that you guys can be would be greatly appreciated.

Dan Diaconu · September 13th, 2005, 03:38 PM

Joseph,
The gear you need to use depends on the camera you have, the work you do and obviously your personal shooting style. I have used FF form Cavision, Arriflex and Chrosziel and I ended up making my own. It will be available about 5 weeks from now, but you can check out the prototype and what it does here:
http://dandiaconu.com/available_products.htm
Do not be fooled by the introductory low price. I will have the whole list of acessories (whip, white marker donut and marker and more) on the same page soon.

Travis Andersen · September 13th, 2005, 04:19 PM

Hey Dan,

Can you tell me if your follow focus will work with the XL2 standard, 16X manual and 3X wide lenses and with a Cavision Mattebox. Here is a picture of my setup with 16X. Thanks

http://www.geocities.com/downhillmania/Picture062.jpg

Joseph Ivey · September 13th, 2005, 04:25 PM

Yeah sorry for lack of details. I would be using a Canon 16x manual lens. The follow focus, mattebox and LCD monitor would be used for commercials, industrial videos, and weddings primarily.

I am also going to use it for short films or for lower budget features. I am getting into music videos and documentaries as well. As you can see I am getting into a lot of stuff.

And before you ask or assume, I have been a camera operator for a few years now. I am not that green, but I am wanting to expand my resume and now I get enough work shooting other people's stuff I want to get more of my own out there.

Dan Diaconu · September 13th, 2005, 04:30 PM

Perfect match for the set-up. I will have to check the size of the 16X and 3x lenses (assuming you will want to gear them)/(against my gear size), but if you have the gears (just did not mount them yet), then by all means YES. You can do the same; check the diameter of 16X and 3X; if they are smaller or equal to 20X, my gears will mount on them.

Van Berghe · September 14th, 2005, 08:18 AM

Regarding your monitor question... While shopping for an onboard
7" inch lcd with 16:9 I became frustrated by the high prices. Then
I switched shopping venues and found some very affordable monitors
sold for cars ("portable video"). You'll need to buy a 12 volt / two
pound battery, but if you're doing tripod work, just use the battery
as a tripod weight.

I'm not clever, just poor!

Joseph Ivey · September 14th, 2005, 06:28 PM

To be honest price isn't a factor (unless they want 3k for a freakin monitor). I have seen most for aroound $600 which is doable. Right now I am just trying to collect as much info on these three items as possible. I have heard Chrosziel makes a good follow focus and matte box, and Panasonic a good LCD monitor.

What I really want is feedback from owners of different follow focus units and matte boxes (the kind supported by the 15mm rails not the clamp on kind) and I am also looking for any support rail system that has some sort of grips for handheld camera shots.

Travis Andersen · September 14th, 2005, 06:39 PM

Hey Joeseph,

For what you want, handels included Id check into the Cavision system.
Here are the prices I got from Gabriela at Cavision when I bought mine. I even bought the filter kit which is worth the money IMO.
Hope this helps.

Dear Travis,

The 4x4 matte box works with the Canon XL-2 in 16x9 mode and with the 3x
wide angle in 16x9 mode, as well.

Please find the configuration for the 4x4 bellows matte box:
- MB413B-2 (4x4 matte box) price: USD 395.00
- ARR1385 (rubber adapter ring) price: USD 10.00
- AR85-72 (conical ring) price: USD 35.00
- RS-15IIM (15mm rods support) price: USD 190.00
- RSPC (plate) price: USD 28.00
- MBF-5P (french flag) price: USD 50.00
- RS15HD (dual handgrips) price: USD 89.00 - optional
- HCM4 (protection case) price: USD 10.00

**All our prices are listed retail in US Dollars and FOB Vancouver, Canada.

Dan Diaconu · September 14th, 2005, 07:08 PM

http://www.cinematography.net/Pages%...ocus_Units.htm

Joseph Ivey · September 15th, 2005, 01:23 PM

are there any matte boxes that work in both 16:9 and 4:3 for both a manual 16x lens and a 3x lens that are not simply clamped on to the front of the camera? If not, what is my closest option? I just have a weird thing about clamping stuff to a $5,000 camera. I would just as soon use support bars (since it will have a follow focus anyway.

September 13th, 2005, 01:30 PM	#1
Joseph Ivey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 89	Your opinion on follow focus, matte box and LCD monitor I am in the market for a follow focus rig, a matte box that holds at least two filters (one of which can rotate) and an LCD monitor (something around 7 inches +/-). I have seen some rigs that have handle attachments to the support rails and was curious about that to. I have heard names like Chrosziel and Cavision batted around and I just wanted to get some feedback as to which brands make the best equipment. Obviously I am not looking to buy all from one company either. Any help that you guys can be would be greatly appreciated.

