Matte box recommendations?

Heath McKnight · December 31st, 2003, 04:32 PM

Interesting. I'll check it out in a bit! Time for a SUPER late lunch (or early dinner).

Take care all!

heath

Jeremiah Hall · January 7th, 2004, 01:30 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Les Dit : Umm, you guys know that CCD's are blind to UV right?
Only very fancy back thinned CCDs pick up UV.

Same thing about UV filters for still camera films. An Eastman engineer told me that Kodak films, since cheap disposable cams with UV transmissive lenses came about, they started coating the actual film with a UV absorber as a first layer. So 'true' UV filters are a waste. -->>>

I use one on every camera I shoot with as a safety for the lens. I'd rather have an under $100 UV filter get scratched, and pitch it and buy a new one, then have my oh-dear-lord-that-was-a-lot-of-money lens get scratched, and have to pay to have it repaired or replaced.

Oh, btw, love the Cokin system. I use it for my small DV cam that I use for freelance / fun projects. Inexpensive but effective.

Heath McKnight · January 7th, 2004, 01:57 PM

Which ones do you recommend, Jeremiah, in the Cokin system? A or P series?

heath

Jeremiah Hall · January 11th, 2004, 06:59 PM

It depends on the size of the lens you're shooting with. In my case, I use "P".

Barry Cheong · January 26th, 2004, 08:11 PM

Anyone have any experience with Petroff matteboxes???

http://www.petroff.ws

Trying to find any shred of opinion from people..

Thanks

Ken Hodson · April 27th, 2004, 11:39 AM

I thought I would dig up this matte box thread as I am about to purchase.
I have decided on the Cavision 3x3. Mostly for cost reasons for it and the smaller filters. It accepts 3x3 filters as well as Colkin P series. I am going to purchase 2 Colkin P series circular polarizers to act as a variable ND. Good choice? Would it be worth it to go for the Tiffen Ultra Pol's?
I will also be getting a wide angle adaptor, .65x with zoom through. I have been told that because of the HD10 small barrel size that there won't be clipping with this 3x3 matte box. Anyone know if this is true?
Ken

Dustin Cross · April 27th, 2004, 01:06 PM

Ken, The best mattebox I saw at NAB for the HD10U was the one from Cinetech, but it is expensive. http://www.cinetechonline.com/JVCHDTV.html

Ken Hodson · April 27th, 2004, 01:21 PM

Nice, but I'm locked on the Cavision 3x3 because of cost.
Ken

Gabor Lacza · April 29th, 2004, 12:27 PM

Ken,
The P.Series filters wont fit the 4x4 Matte Box only the 3x3 ?
Gabor

Ken Hodson · April 29th, 2004, 07:56 PM

It doesn't say. My guess is that the Colkin "P" series filters are about the same size as the 3'x3' filters that it uses. Probably too small for 4'x4'.
Ken

Jon Fordham · April 29th, 2004, 08:55 PM

Beware getting locked into older square sized filter systems. 3x3's are getting hard to come by. According to Stan Wallace at the The Filter Gallery in New York, Tiffen (among others) no longer supports or manufactures anything smaller than a 4x4 in a square series. If you are going to sink your hard earned dollars into a lifelong set of tools such as a set of professional filters, I would suggest that you make the move to 4x4 at the smallest. The 4x4's and the 4x5.6's seem to be the most "standardized" size among the mattebox systems and the most adaptable to the array of lenses I've encountered.

Of course, the cheaper resin filter systems like the Cokin P series (85mmx85mm) will always be a good buy since they're cheap and damn near expendable.

Any filter that I intend to use for the rest of my career, I buy in a glass 4x4 size. Anything I just want to play around with or just a cheesy FX filter, I buy a resin in the size applicable to the system I need to work with.

Also, bear in mind that it's not usually wise to purchase some big fancy system adapted to the particular camcorder du jour. Technology moves fast. If you can't adapt your mattebox and filter system to other cameras and lenses long after your HD10 or DVX-whatever is dead and gone, then you kinda wasted your money...

Heath McKnight · April 29th, 2004, 08:56 PM

Good to have you back, Jon!

heath

Gabor Lacza · April 29th, 2004, 10:24 PM

Jon,
are the P.series will fit in the 4x4 Matte box or they will be too small ??
Gabor

Gabor Lacza · April 29th, 2004, 10:32 PM

I just read that Cokin has a Z-pro filters which are 4x4 in size.
They are much cheaper than the regular 4x4 filters so I guess as Jon said they are good for playing around....
Gabor

Jon Fordham · April 30th, 2004, 10:38 AM

Thanks Heath! Just wrapped up feature number 5 and I'm moving right onto a new HDCAM short in two weeks. I'll email you later and catch up.

Gabor,

The P series are 85mm x 85mm (about 3 1/4 by 3 1/4) and are a bit too small to properly fit in a 4x4 tray. I'm aware of the Cokin X-Pro series, but not the Z. The Cokin filters are likely cheaper since they're resin. So yeah, to experiment with or for an expendable effect, they do the job.

