Matte-box on Ebay

[Carlos E. Martinez]

I am curious about this matte-box bidding on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Matte-box-with-R...QQcmdZViewItem

The strange thing is that it's offered in India and I can't identify which MB that is.

Are they manufacturing any matte-box in India?


Carlos

[Chris Hurd]

Looks like a Century to me:

http://www.schneideroptics.com/ecomm....aspx?CID=1080

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Well, I did find a mail from last May, by Giroud Francois about this matte-box:

http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=66960

Price seems to have gone up since he last bought it, almost doubling. But he doesn't mention the rods and tripod spacer, which convert this matte-box into a very interesting model.

What do you think?

Now if it had side leafs...


Carlos

[Chris Hurd]

Why bother with cheap knock-off copies... looks like patent infringement to me. Quality gear always pays for itself anyway, so why not just buy the original. I'll pass the link on to Schneider Optics; they will probably take an interest in it.

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Why bother with cheap knock-off copies... looks like patent infringement to me. Quality gear always pays for itself anyway, so why not just buy the original.

http://www.schneideroptics.com

First of all I am not sure if it's a copy of the Century, which if I am not wrong it's made by Vocas. The photos I have seen fromthe Century are not too revealing.

Second, if you add-up what the two parts (matte-box and rods) show here:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

... it's close to $1,400.

[Carlos E. Martinez]

My main concern is if it will fit the Z1, because that model seems designed for the PD170.

(Sorry, I have just taken another look and it seems to fit the Z1 too)

[Giroud Francois]

seems you are mixing to models from that seller (DV-Shop23)
he still got that cheap matte box for around 100$
http://cgi.ebay.com/Matte-box-French...QQcmdZViewItem

but it is not the same as advised on top of this thread.

"Why bother with cheap knock-off copies", in that case i would say, if there is no moving parts, no electronics, just plastic and metal, why bother for the expensive original one, what is the added value of high price for a piece of plastic ?
There is nothing to justify such high price, especially when proved that you can get it for a lot less.

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Originally Posted by Giroud Francois

seems you are mixing to models from that seller (DV-Shop23)
he still got that cheap matte box for around 100$
http://cgi.ebay.com/Matte-box-French...QQcmdZViewItem

but it is not the same as advised on top of this thread.

No, it's not. The one I am interested in can rotate the filters, but I think that model you mention does not. The simpler model certainly looks very much like Century's wide-angle sunshade, less the French Flag.

"Why bother with cheap knock-off copies", in that case i would say, if there is no moving parts, no electronics, just plastic and metal, why bother for the expensive original one, what is the added value of high price for a piece of plastic ?
There is nothing to justify such high price, especially when proved that you can get it for a lot less.

I couldn't have said it better.

[Greg Boston]

Originally Posted by Giroud Francois

"Why bother with cheap knock-off copies", in that case i would say, if there is no moving parts, no electronics, just plastic and metal, why bother for the expensive original one, what is the added value of high price for a piece of plastic ?
There is nothing to justify such high price, especially when proved that you can get it for a lot less.

Plastic formulations can vary widely in quality. Better quality items like this will have more precise machining for better fit, and will use better quality plastic and/or metal.

Believe me, I could tell you some horror stories about the quality of metal used in tools and equipment coming from a certain country, but I won't do that publicly. The stuff I am referring to is basically junk, and in some cases dangerous.

-gb-

[Kurth Bousman]

hey - it looks pretty nice to me for $350. Chris , there's no way Century has working patents on a matte box. Every idea related to matte boxes has to have been in the public domain for decades and if the Indians can make it cheaper- more power to them. After all , they were ripped of by the British for 2 centuries !

[Giroud Francois]

quote :
"The stuff I am referring to is basically junk, and in some cases dangerous."yes , i am totally with you when your life/security can depends of that part. but hey , we are talking about a sunshade you are screwing in front of a camera !
why the hell , should i pay 1300$ for this ? For some people here it is more than what they paid for the camera on which it is mounted on.

[Phil Bloom]

it's made by the same company i bought a steadicam vest from. Am sure it's fine, but I thoroughly recommend the formatt 500. Very cheap, about same price or less and you can rotate filters, also solid metal. No rods included, but probably best to get them seperately anyway!

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Originally Posted by Phil Bloom

it's made by the same company i bought a steadicam vest from. Am sure it's fine, but I thoroughly recommend the formatt 500. Very cheap, about same price or less and you can rotate filters, also solid metal. No rods included, but probably best to get them seperately anyway!

Yes, the Formatt 500 looks quite good. But it's not the same price.

In fact the Geardear might be a better deal than the Formatt.

But what seems interesting in this Indian matte-box is that it comes complete, with base and rods. All kits including MB and rods are more than $600.

The filters can rotate on this one too.

[Phil Bloom]

Am sure it is fine, my stablizer brace from them is fine. The rods look fine, don't look very long though and their shipping is quite fast. Good quality rods like cavision ones will set you back another $200.

I bought my formatt 500 for about $320 new. I also have the matteblox which is also very nice and handy to have as it is so light...

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Originally Posted by Phil Bloom

Am sure it is fine, my stablizer brace from them is fine. The rods look fine, don't look very long though and their shipping is quite fast. Good quality rods like cavision ones will set you back another $200.

Cavision are good because they are carbon fiber. I like them.

I already made the bid on Ebay for the kit.

After some time using it I will know what I would like a matte-box to have and perhaps sell this one and go for another one.

I also have the matteblox which is also very nice and handy to have as it is so light...

The matteblox looks good, though a bit expensive, I think. Something made basically out of fabric should be costing around $100 and not $320 as it does. A Portabrace for the Shure FP33 mixer, with pocket and suede shoulder strap costs $140.

So these guys ARE overpricing IMHO.