GEAR
BOXING CLEVER Rectangular filters have always been popular for photography and video, but the two mediums have their own sets of standards. They are, more often than not, very different. Although both tend to be made of high-precision resin or glass. Photo filters are usually longer, and slide into plastic holders that fasten to an adapter ring screwed onto the filter thread of the lens. So for each differently sized lens, you need a suitable adapter ring. The filters slide up and down so you can, for example, place an ND grad filter just where you need it. The filter holder often rotates on the adapter ring so you can put it in exactly the right place. Lee Filters is the king of photo filters in terms of super-high quality and precision, but rivals like Cokin aren’t a long way behind. They are ideal for stills but not perfect for video use, although they can be pressed into service in a pinch. Most professional filters for shooting movies are standard, cinema-style 4x5.65in rectangular sheets, and fit in special filter trays that drop into professional-style matte boxes. These matte boxes are mostly built to suit large cine lenses and typically are sized – and priced –
this with a screw clamp. These adapter rings have the same size thread at the front too, so you can actually still screw a filter on. Virtually all matte boxes use a 4x5.65in filter tray that takes up to 4mm-thick professional filters. This slides onto the front of the matte box, then you can stack filters on top of each other. Matte boxes also accept flags to keep flare out of the lens, and have 1/4in-20 threaded mounting points to attach more hardware – plus 1/4in-20 threaded holes with Arri-style location pins.
to match. Some of the larger models need to be fitted to a big baseplate with 15mm rails. To get them onto a smaller camera such as a mirrorless it can be expensive, but there are smaller, lighter and more affordable versions like those made by SmallRig. Instead of being clamped around the outside of cinema lenses, these are built from lightweight aluminium, plastic and carbon fibre, screwing straight into the filter thread. The SmallRig matte box comes with a 95mm lens opening. It also includes a kit of four adapter rings to fit 67mm, 72mm, 77mm and 82mm filter threads. These screw
CROSSOVER Photo-based filters like these Cokins can be used for filmmaking
to the filter thread on your lens, then the matte box is tightened down onto
“Virtually all matte boxes use a 4x5.65in filter tray that takes up to 4mm-thick professional filters”
SMALL WORLD A compact, light and attainable matte box like this SmallRig is perfect for mirrorless cameras
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