HVR-A1U

Scott Karlins · June 21st, 2006, 12:10 PM

Hello all,

Excellent Forums! I have learned alot here...

I am looking into a Matte Box for the A1U...

Looking at Cavisions 3x3" Rubber Shade Matte Box, MB385/P/M/W with French Flap and 8mm Rods. Total cost from Cavision is $340. with the French Flag, 8mm Rod Kit and the MB385.

I will be using it with the Sony VCL-HG0737Y wide angle lens.

Will this work ok? Will it fit-up properly to the lens?

Thank you, Scott K.

Gareth Watkins · June 21st, 2006, 12:37 PM

Hi Scott

Probably your best value Matte boxes on the market are the Formatt or the TLS Kestrel

I have the Kestrel on my Z1 but both units are very similar in design... robust and well-made. They hold two filters, one fixed and one rotating for say, a polarizer...I got a set of Schneider filters and am now looking for a couple of grads..

I paid less than £300 ordering from the UK.

Check : http://www.2filter.com/Formatt/formattFM500.html for a US distributor.

regards
Gareth

Scott Karlins · June 21st, 2006, 12:43 PM

Gareth,

So, you do NOT need a rail kit in order to use this Matte Box?

Thanks, Scott K.

Martin Mayer · June 21st, 2006, 01:47 PM

No, the Formatt screws (with an adapter) into the filter thread - so it is only usable with internally focussing lenses - like the A1.

Be warned - it will dwarf the A1 though!

Gareth Watkins · June 21st, 2006, 04:14 PM

Hi there

Martin is right it is a fairly hefty unit... perhaps too big for the A1...it fits fine on a camera the size of a Z1 and as he says fits easily with an adapter ring... I use it a lot with a polarizing filter for my work.

Maybe something by Cokin would better suit the A1...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Hood_with.html

I used to use this system on my TRV950 which I believe has the same size thread of 37mm...

Regards
Gareth

Ben Winter · June 21st, 2006, 05:40 PM

I have that Cavision you were looking at and, provided you buy a rod support system too, it is the perfect size. I use it with my 35mm adapter.

Hubert Hofer · June 21st, 2006, 06:51 PM

hi,
i bought the formatt 500 and yes it does dwarf the a1 but in a great looking way. this model is very well designed and fits two filters. however, i personally would not buy it again for the simple reason that the plastic material is very, very poor and i've had to replace several fittings and also managed to repair and make new parts myself. if the formatt 500 were made of good material it could easily be one of the best matte boxes on the market.

Scott Karlins · June 22nd, 2006, 03:24 PM

I went with the Cavision setup.

I will be receiving it tomorrow, and will post photo's when I get it all installed.

Thank you all for your posts!

Thanks, Scott K.

Scott Karlins · June 27th, 2006, 01:57 PM

Dennis Kane · June 28th, 2006, 02:35 PM

Very nice Scott, thank you for the great photos. This is the finest matte box system for the A1 I have seen.
D Kane

Ian Greenfield · July 7th, 2006, 09:18 AM

Scott,

I talked to a Cavision rep and he said the setup you describe (and have photographed) is impossible. Can you tell me how you got the Matte Box to fit with the Sony VCL-HG0737Y?

Thanks much,
Ian

Alex Thames · July 7th, 2006, 07:56 PM

Question: what makes one matte box system better than another? Isn't their purpose simply to hold filters? How hard can that be - perhaps a completely naive question, but I don't understand.

David Ziegelheim · July 9th, 2006, 02:11 AM

I have the Cavision 3x3 on my JVC DV300. Does your setup need the rods?

Does it allow full width with the wide angle adapter?

Scott Karlins · July 11th, 2006, 10:11 AM

Ian,

I worked with Bernie at Cavision. Ask for him, and mention my name. He will remember my setup, and get you the same stuff. The system works great.

I got the following:

-3x3 Matte Box in ABS plastic
-Extra long 'T' Bracket for the Matte Box (so the matte box will align with the lens) --This piece is important, so be sure he substitutes it for the stock shorter 'T' Bracket.
-8mm Rod Set
-French Flag
-A1U spacer (so I can eject tapes with the rod set mounted)
-Plastic Adapter Ring (to go from the 3x3 matte box to the Sony VCL-HG0737Y)

I added a thin piece of the fuzzy side of velcro to the inside of the adapter ring, so that it would fit up snug to the outside of the Sony VCL-HG0737Y.

Workes great, and I can use the Sony VCL-HG0737Y at full wide with no problems.

Thnaks, Scott K.

Ian Greenfield · July 11th, 2006, 10:41 AM

Much appreciated, sir.

June 21st, 2006, 12:10 PM	#1
Scott Karlins Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 39	HVR-A1U - Best Matte Box? Hello all, Excellent Forums! I have learned alot here... I am looking into a Matte Box for the A1U... Looking at Cavisions 3x3" Rubber Shade Matte Box, MB385/P/M/W with French Flap and 8mm Rods. Total cost from Cavision is $340. with the French Flag, 8mm Rod Kit and the MB385. I will be using it with the Sony VCL-HG0737Y wide angle lens. Will this work ok? Will it fit-up properly to the lens? Thank you, Scott K. Last edited by Scott Karlins; June 21st, 2006 at 12:42 PM.

