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This page takes you through why you should use a Matte Box.
This page takes you through why you should use a Matte Box.
Matte boxes are commonplace on professional shoots. So what do they do ?
They shield the lens from unwanted light, which can cause flare or a whitening of the image, as extra light bounces around the optics of the lens. Here is an example of keeping the sun off the lens, when it is not in shot.
Most of the time this is done with a top flag, seen here, keeping the sun or the brightness of the sky out. In a studio situation the flag can keep back lights out too. More sophisticated matte boxes have side flags too, that can be adjusted to suit the lens angle.
If you are using filters of any kind, it is important to shield them from extra light, from the front and behind. The filters may be screw on to the lens types, but if they are the more expensive square or rectangular type, you will need a Matte box to mount them.
Also the Matt box provides an extra level of protection for the lens.
In the professional world, a single prime lens can easily cost £25000 ! (Cooke Anamorphic 25mm T2.3), so to have some additional protection is no bad thing.
What can you do when you need a Matte box but don't have one ?
You should at least use the lens hood that comes with the lens.
Otherwise you can be creative.....
For this shoot, Rita Tsao from BSU was using a 50mm Samyang Prime with Fotodiox ND adapter on a Sony A7 111. As the actors were under a tree, the background behind was quite bright and the low sun, even diffused through the clouds, was causing the internal workings of the adapter to flare out.
We had no matte box, but by using a reflector holder and an old AZ (before Google maps on your phones !) she lined up a top flag, to the edge of the frame, blocking the unwanted light and solved the problem.
At Bath Spa we have a few options. All of these can hold square filters if available. All our filters are the round screw variety however.
The SmallRig Matte Box
The simplest are the new Small rig matte boxes, which include a positionable top flag.
You screw the correct adaptor ring for the lens, then you clip the Matte box to the lens, dispensing with mounting plates and rods. These will attach to either of the Zoom lenses supplied with the C100s, and the Samyang Primes, which means you can use them on the Sony A7111 if using a Metabones adaptor, with these lenses.
Here is a more detailed tutorial on the SmallRig system
Vocas Matt Box
We have two of these, attached to the Redrock shoulder rigs we use for the C100 cameras. These are mounted to the cage with tubular bars, rather than fitting to the lens, which makes it a more robust option and lets you use a follow focus device. The top flag detaches easily, so make sure you have one when you collect and return the camera.
Shape Matt Box
This rig is exclusively for use with the Sony A7 111 cameras we have, and is a rod system, attaching to a cage. Its advantages are that you have top and side flags and you can use the bars to rig a follow focus if you are using the Samyang primes and metabones adapter.
Likewise you can use as Canon zoom or the supplied Sony zoom,
Written by FR
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