If I were going to buy a mattebox today...

[Rick Darge]

Chroziel seems like the best bang for the buck right now, Which one should I get? I don't want any vignetting at fully wide 18mm on the zoom.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=search&A=search&Q=&sb=bs%2Cupper%28ds%29&sq=asc&ac=&bsi=&shs=&ci=2118&at=Brand_Chrosziel&at=%23+of+Stages_2

[Evan Owen]

Chroziel seems like the best bang for the buck right now, Which one should I get? I don't want any vignetting at fully wide 18mm on the zoom.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=search&A=search&Q=&sb=bs%2Cupper%28ds%29&sq=asc&ac=&bsi=&shs=&ci=2118&at=Brand_Chrosziel&at=%23+of+Stages_2
It's not available right now, but it looks like the $500 RedRockMicro microMattebox is going to deliver alot of bang for the buck when it ships. They'll be made mostly of aluminum and come with three rotating 4x4 or 4x5.56 stages and an option for more.

http://redrockmicro.com/microMattebox.html

[Rick Darge]

Do you know if their mb will cause any vignetting? I guess nobody knows as of yet. I wish they would announce a ship date, I'm sure it will be before xmas though.

[JoshBertrand]

Looks to be almost ready to ship. From their rep on the Redrock forums posted 9/24... (and he specifically mentions compatibility with RED).

"- design is complete and finished (barring any issues that arise in production)
- all materials are finalized (the microMB is primarily metal with high impact plastic in appropriate areas to help with weight.
- the microMB is compatible with both DV and HD/V camera setups, as well as the Red camera.

I have not received a firm date from engineering, so as much as I'd like to, there is not a firm public shipping date yet (though obviously we are quite far along)."

[kd5ftn]

RedRocks mattebox looks a little cheap though and i have heard its sloppy?

[Brandon Fraley]

its what i'm getting

[Yannick Hagman]

I hope the redrock mattebox delivers. I find it sometimes difficult not spending to much money on my HV20. I'm interested in this mattebox because I could use it with a red mini someday.

I recommend red announcing a basic production package without the charging acessoires but carbon rails and a way to attach it to 15mm rails. I could mount the SGpro on top of that. :)

[Evan Owen]

RedRocks mattebox looks a little cheap though and i have heard its sloppy?

Yeah it's cheap, it's $500. No seriously, it might not be an MB20, but for some people (like me), it's worth the savings in the end.

I heard it's actually pretty well built. They've redesigned it quite a bit since they had the prototype on display. I have a feeling it'll exceed people's expectations (for the price point, anyway).

[JoshBertrand]

I haven't seen the new build in person... but it's all metal now and I think it will be well worth the small investment in it. I know quite a few Red res holders are looking at them so I'm sure we'll hear all about it once they hit the market.

[Chris Gearhart]

FreshDV likes Redrock's MB. It's supposed to be really well designed, and I think it will work VERY well with RED. . .

hint hint

[Michael Schrengohst]

Once someone gets the RR and marries it to RED please
post a review.
Thx

[Yannick Hagman]

What do you guys think of this one?
http://www.geardear.com/

[Brandon Fraley]

ive seen people link to it often, but never anyone who's actually used it

[Michael Ragen]

The geardear mattebox will get the job done, but it is not professional. It is made of hard foam not metal. If you only have a few hundred bucks for a mattebox it might be ok.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I've only seen pictures of the GearDear on their site... Doesn't look like one I'd be interested in, I'd rather just rent an MB20 until the RedRock comes out if I need one. Or if I really need one and renting isn't going to be cost-effective, then I'd buy the Vocas mattebox. I used the Vocas with my HVX and M2 adapter and it worked pretty good... It's not as nice as the MB20 by any means, but it's almost as nice as some of the Chrosziel MB configs and a good deal cheaper.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Just to add to my last post, the Vocas MB-325 accommodates filters from 3x3 up to 4x6 and has two independent rotating trays. It mounts on 15mm rods, has internal eyebrows and goes for about $1300. French flag / barn doors are extra.

[jaadgy akanni]

ive seen people link to it often, but never anyone who's actually used it

A fellow RedRockmicro forum member Steve Duschene uses the Geardear mattebox in his JVC HD100 setup. Steve is quite an impressive DP, judging from what he's posted. He's now shooting a feature in France using the M2 adapter and the Geardear mattebox-check it out:
http://haka-prod.fr-bb.com/Tournages-f19/Made-In-Earth-t198.htm

[Yannick Hagman]

I guess I will wait for the Redrock, what is the material they will use?

[Brandon Fraley]

"High quality, reinforced machined aluminum and ABS"

[casey warren]

What does the Arri MB-20 run price wise?

[Jeff Kilgroe]

What does the Arri MB-20 run price wise?

About $4K, +/- a few $$ depending on extras and where you buy.

[Rick Darge]

I've never used the MB20. Besides being labeled ARRI, why does it cost so much?

[Finner]

Besides being labeled ARRI, why does it cost so much?

Because German child labour factories are all union.

[Kevin Halverson]

Because German child labour factories are all union.

And AMGs are expensive to purchase.

[WesG]

I wish there was an alternative from Viewfactor or Redrock, but it looks like we might have to bite the bullet and kit our upcoming RED with Arri follow focus and matte box.

There are so many bits and pieces it's hard to know what to get. We've now compiled the list to the attached order.

Those of you with more experience with this gear please let me know what you think.