What rails system / matte box are people running? at DVinfo.net

Peter Ford · January 16th, 2012, 12:01 PM

I was hoping to get a shoot35 system - i really like their kit, but according to their website their matte box is too small for CP2's

What matte box / rails systems are people running - anything anyone would recommend?

Doug Jensen · January 16th, 2012, 01:05 PM

O'Connor O-box with their universal baseplate, O-grips, and CFF1 follow-focus.
Red Rock rods.
Zacuto EVF
Bereky plate

Ned Soltz · January 16th, 2012, 01:26 PM

Zacuto Universal Baseplate (already had one) with Zacuto rails and Zacuto back cheeseplate for Anton Bauer battery mount. Petroff mini follow focus. OConnor O Box for Mattebox. Also Zacuto shoulder pad and Shape handles.

Morton Molyneux · January 16th, 2012, 11:15 PM

O'Connor O-box, Bereky plate and rods, Cinevate follow focus

Charles Papert · January 17th, 2012, 12:03 AM

Out of curiousity, Doug, Ned and Morton, are you using the rear bellows on your O-Box? I'm finding that the rubber flange constantly detaches itself from the solid ring--not a great design. Also,one of the red filter tray tiedowns is so recessed (and small) that most people including myself have a really hard time operating it. Otherwise, a decent piece of gear for the price.

Alister Chapman · January 17th, 2012, 01:04 AM

Genus Elite Matte Box with Genus uni-plate, but I really like the new MTF base plate if your only using it for a matte box and rails. It needs a rail support to the rear if you want to hang stuff off the back end.

Paul Ream · January 17th, 2012, 03:47 AM

Mine sounds very similar to Ned Soltz!

Zacuto Universal Baseplate (already had one) with Zacuto rails and Zacuto back cheeseplate for V-Lock battery mount. Genus follow focus. Genus Mattebox. Also Zacuto shoulder pad and Shape handles.

Found the Shape handles work perfectly.

Doug Jensen · January 17th, 2012, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

Out of curiousity, Doug, Ned and Morton, are you using the rear bellows on your O-Box? I'm finding that the rubber flange constantly detaches itself from the solid ring--not a great design. Also,one of the red filter tray tiedowns is so recessed (and small) that most people including myself have a really hard time operating it. Otherwise, a decent piece of gear for the price.

Charles, I completely agree about the locking screws being very hard to get your fingers on. I have given feedback to O'Connor about this and hope they will come up with a better solution.

I don't use the rubber flange because I don't need it, but I also understand what you mean about it not staying attached. That was frustrating at first but then I found I didn't even need it at all with the Sony lenses or Zeiss CP lenses. For my Cine-Xenar lenses (that do need a flexible seal because they extend and retract as I focus) I use a rubber Red Rock donut that solves the problem perfectly.

I really like the build quality and the size of the O'Connor system, but it is not perfect.

Ned Soltz · January 17th, 2012, 07:47 AM

I have had some issues with the rubber bellows attachment on the O Box. I have an old Lomo 37-140 zoom (very nice images, actually) which extends slightly. If I am not perfectly lined up with the mattebox opening and the lens extends, it can dislodge the rubber bellows. Otherwise, it really has not been an issue for me. The locking pins are a problem. But all in all for the money it is hard to beat.

Something else that is pretty essential for F3, IMHO, is the Berkey top plate. The F3 handle is so weak that I wouldn't hang anything on it and the Berkey plate just looks like a natural part of the camera. Really well done.

If I didn't already have the Zacuto plate, I would have bought the ElementTechnica, but the Zacuto more than does the job.

Ned

January 16th, 2012, 12:01 PM	#1
Peter Ford Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London, uk Posts: 99	What rails system / matte box are people running? I was hoping to get a shoot35 system - i really like their kit, but according to their website their matte box is too small for CP2's What matte box / rails systems are people running - anything anyone would recommend?

January 16th, 2012, 01:05 PM	#2
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,441	Re: What rails system / matte box are people running? O'Connor O-box with their universal baseplate, O-grips, and CFF1 follow-focus. Red Rock rods. Zacuto EVF Bereky plate __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools Last edited by Doug Jensen; January 16th, 2012 at 01:51 PM.

January 16th, 2012, 01:26 PM	#3
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	Re: What rails system / matte box are people running? Zacuto Universal Baseplate (already had one) with Zacuto rails and Zacuto back cheeseplate for Anton Bauer battery mount. Petroff mini follow focus. OConnor O Box for Mattebox. Also Zacuto shoulder pad and Shape handles.

January 16th, 2012, 11:15 PM	#4
Morton Molyneux Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Posts: 98	Re: What rails system / matte box are people running? O'Connor O-box, Bereky plate and rods, Cinevate follow focus

January 17th, 2012, 12:03 AM	#5
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: What rails system / matte box are people running? Out of curiousity, Doug, Ned and Morton, are you using the rear bellows on your O-Box? I'm finding that the rubber flange constantly detaches itself from the solid ring--not a great design. Also,one of the red filter tray tiedowns is so recessed (and small) that most people including myself have a really hard time operating it. Otherwise, a decent piece of gear for the price. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 17th, 2012, 01:04 AM	#6
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: What rails system / matte box are people running? Genus Elite Matte Box with Genus uni-plate, but I really like the new MTF base plate if your only using it for a matte box and rails. It needs a rail support to the rear if you want to hang stuff off the back end. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

January 17th, 2012, 03:47 AM	#7
Paul Ream Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Dorset UK Posts: 65	Re: What rails system / matte box are people running? Mine sounds very similar to Ned Soltz! Zacuto Universal Baseplate (already had one) with Zacuto rails and Zacuto back cheeseplate for V-Lock battery mount. Genus follow focus. Genus Mattebox. Also Zacuto shoulder pad and Shape handles. Found the Shape handles work perfectly.

January 17th, 2012, 07:47 AM	#9
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	Re: What rails system / matte box are people running? I have had some issues with the rubber bellows attachment on the O Box. I have an old Lomo 37-140 zoom (very nice images, actually) which extends slightly. If I am not perfectly lined up with the mattebox opening and the lens extends, it can dislodge the rubber bellows. Otherwise, it really has not been an issue for me. The locking pins are a problem. But all in all for the money it is hard to beat. Something else that is pretty essential for F3, IMHO, is the Berkey top plate. The F3 handle is so weak that I wouldn't hang anything on it and the Berkey plate just looks like a natural part of the camera. Really well done. If I didn't already have the Zacuto plate, I would have bought the ElementTechnica, but the Zacuto more than does the job. Ned