Good Mattbox?

[Ben Goldenberg]

I was just on the redrockmicro site looking for an update on their mattbox, it appears they have no interest in updating their potential customers. Someone made mention of this product:
http://www.hysonfilms.com/
It costs 599 and looks pretty good, I am not in the market for a 2000 dollar matt box so I was wondering if anyone knew about this product?

[Rick Darge]

Hey man

I was looking long and hard like you..

I settled on the $2k ARRI LMB-5 and I'm loving it. Basic clip on 2-stage 4x5.65 mattebox. Very functional and sturdy. Good solution until we see something from CVB. You're #2339 so by the time you get your camera, RedrockMicro should be shipping and CVB/RED would have announced what they're doing by then.. No need to get something now..

Defoe systems is worth looking into as well. Cheaper than ARRI with more options too.

http://defoetech.com/

[Ben Goldenberg]

How do you know Redrock will be shipping by then, it seems like they will never ship?

[Rick Darge]

I don't know if they will be shipping by then.. I'm just being optimistic.

Honestly, I think the CVB box is going to be the one to hold out for. That's just what my gut is telling me.

You will probably be getting your camera sometime at the end of May / beginning of June...NAB 2008 is going to bring lots of new 3rd party toys I imagine.

[Ben Goldenberg]

Hehe optimism is good, but redrock is a little crazy, they have not had an update in like two years!! Luckily I think I will go to NAB to check out all these new toys!

[CVB]

NAB should be good this year. :)

[Levski]

Try this:http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8364

[Gian Joon]

Viewfactor will have their mattebox at NAB, that's the way I read Curt's posts. But the real question is how soon after that it will in production and deliverable. There are lot of people on Reduser facing this dilemma of waiting or not waiting.

[Ben Goldenberg]

Yeah that's all good, but nobody has told me yet if this is a good mattbox:

http://www.hysonfilms.com/

Sorry CVB, yours will be over a grand, and frankly I can't pay that for some metal flaps....

[Rick Darge]

Hyson looks like a piece of shit IMO

I would go with a Petroff or a Vocas 350 - Defoe is a good price..

Unless you want a piece of cardboard, I don't think you're going to find a NEW mattebox you'll enjoy using for under a thousand.

You might be better off checking out Visual Products or something like that, you can get an old, rebuilt ARRI for fairly cheap there..

http://www.visualproducts.com/store03.asp?ID=37&Cat=3

or keep an eye on EBAY

[lisa hayse]

I beg to differ about that.

Hyson Matte box is great engineering and for that price.
That's a great accomplishment for these small companies
that offer alternatives to other costly brands..

So wise up and give these small companies a chance
and why tell people to buy used old crap when new matte
boxes are being sold at more affordable price.

Lisa

[Rick Darge]

Sorry Lisa, I've seen the Hyson and that is my gut impression of it. I'm sure CVB & Redrock are going to come up with some really nice solutions at a good price.. it's just a matter of when.. For now it's ARRI, Petroff or Vocas

[Nate Clapp]

just bought Vocas 450, and i must say I was pleasantly surprised by build quality. I was expecting good, since I have several other smaller vocas matte boxes, but this is definitely the deluxe class. Not for everyone i suppose- but lens hole is 144mm so it covers lost of options- it even works as a clip on on my cooke 20-100! And I would actually use it as a clip on in that situation, although the swing away bracket is very well machined. and I get to use P-size filters which is huge as I already have them. my other choice was arri mb-14 which would cover just about anything you throw at it, but it is heavy and cost over 2K more.

[Shawn Booth]

IMO -

Best camera = ARRI MB-20II. Why screw around? Sure it's expensive, but the RED is a big boy toy that needs big boy accessories.
I have it, totally worth it.

Or wait until after NAB when RED will probably release their matte box.
(See a pic under Jim's RECON Threads)

Again, just my opinion. No need to comment in regards to the pricing of the ARRI.

Aloha

[Shawn Booth]

my other choice was arri mb-14 which would cover just about anything you throw at it, but it is heavy and cost over 2K more.

Really? You think the it's heavy? C'mon...

[Shawn Booth]

Here's that pic so you don't have to go far:

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z155/surf_kowboy/9_mattebox.jpg

[Zakaree Sandberg]

dont treat red like a dvx.. that hyson might be good for some students, but its not worth it to settle. My bet is on reds clip on solution, or redrocks rail mounted mattebox. We will have to wait and see who can have the best bang for buck. ARRI makes a real nice MB, but your right it can be costly. I believe that same quality can be done for less.. and I believe we will see some of those solutions come NAB. I have knots in my stomach because im so anxious for the show!!

[Rick Darge]

ARRI LMB-5 is pretty rad

[Mitch Gross]

Come to the Abel booth to see a variety of mattebox options.

[Nate Clapp]

my main concern with arri MB20 is it isn't big enough for sonce cine lenses, and if your red works alot it will encounter those. in that case arri MB-14 is the way to go. Heavy mofo- not for handheld, but that's why they also make clip ons. (buy two matte boxes,no prob, right,just no money for lenses.)
Anyway my compromise was vocas 450- only cine lenses I can't mount are cooke 18-100 and optimo 24-290, and vocas is not so heavy that it will kill me hand held. (no, not the optimo hand held, silly)
different strokes for different folks. my perfect matte box may not be your perfect one. But, again, vocas 450 was quality parts. i imagine similar to mb20 in build quality.

[Nate Clapp]

and mitch, you'd be happy to know I bought mine from abel.

[Michael Stanmore]

NAB should be good this year. :)

I'm lugging a jar of pennies all the way from London... it's got your name on it... don't make me lug it back with me... :sick:

[Mitch Gross]

and mitch, you'd be happy to know I bought mine from abel.

I'm happy when people get the tools that solve their problems.

[Ben Goldenberg]

Well thanks for all the help guys, I will take this all into consideration!