Loading filter tray

[Ben Luke Taylor]

When putting a filter tray with a filter in to the cameras matte box, which is the correct way to face the tray?

 

Some people have told me the tray should be put in with the back (where the release clip is) facing the lens, so that if the filter were to fall out, it would fall back on the lens rather than come straight out of the matte box. Yet other people have told me to do it the opposite way to avoid damaging the lens which would be worth a lot more to replace than the filter if it were to fall out.

 

So which way is the 'correct' way, if there is one, or is it just personal preference?

[Steve McBride]

I think it's just a personal preference. I always do it so that it faces the lens. Don't know why, just have always done it that way.

[Jonathan Bowerbank]

I usually do it away from the lens, so that when I'm wiping the filter I feel more secure about not pushing it out of the tray. Also depends on the situation & conditions. If it's a rough & rugged handheld type job, it may be best to load'em toward the lens just so they don't pop out.

[Mike Panczenko]

I always do it with it so that the filter, if it were to fall out, would face away from the lens. It has nothing to do with the filter falling out though. It is because, on Arri matteboxes, if you use a geared filter stage, and have the filters raised in or out when using grads, the back of the filter has more metal around the edges that protects it from flares. If you were to use it the other way around, the glass would be exposed more and would have the possibility of flaring internally.

[Duncan Vogel]

I always do it with it so that the filter, if it were to fall out, would face away from the lens. It has nothing to do with the filter falling out though. It is because, on Arri matteboxes, if you use a geared filter stage, and have the filters raised in or out when using grads, the back of the filter has more metal around the edges that protects it from flares. If you were to use it the other way around, the glass would be exposed more and would have the possibility of flaring internally.

 

This.

 

Also, on arri matteboxes, the geared filter trays only accept the tray in a face-forward position. So might aswell put all the trays in that way.