December 31st, 2003, 04:32 PM	#16
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Interesting. I'll check it out in a bit! Time for a SUPER late lunch (or early dinner). Take care all! heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 7th, 2004, 01:57 PM	#18
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Which ones do you recommend, Jeremiah, in the Cokin system? A or P series? heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

April 27th, 2004, 11:39 AM	#21
Ken Hodson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 1,315	I thought I would dig up this matte box thread as I am about to purchase. I have decided on the Cavision 3x3. Mostly for cost reasons for it and the smaller filters. It accepts 3x3 filters as well as Colkin P series. I am going to purchase 2 Colkin P series circular polarizers to act as a variable ND. Good choice? Would it be worth it to go for the Tiffen Ultra Pol's? I will also be getting a wide angle adaptor, .65x with zoom through. I have been told that because of the HD10 small barrel size that there won't be clipping with this 3x3 matte box. Anyone know if this is true? Ken __________________ Damnit Jim, I'm a film maker not a sysytems tech.

April 27th, 2004, 01:06 PM	#22
Dustin Cross Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 133	Ken, The best mattebox I saw at NAB for the HD10U was the one from Cinetech, but it is expensive. http://www.cinetechonline.com/JVCHDTV.html __________________ Mahalo, Dusty

April 27th, 2004, 01:21 PM	#23
Ken Hodson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 1,315	Nice, but I'm locked on the Cavision 3x3 because of cost. Ken __________________ Damnit Jim, I'm a film maker not a sysytems tech.

January 7th, 2004, 01:30 PM	#17
Jeremiah Hall Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 69	<<<-- Originally posted by Les Dit : Umm, you guys know that CCD's are blind to UV right? Only very fancy back thinned CCDs pick up UV. Same thing about UV filters for still camera films. An Eastman engineer told me that Kodak films, since cheap disposable cams with UV transmissive lenses came about, they started coating the actual film with a UV absorber as a first layer. So 'true' UV filters are a waste. -->>> I use one on every camera I shoot with as a safety for the lens. I'd rather have an under $100 UV filter get scratched, and pitch it and buy a new one, then have my oh-dear-lord-that-was-a-lot-of-money lens get scratched, and have to pay to have it repaired or replaced. Oh, btw, love the Cokin system. I use it for my small DV cam that I use for freelance / fun projects. Inexpensive but effective.

January 11th, 2004, 06:59 PM	#19
Jeremiah Hall Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 69	It depends on the size of the lens you're shooting with. In my case, I use "P".

January 26th, 2004, 08:11 PM	#20
Barry Cheong Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 25	Anyone have any experience with Petroff matteboxes??? http://www.petroff.ws Trying to find any shred of opinion from people.. Thanks

April 29th, 2004, 12:27 PM	#24
Gabor Lacza Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Budapest , Hungary Posts: 194	Ken, The P.Series filters wont fit the 4x4 Matte Box only the 3x3 ? Gabor

April 29th, 2004, 07:56 PM	#25
Ken Hodson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 1,315	It doesn't say. My guess is that the Colkin "P" series filters are about the same size as the 3'x3' filters that it uses. Probably too small for 4'x4'. Ken __________________ Damnit Jim, I'm a film maker not a sysytems tech.

April 29th, 2004, 08:55 PM	#26
Jon Fordham Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 242	Beware getting locked into older square sized filter systems. 3x3's are getting hard to come by. According to Stan Wallace at the The Filter Gallery in New York, Tiffen (among others) no longer supports or manufactures anything smaller than a 4x4 in a square series. If you are going to sink your hard earned dollars into a lifelong set of tools such as a set of professional filters, I would suggest that you make the move to 4x4 at the smallest. The 4x4's and the 4x5.6's seem to be the most "standardized" size among the mattebox systems and the most adaptable to the array of lenses I've encountered. Of course, the cheaper resin filter systems like the Cokin P series (85mmx85mm) will always be a good buy since they're cheap and damn near expendable. Any filter that I intend to use for the rest of my career, I buy in a glass 4x4 size. Anything I just want to play around with or just a cheesy FX filter, I buy a resin in the size applicable to the system I need to work with. Also, bear in mind that it's not usually wise to purchase some big fancy system adapted to the particular camcorder du jour. Technology moves fast. If you can't adapt your mattebox and filter system to other cameras and lenses long after your HD10 or DVX-whatever is dead and gone, then you kinda wasted your money... __________________ Jon Fordham Director of Photography www.jonfordham.com

April 29th, 2004, 08:56 PM	#27
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Good to have you back, Jon! heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

April 29th, 2004, 10:24 PM	#28
Gabor Lacza Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Budapest , Hungary Posts: 194	Jon, are the P.series will fit in the 4x4 Matte box or they will be too small ?? Gabor

April 29th, 2004, 10:32 PM	#29
Gabor Lacza Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Budapest , Hungary Posts: 194	Z-Pro I just read that Cokin has a Z-pro filters which are 4x4 in size. They are much cheaper than the regular 4x4 filters so I guess as Jon said they are good for playing around.... Gabor

April 30th, 2004, 10:38 AM	#30
Jon Fordham Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 242	Thanks Heath! Just wrapped up feature number 5 and I'm moving right onto a new HDCAM short in two weeks. I'll email you later and catch up. Gabor, The P series are 85mm x 85mm (about 3 1/4 by 3 1/4) and are a bit too small to properly fit in a 4x4 tray. I'm aware of the Cokin X-Pro series, but not the Z. The Cokin filters are likely cheaper since they're resin. So yeah, to experiment with or for an expendable effect, they do the job. __________________ Jon Fordham Director of Photography www.jonfordham.com