ND's for dummies on a budget

[Teague Kennedy]

So, we've got our Nikkor 17-35. We need ND's. What's gonna be the bestest cheapest option for quick ND swap out in EFP work. (light mattebox without big barndoors?)

[Rodrigo Lizana]

So, we've got our Nikkor 17-35. We need ND's. What's gonna be the bestest cheapest option for quick ND swap out in EFP work. (light mattebox without big barndoors?)
Maybe those cheap rounded screw-in ND filters for photo lenses ?

[Jeff Kilgroe]

If you have a mattebox, then the appropriate sized ND's is probably the way to go. Or you can buy a set of 77mm ND's that will fit your 17-35mm lens along with a few of the other Nikkor common lenses like their 85mm, 105mm and I believe the 135mm.

[Greg Voevodsky]

Don't forget a polarizer (if you like the look) works as a great ND.

[Ralph Oshiro]

Wouldn't it be great if we could just "dial" the RED sensitivity down from 0 dB to like -36 dB?

[Ralph Oshiro]

Maybe those cheap rounded screw-in ND filters for photo lenses ?
That's what I'm gonna use at first. I'll buy a whole set of big ones, and a bunch of step-down rings.

[Joel Kaye]

That's what I'm gonna use at first. I'll buy a whole set of big ones, and a bunch of step-down rings.

Screwing them in and out isn't as convenient as dropping them into and pulling them out of nice mattebox.

I'm with you on the negative gain thing - but I'm not sure how CMOS chips work so I don't know if that makes any sense.

[Ralph Oshiro]

Well, I never use filters, so I always view matte boxes as an unnecessary PITA. Although now, they're far more critical to RED, since there's no built-in ND filter wheel. I have high hopes for the RedRock Micro matte box coming soon. I just tend to move so quickly when shooting (to avoid security), and tend to make so many camera support changes (hi-hat, Steadicam, dolly, handheld), that extra crap on my camera just tends to slow things down.

[Ralph Oshiro]

But there's some really neat matte box solutions specifically designed for still lenses that may be worth looking into for those on a budget. I think the Lee matte box is pretty affordable (it's one of those accordion-style ones). Check also, medium-format camera matte box systems like those for Mamiya 6x7 cameras.

[Joel Kaye]

But there's some really neat matte box solutions specifically designed for still lenses that may be worth looking into for those on a budget.

Just get the rails version and do it right IMHO. I think it's faster when switching lenses than a screw in matte box would be.

[tj williams]

There are some very nice clip on solutions from chrozeil etc. require of course that the end of the lense doesn't rotate when focusing and all the Nikon glass is different sizes so maybe modifying the lenses to an 80mm outer end to get them all consistent. These will mostly cover with a 4/4 or 4/5.6 which is a lot lighter weight than a full on 105mm9mm Matte-box with swing away etc.

[Stephen Williams]

Well, I never use filters, so I always view matte boxes as an unnecessary PITA.

Hi,

I remember testing using a matte box on video shoots a few years back and was staggered how much contrast & definition improved.

Stephen

[Ralph Oshiro]

Hi,

I remember testing using a matte box on video shoots a few years back and was staggered how much contrast & definition improved.

StephenWell, they always say, "Never say never . . ." I'm sure I'll end up getting one (hopefully RedRock will make theirs sometime in the near future). Yup, then I gotta get a whole slew of NDs. Then, of course, a whole slew of ND grads. Then maybe a couple of those "fun" filters. And yeah, I guess, a polarizer. But I've sworn never (there's that word again) put a ProMist or anything like that in front of my glass. Never made any sense to me to f-ck-up your image BEFORE it gets to the sensor. But, yup, I already bought a foam-lined, hard case, all ready to be dedicated to just . . . "filters."

[Ralph Oshiro]

I just always thought it was funny the way people liked to accessorize their DV cameras with matte boxes that cost as much or more than the camera itself! We all know they (we) do it to make the camera "look cool."

[tj williams]

Wouldn't it be great if we could just "dial" the RED sensitivity down from 0 dB to like -36 dB?

This suggestion was never commented on by RED TEAM people... Stuart...
this went on to be a discussion of matteboxes, We have a digital slr which does this. Wonderful alternative to the eng camera filter wheel?????

[chuck colburn]

Filter parallelism and flatness becomes more critical with the wider angle lenses. If you don't have access to an autocollimator to check them out, here's a trick you can use. Find a room with overhead flourescent light fixtures, then hold the lens parallel to the fixture and look at the reflected image. If the outline of the fixture appears to be straight lines then you filter is fairly plano (flat). If you see two reflected images that are distinctaly seperated from each other the filter has a wedge to it. Either one would be a reason to reject the filter for wide angle use.