Matte Box Discussion

[Ryan Chapman]

I'm looking to buy a matte box in the next couple days, and would love some insight on the matter. I would preferably like to spend $1500 or less, as the MB is one of the least important accessories to me right now (still need to upgrade my FF and sticks).

Here's a couple that I'm looking at:

D|Matte - $300 - screw on, uses the filter threads, seems too cheap for my needs, but thought I'd list it
Trusmt Matte Box - $450 (with flags, donuts, everything)- I'm looking at this one the most right now, since I've heard nothing but glowing reviews for it, and it has rotating 4x4 filters, swings away, made of carbon fiber, and seems overall solid construction.
Shoot35 Matte Box - $600 (starting price) - 4x4, swingaway, rotating, but too cheap? Reviews are mixed.
Cinevate MB - $900 - Same functions as Trusmt, but is it any better?
Redrock MB - starts at $900 - Modular, swings away, can rotate, but I've used before and really don't like how clunky it is.

Any other suggestions? Especially if anyone has experience with the Trusmt, because that really seems like the best of the lot to me, especially for the price.

[Steve Sherrick]

If you are looking to use 4x4 filters your options are greater. Once you get into 4x5.65 and bigger, then other matte boxes will be required. I opted for an O-Box. It's pretty much within your budget. Does have its limitations which I'll outline below but it's a solid piece of gear.

- Only 1 rotating stage (138mm bellows can be rotated as well)
- No swing-away
- Plastic filter holders (I actually don't think this is a limitation though. Keeps things light)
- Small knobs for filter holders
- Comes standard in 15mm. You need some additional accessories to make it 19mm

I have a shoulder pad from Shoot35 for my DSLR rig and it's built very well. If their matte box is of that quality, you'll be fine.

I had a Redrock MB back in the day but eventually got rid of it because it was too big.

[Brandon J.F.]

O'Connor O-Box. It's ~$1100. Mine just arrived today. It works with 4x4 or 4x5.65 filters (2 total) and you can add an optional Belows Ring and put a 138mm round filter in that. It's a really solid piece of gear. Oh, and there are 1/4-20 holes on the top of the matte box that you can use to mount your RED 5" LCD to. If you have any questions about this matte box I will help you out as best I can.

[Björn Benckert]

I sell you a unused (The only thing missing is the box it came in.) Red matte box with cage. and 4 carbon flags and custom made carbon 19mm rod mount for: 1800USD + shipping.
See picture from red store screen dump. (the rod mount I can snap a picture of if requested, don't have it here.)

[PatrickFaith]

Any other suggestions? Especially if anyone has experience with the Trusmt, because that really seems like the best of the lot to me, especially for the price.

From some other threads, I read about oconner obox and x ... so I bought that ... was fairly inexpensive (considering other options) ... here's the picture:

[Ryan Chapman]

O'Connor O-Box. It's ~$1100. Mine just arrived today. It works with 4x4 or 4x5.65 filters (2 total) and you can add an optional Belows Ring and put a 138mm round filter in that. It's a really solid piece of gear. Oh, and there are 1/4-20 holes on the top of the matte box that you can use to mount your RED 5" LCD to. If you have any questions about this matte box I will help you out as best I can.

Very cool. Always assumed the C'Connor would be out of my price range. The ability to mount an LCD on there might be useful for pulling focus from the side. It might be too wide for me though.. I'll be using mostly Zeiss ZE glass at first. Would I need a whole set of step down rings?

[Brian Iannone]

I'd highly recommend RED's own Pro Matte Box. I will say, however, that its lack of a rail mount is pretty disadvantageous. Hopefully, they'll be releasing something soon that will let you attach it to a rail system.

By the way, I think this thread should have been posted under Accessories for DSMC. :)

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

( deleted, pointed at a non-carbon fiber... nevermind... )

[Brandon J.F.]

From some other threads, I read about oconner obox and x ... so I bought that ... was fairly inexpensive (considering other options) ...

I got the same setup :)

Very cool. Always assumed the C'Connor would be out of my price range. The ability to mount an LCD on there might be useful for pulling focus from the side. It might be too wide for me though.. I'll be using mostly Zeiss ZE glass at first. Would I need a whole set of step down rings?

You may. There is a bellows you can order and a few options for reduction rings for the bellows. Have you thought about getting screw on filters?

Can anyone else help out with advice on this?

I'd highly recommend RED's own Pro Matte Box. I will say, however, that its lack of a rail mount is pretty disadvantageous. Hopefully, they'll be releasing something soon that will let you attach it to a rail system.

I was planning on getting the RED Pro Matte Box, but I can't use clip on matte boxes with the lenses I have and without at least LW rod support it's useless to me right now.

[Ryan Chapman]

I don't see any advantages to ordering a RED matte box over an O-Box, since they in the same price range, and the O-Box can be either rail mounted or clip-on, and the O-Box has a rotating filter and the 1/4-20 threads.

Question: Does the O-Box adjust horizontally and vertically?