Matte boxes that take 4mm-thick filters (i.e. Schneider & Tiffen)

[QuickHitRecord]

In my quest to find the perfect matte box, I have been doing some research that I will share here in the hope that someone else may benefit from it (this is a cross-post, there is also a thread on Personal-View: [url="http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/2876/matte-boxes-and-filter-thickness/p1"]http://www.personal-...er-thickness/p1[/url]).

Not all matte boxes on the market will take Tiffen or Schneider filters. Take for instance the DMatte from DFocus. It's a bargain for the price, but when I finally brought one home, I couldn't support my Schneider filters because they were a millimeter too thick. I've since returned it and resumed my search. It looks like these are my options at this point:[list]
[*]Arri (confirmed by forum member)
[*]Chrosziel (personal test)
[*]LockCircle (manufacturer confirmed)
[*]Lanparte (confirmed by forum member)
[*]Cavision (personal test)
[*]Cinematics (confirmed by forum member)
[*]Cokin (website info)
[*]Vocas (manufacturer confirmed)
[*]Genus (manufacturer confirmed)
[*]Movcam (manufacturer confirmed)
[*]Century Optics ["Sunshade Filter Holder"] (confirmed by forum member)
[/list]
I have no confirmation, but I'd be surprised if the matte boxes from O'Connor, Bright Tangerine and TLS Raven could not hold 4mm filters.

If you know of any others, please comment and I will update the list.

[richg101]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Century-Optics-4x4-Sunshade-Filter-Holder-0DS-FH44-00-/390436902067?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae7da54b3#ht_3332wt_908

very expensive for what it is, but I have one of these. lovely and small and mounts directly to the lens - no rail mount. Tightens around a 72mm step up ring really well. room for 2x schneider 4x4's. being century (owned by schneider) they are compatible with pro filters.

Wish I had the cash for the century filter set. a few nd's, fades etc. lovely

search around. I got mine for around £80 brand new.

[QuickHitRecord]

[quote name='richg101' timestamp='1349299830' post='19371']
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Century-Optics-4x4-Sunshade-Filter-Holder-0DS-FH44-00-/390436902067?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae7da54b3#ht_3332wt_908"]http://www.ebay.co.u...3#ht_3332wt_908[/url]

very expensive for what it is, but I have one of these. lovely and small and mounts directly to the lens - no rail mount. Tightens around a 72mm step up ring really well. room for 2x schneider 4x4's. being century (owned by schneider) they are compatible with pro filters.

Wish I had the cash for the century filter set. a few nd's, fades etc. lovely

search around. I got mine for around £80 brand new.
[/quote]

Thanks, Rich. I've added it to the list. I have been curious about this one. Do either of the stages rotate? Do you think that you could post a photo with your unhoused NEX so that we could get an idea of the size?

[andy lee]

I use an [font="MS Sans Serif"][size="2"]ARRI LMB-2 Matte box has 2 trays for 3" x 3" square filters[/size][/font] and holds 4mm filters by Schneider and Tiffen Lee etc

[Francisco Rios]

Hi Nick, Can you tell your experience with cavision 3x3?
Which filter do you use with these. I like the size and want to use it with gh2 plus anamorphic, so I guess will need a support.
Best regards.

[QuickHitRecord]

[quote name='Francisco Ríos' timestamp='1349458065' post='19418']
Hi Nick, Can you tell your experience with cavision 3x3?
Which filter do you use with these. I like the size and want to use it with gh2 plus anamorphic, so I guess will need a support.
Best regards.
[/quote]

The Cavision that I own is a 4x4. I am looking to replace it with the 3x3. After all of my research, this matte box is simply the best fit for my purposes. I don't have it in my hands yet, but it's in my B&H shopping cart (along with some 3x3 Schneider filters). I'll order it as soon as their holiday is over.

There is an informative discussion taking place over at Personal-View, along with a review from a forum member ([url="http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/4412/smaller-cameras-can-make-do-with-3x3-matte-boxes#Item_16"]http://www.personal-...e-boxes#Item_16[/url]).

I am already sold on this, but I have sent the company a list of questions. I'll share their answers in that thread when I hear back.

UPDATE: Cavision just wrote back to me. See the thread above for some new info.