June 21st, 2006, 01:47 PM	#4
Martin Mayer Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 416	No, the Formatt screws (with an adapter) into the filter thread - so it is only usable with internally focussing lenses - like the A1. Be warned - it will dwarf the A1 though! __________________ Martin at HeadSpin HD on Blu-ray

June 21st, 2006, 05:40 PM	#6
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	I have that Cavision you were looking at and, provided you buy a rod support system too, it is the perfect size. I use it with my 35mm adapter. __________________ BenWinter.com

June 21st, 2006, 06:51 PM	#7
Hubert Hofer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Torres Strait - Australia Posts: 76	HVR-A1U - Best Matte Box? hi, i bought the formatt 500 and yes it does dwarf the a1 but in a great looking way. this model is very well designed and fits two filters. however, i personally would not buy it again for the simple reason that the plastic material is very, very poor and i've had to replace several fittings and also managed to repair and make new parts myself. if the formatt 500 were made of good material it could easily be one of the best matte boxes on the market.

June 27th, 2006, 01:57 PM	#9
Scott Karlins Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 39	Photo's of the Cavision 3x3 Matte Box & 8mm Rails Here it is! I have it currently setup with the Sony VCL-HG0737Y wide angle lens. Enjoy! http://homepage.mac.com/skarlins/HVR_A1U/_DSC2833.JPG http://homepage.mac.com/skarlins/HVR_A1U/_DSC2834.JPG http://homepage.mac.com/skarlins/HVR_A1U/_DSC2835.JPG http://homepage.mac.com/skarlins/HVR_A1U/_DSC2836.JPG http://homepage.mac.com/skarlins/HVR_A1U/_DSC2837.JPG http://homepage.mac.com/skarlins/HVR_A1U/_DSC2838.JPG http://homepage.mac.com/skarlins/HVR_A1U/_DSC2839.JPG http://homepage.mac.com/skarlins/HVR_A1U/_DSC2840.JPG Thanks, Scott K.

June 21st, 2006, 12:37 PM	#2
Gareth Watkins Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: France Posts: 578	Hi Scott Probably your best value Matte boxes on the market are the Formatt or the TLS Kestrel I have the Kestrel on my Z1 but both units are very similar in design... robust and well-made. They hold two filters, one fixed and one rotating for say, a polarizer...I got a set of Schneider filters and am now looking for a couple of grads.. I paid less than £300 ordering from the UK. Check : http://www.2filter.com/Formatt/formattFM500.html for a US distributor. regards Gareth

June 21st, 2006, 12:43 PM	#3
Scott Karlins Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 39	Gareth, So, you do NOT need a rail kit in order to use this Matte Box? Thanks, Scott K.

June 21st, 2006, 04:14 PM	#5
Gareth Watkins Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: France Posts: 578	Hi there Martin is right it is a fairly hefty unit... perhaps too big for the A1...it fits fine on a camera the size of a Z1 and as he says fits easily with an adapter ring... I use it a lot with a polarizing filter for my work. Maybe something by Cokin would better suit the A1... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Hood_with.html I used to use this system on my TRV950 which I believe has the same size thread of 37mm... Regards Gareth

June 22nd, 2006, 03:24 PM	#8
Scott Karlins Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 39	I went with the Cavision setup. I will be receiving it tomorrow, and will post photo's when I get it all installed. Thank you all for your posts! Thanks, Scott K.

June 28th, 2006, 02:35 PM	#10
Dennis Kane Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: san francisco, ca Posts: 106	Very nice Scott, thank you for the great photos. This is the finest matte box system for the A1 I have seen. D Kane

July 7th, 2006, 09:18 AM	#11
Ian Greenfield Tourist Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2	Scott, I talked to a Cavision rep and he said the setup you describe (and have photographed) is impossible. Can you tell me how you got the Matte Box to fit with the Sony VCL-HG0737Y? Thanks much, Ian

July 7th, 2006, 07:56 PM	#12
Alex Thames Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New York Posts: 508	Question: what makes one matte box system better than another? Isn't their purpose simply to hold filters? How hard can that be - perhaps a completely naive question, but I don't understand.

July 9th, 2006, 02:11 AM	#13
David Ziegelheim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warren, NJ Posts: 398	I have the Cavision 3x3 on my JVC DV300. Does your setup need the rods? Does it allow full width with the wide angle adapter?

July 11th, 2006, 10:11 AM	#14
Scott Karlins Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 39	RE: HVR-A1U - Best Matte Box? Ian, I worked with Bernie at Cavision. Ask for him, and mention my name. He will remember my setup, and get you the same stuff. The system works great. I got the following: -3x3 Matte Box in ABS plastic -Extra long 'T' Bracket for the Matte Box (so the matte box will align with the lens) --This piece is important, so be sure he substitutes it for the stock shorter 'T' Bracket. -8mm Rod Set -French Flag -A1U spacer (so I can eject tapes with the rod set mounted) -Plastic Adapter Ring (to go from the 3x3 matte box to the Sony VCL-HG0737Y) I added a thin piece of the fuzzy side of velcro to the inside of the adapter ring, so that it would fit up snug to the outside of the Sony VCL-HG0737Y. Workes great, and I can use the Sony VCL-HG0737Y at full wide with no problems. Thnaks, Scott K.

July 11th, 2006, 10:41 AM	#15
Ian Greenfield Tourist Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2	Much appreciated, sir.