which follow focus/matte box for z1?

Jane Snijders · April 20, 2005

since about a month I use the sony z1. I want to add a follow focus/matte box to my set.

I found 3 manufacturers so far: chroszeil, century and cavision.

since NAB has just been I suppose there must be some more specialised product manufacturers for this.

I would appreciate tips and experiences with follow focus systems.

Do I always need the brackets to mount one or can I first start with a follow focus ( small budget) and then expand later with a mattebox?

Also I need a hood for the lcd display. anyone seen one made for the Z1 at NAB?

thnx

jane

Chris Rasmussen · April 22, 2005

I have the Chrosziel studio rig, and recommend it highly. The machining is typical Chrosziel - everything fits together and adjusts very smoothly. Assembly is quick and simple, though you need a narrow flathead screw diver in your kit for mounting and dismounting the camera from the support. The unit I got came without instructions, which neither hindered nor disappointed me. If you?ve never used a studio rig before, a quick glance at an online diagram of the system will show you its arrangement.

With your camera mounted on the rig, shooting is easy with a minor caveat that the on camera mic prevents the handle and the adjusting knob of the rotating 4x4? filter slot from sitting straight up, but you can rotate your 4x4? polarizer enough to cover its range without either handle bumping. Another note on the rotating slot: the matte box must be at the front of the rods to turn comfortably. This is not a flaw ? just something to be aware of when setting up.

If you use the Century .6x wide-angle adapter AND a 4x4? filter in the rotating slot, there is a very minor vignette from the matte box itself (approximately 2%) when the camera is zoomed full wide. This can be solved either by zooming ever so slightly or by removing the filter from the (rearmost) rotating filter slot and sliding the matte box closer to the camera.

The Chrosziel rig works flawlessly with the Century 1.6x telephoto adapter, though nose-heaviness becomes substantially more apparent. If you?re shooting on a tripod without a sliding base plate, you?ll need to keep the tilt locked solid when not in use.

While some of this might seem critical, I?m merely pointing out ?personality? quirks in using the unit. The performance and integrity of construction are terrific. For three grand and change, I?d cheerfully buy it again. (If you?re looking to buy, I can recommend ZGC ? www.zgc.com ? without hesitation. The prices are good, they know their stuff, and dealing with them is an utter delight.)

Cheers!

Chris ~

TJ Williams · April 28, 2005

I got the Petroff matte box and follow focus, which are very nice and less expensive than the Chrozeil. They are made in Canada marketed in the US by www.ste-man.com in LA The dealer was really helpful to me, sending me several different size parts etc.

also the Petroff has a much better system of rotating filters and better locks on the eyebrow and side brows. Their extra wide box will not vignette even on a 50% wide angle adapter (thats the really wide one from vfgadgets that won't zoom thru)

all in all I'm a very pleased customer.

I've seen the cavision which is cheaper but in my opinion looks it. also in the lower end of clip ons tiffen makes one.

Edited April 28, 2005 by tjwilliams

April 29, 2005

since about a month I use the sony z1. I want to add a follow focus/matte box to my set.
I found 3 manufacturers so far: chroszeil, century and cavision.

since NAB has just been I suppose there must be some more specialised product manufacturers for this.

I would appreciate tips and experiences with follow focus systems.

Do I always need the brackets to mount one or can I first start with a follow focus ( small budget) and then expand later with a mattebox?

Also I need a hood for the lcd display. anyone seen one made for the Z1 at NAB?

thnx

jane

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Try JBKCINE

@http://www.jbkcine.com/products.htm

Jerry

:)

Leon Rodriguez · June 29, 2005

Jane,

We just bought a couple of HDR-Z1's too. May I join the conversation?

Great Mattebox information. I'd like to be able to use my extensive 3x3 filter collection. Aren't there plates available to pop in the filters for larger Matte box sizes?

Does anyone know what is the best Follow focus I can get?

Lee Maisel · December 5, 2006

Egad!!! After comparing prices for all the different manufacturers.... can you say RAPE!?!?

Holy cow! You could almost buy another camera for the prices they are charging!

Matt Sandstrom · December 6, 2006

You could almost buy another camera for the prices they are charging!

yes, but he doesn't want another camera, he wants a matte box. ;-) matte boxes are professional gear typically designed to be used with much more expensive cameras, and they're also marketed towards these users. so it's really just the z1 that's too inexpensive. :-)

/matt