September 13th, 2005, 03:38 PM	#2
Dan Diaconu Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 804	Follow focus suggestion Joseph, The gear you need to use depends on the camera you have, the work you do and obviously your personal shooting style. I have used FF form Cavision, Arriflex and Chrosziel and I ended up making my own. It will be available about 5 weeks from now, but you can check out the prototype and what it does here: http://dandiaconu.com/available_products.htm Do not be fooled by the introductory low price. I will have the whole list of acessories (whip, white marker donut and marker and more) on the same page soon.

September 14th, 2005, 08:18 AM	#6
Van Berghe New Boot Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 8	lcd monitor Regarding your monitor question... While shopping for an onboard 7" inch lcd with 16:9 I became frustrated by the high prices. Then I switched shopping venues and found some very affordable monitors sold for cars ("portable video"). You'll need to buy a 12 volt / two pound battery, but if you're doing tripod work, just use the battery as a tripod weight. I'm not clever, just poor!

September 14th, 2005, 07:08 PM	#9
Dan Diaconu Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 804	FF opinions http://www.cinematography.net/Pages%...ocus_Units.htm

September 13th, 2005, 04:19 PM	#3
Travis Andersen Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tuckahoe, NY Posts: 87	Hey Dan, Can you tell me if your follow focus will work with the XL2 standard, 16X manual and 3X wide lenses and with a Cavision Mattebox. Here is a picture of my setup with 16X. Thanks http://www.geocities.com/downhillmania/Picture062.jpg

September 13th, 2005, 04:25 PM	#4
Joseph Ivey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 89	Yeah sorry for lack of details. I would be using a Canon 16x manual lens. The follow focus, mattebox and LCD monitor would be used for commercials, industrial videos, and weddings primarily. I am also going to use it for short films or for lower budget features. I am getting into music videos and documentaries as well. As you can see I am getting into a lot of stuff. And before you ask or assume, I have been a camera operator for a few years now. I am not that green, but I am wanting to expand my resume and now I get enough work shooting other people's stuff I want to get more of my own out there.

September 13th, 2005, 04:30 PM	#5
Dan Diaconu Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 804	Perfect match for the set-up. I will have to check the size of the 16X and 3x lenses (assuming you will want to gear them)/(against my gear size), but if you have the gears (just did not mount them yet), then by all means YES. You can do the same; check the diameter of 16X and 3X; if they are smaller or equal to 20X, my gears will mount on them.

September 14th, 2005, 06:28 PM	#7
Joseph Ivey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 89	To be honest price isn't a factor (unless they want 3k for a freakin monitor). I have seen most for aroound $600 which is doable. Right now I am just trying to collect as much info on these three items as possible. I have heard Chrosziel makes a good follow focus and matte box, and Panasonic a good LCD monitor. What I really want is feedback from owners of different follow focus units and matte boxes (the kind supported by the 15mm rails not the clamp on kind) and I am also looking for any support rail system that has some sort of grips for handheld camera shots.

September 14th, 2005, 06:39 PM	#8
Travis Andersen Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tuckahoe, NY Posts: 87	Hey Joeseph, For what you want, handels included Id check into the Cavision system. Here are the prices I got from Gabriela at Cavision when I bought mine. I even bought the filter kit which is worth the money IMO. Hope this helps. Dear Travis, The 4x4 matte box works with the Canon XL-2 in 16x9 mode and with the 3x wide angle in 16x9 mode, as well. Please find the configuration for the 4x4 bellows matte box: - MB413B-2 (4x4 matte box) price: USD 395.00 - ARR1385 (rubber adapter ring) price: USD 10.00 - AR85-72 (conical ring) price: USD 35.00 - RS-15IIM (15mm rods support) price: USD 190.00 - RSPC (plate) price: USD 28.00 - MBF-5P (french flag) price: USD 50.00 - RS15HD (dual handgrips) price: USD 89.00 - optional - HCM4 (protection case) price: USD 10.00 **All our prices are listed retail in US Dollars and FOB Vancouver, Canada.

September 15th, 2005, 01:23 PM	#10
Joseph Ivey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 89	are there any matte boxes that work in both 16:9 and 4:3 for both a manual 16x lens and a 3x lens that are not simply clamped on to the front of the camera? If not, what is my closest option? I just have a weird thing about clamping stuff to a $5,000 camera. I would just as soon use support bars (since it will have a follow focus anyway.