How big is the Century DV Matte box (dimensions)? at DVinfo.net

Blip Pio · July 12th, 2003, 12:16 PM

Anyone who owns the Century DV matte box, could you tell me the dimensions of the hood (width x height)?

I am trying to see how big it will be on a PDX10....

thanks!

David Ziegelheim · July 12th, 2003, 01:30 PM

Big. I plan to use the Century .65 wide angle which users a 62mm thread and screw on filters with the stock wide angle hood.

Century Matte Box Manual: http://www.centuryoptics.com/pdf/dvmb%20manual%20122.pdf

Bryan Beasleigh · July 13th, 2003, 05:31 PM

It's approx 5 1/2 x 7" and weighs 1 lb 9 oz. If you want a nice small rig that'll work well with a .65 WA tehn try the cavision 3" matte box. With a plastic back mount it's $200 and $250 with an aluminum back mount . for $100 you can buy the carbon fiber mini rod support system. The hood is soft rubber and only 4 3/4 x 5 1/2.

I spent about 4 hours trying out all of their products at their warehouse. They have the 3x3 down pat. They have a new type of tray that identical to the Chrosziel.

I use the lens shade which is the hood part of the 3" matte box and it's great. I also have their bellows 4x4 with the 15mm carbon rod support. that would be way too big.

http://www.cavision.com/Mattbox/MiniRods.htm

http://www.cavision.com/Mattbox/3X3Rectanglar.htm

Blip Pio · July 13th, 2003, 06:23 PM

Thanks Bryan. The 3x3 Cavision looks like a good fit for the PDX10. My only hesitation is that the 3x3 filters seem harder to get than the 4x4s. Is this correct? I guess they would be a bit cheaper than the 4s, which is good, though.

Do you know how much the mini-rod system is?

Bryan Beasleigh · July 13th, 2003, 10:48 PM

It's only $100. it's 8mm carbon fiber with a black anodized base plate. The 3x3 mattebox with filter trays with an aluminum back mount is $250. So for $350 you get the Matte Box and Rods assembly. The unit will clamp on, but for the TRV950/PDX10 I'd go with the rods. You may require an adapter ring but they're cheap.

Catherine, the office manager, tells me that it will take P size resin without the filter frame. 3x3 filters are not always stocked, but they are available and considerably cheaper.
Here is a source
http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/format33.html
Where are you located?

Blip Pio · July 15th, 2003, 02:43 PM

Bryan-

Thanks for your input on the Cavision. I actually went ahead and got the mini rods and the 3x3 like you suggested. I can't believe the Century box is that big! The Cavision seems better suited to the PDX10...

I went ahead and got some Formatt filters, too. I looked into the Tiffen 4x4s (you can actually have Tiffen cut them to 3x3, but it takes a while and the price is the same as the 4x4s--ouch)

I'm in Chicago, btw...

Bryan Beasleigh · July 16th, 2003, 10:40 AM

Formatt filters are all made from Schott glass while tiffens are mostly green glass. Tel catherine who sent you. I get a kick out of seeing people suceed. Catherine and her husband work very hard at designing a good product. I've seen the system you bought and compared to the competition it's a steal.

Boyd Ostroff · July 16th, 2003, 01:33 PM

Bryan, this sounds like a nice solution for the PDX-10. Blip: if you get a chance, would love to see a photo of your fully assembled rig!

Blip Pio · July 26th, 2003, 10:17 AM

So I got the Cavision in the mail the other day; very happy with it.

Boyd, I'll make a more detailed post on my impressions of this matte box. I have posted some photos of it. The size seems a very nice fit for the PDX10. (Looks pretty cool, too!)

http://www.blippio.com

Nice set design, btw. I worked as a scenic carpenter at a theatre for a few years and did some small set designsmyself...I can appreciate your work!

July 12th, 2003, 12:16 PM	#1
Blip Pio New Boot Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 19	How big is the Century DV Matte box (dimensions)? Anyone who owns the Century DV matte box, could you tell me the dimensions of the hood (width x height)? I am trying to see how big it will be on a PDX10.... thanks!

July 12th, 2003, 01:30 PM	#2
David Ziegelheim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warren, NJ Posts: 398	Big. I plan to use the Century .65 wide angle which users a 62mm thread and screw on filters with the stock wide angle hood. Century Matte Box Manual: http://www.centuryoptics.com/pdf/dvmb%20manual%20122.pdf

July 13th, 2003, 05:31 PM	#3
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	It's approx 5 1/2 x 7" and weighs 1 lb 9 oz. If you want a nice small rig that'll work well with a .65 WA tehn try the cavision 3" matte box. With a plastic back mount it's $200 and $250 with an aluminum back mount . for $100 you can buy the carbon fiber mini rod support system. The hood is soft rubber and only 4 3/4 x 5 1/2. I spent about 4 hours trying out all of their products at their warehouse. They have the 3x3 down pat. They have a new type of tray that identical to the Chrosziel. I use the lens shade which is the hood part of the 3" matte box and it's great. I also have their bellows 4x4 with the 15mm carbon rod support. that would be way too big. http://www.cavision.com/Mattbox/MiniRods.htm http://www.cavision.com/Mattbox/3X3Rectanglar.htm

July 13th, 2003, 06:23 PM	#4
Blip Pio New Boot Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 19	Thanks Bryan. The 3x3 Cavision looks like a good fit for the PDX10. My only hesitation is that the 3x3 filters seem harder to get than the 4x4s. Is this correct? I guess they would be a bit cheaper than the 4s, which is good, though. Do you know how much the mini-rod system is?

July 13th, 2003, 10:48 PM	#5
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	It's only $100. it's 8mm carbon fiber with a black anodized base plate. The 3x3 mattebox with filter trays with an aluminum back mount is $250. So for $350 you get the Matte Box and Rods assembly. The unit will clamp on, but for the TRV950/PDX10 I'd go with the rods. You may require an adapter ring but they're cheap. Catherine, the office manager, tells me that it will take P size resin without the filter frame. 3x3 filters are not always stocked, but they are available and considerably cheaper. Here is a source http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/format33.html Where are you located?

July 15th, 2003, 02:43 PM	#6
Blip Pio New Boot Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 19	Bryan- Thanks for your input on the Cavision. I actually went ahead and got the mini rods and the 3x3 like you suggested. I can't believe the Century box is that big! The Cavision seems better suited to the PDX10... I went ahead and got some Formatt filters, too. I looked into the Tiffen 4x4s (you can actually have Tiffen cut them to 3x3, but it takes a while and the price is the same as the 4x4s--ouch) I'm in Chicago, btw...

July 16th, 2003, 10:40 AM	#7
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Formatt filters are all made from Schott glass while tiffens are mostly green glass. Tel catherine who sent you. I get a kick out of seeing people suceed. Catherine and her husband work very hard at designing a good product. I've seen the system you bought and compared to the competition it's a steal.

July 16th, 2003, 01:33 PM	#8
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Bryan, this sounds like a nice solution for the PDX-10. Blip: if you get a chance, would love to see a photo of your fully assembled rig!

July 26th, 2003, 10:17 AM	#9
Blip Pio New Boot Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 19	So I got the Cavision in the mail the other day; very happy with it. Boyd, I'll make a more detailed post on my impressions of this matte box. I have posted some photos of it. The size seems a very nice fit for the PDX10. (Looks pretty cool, too!) http://www.blippio.com Nice set design, btw. I worked as a scenic carpenter at a theatre for a few years and did some small set designsmyself...I can appreciate your work!