Reviews
Lens attaching Lightweight matte box with transport case
K&F’s Matte Box for cameras ships inside a protective carry case and with a comprehensive set of lens adaptors that should work for most setups. There is a set of adaptors to thread onto camera filter threads. These cover most lenses I own with 67,72,77,82 and a 95mm. The matte box has a few threaded and Arri pin locator style connectors on it that you could use to mount to your rig rather than lens. I don’t know I would attach accessories to it whilst it hangs off a lens. The design of the lens adaptors mean I can’ t uses them with my variable size lens thread adjustor as they need some space to go back behind the threads. They did spin easily onto my lens; and the large greppable surface around the adaptors makes it easy to remove them.
This box only has a vertical carbon fibre (to keep the weight down) barn door, it doesn’t have any French flags. Thanks to mounting to the lens, you can use the door from above or below to protect from stray light. I setup an example showing light hitting the lens and the door blocking it in the photos. The door acts as the cover to protect your lens/ filter when in use. The door has a tightening knob that will keep it in place.
The filter holder happily holds my 100 x 150mm filters; and has a good mechanism to hold them in place. I’m not sure if my filters are thicker than normal but I found the filter holder can only hold one filter. I can’t say the same about the mechanism that attaches to the lens adaptor; I found it impossible to lock things in place on an 82mm threaded lens.
The matte box is quick heavy; my scales weighing it in at around 213g (photo attached - without a filter.) For outdoor shooting on a summer day, it’s a step up from a lens hood as it gives you more control over the light hitting the lens; it also makes it easy to use 100x150mm filters without needing other adaptors. It’s a great starter matte box; from the price, the lightweight not making your arms droop on a long day. If your project has you shooting in bright sunlight for hours you may want one with more options to block light (or use some black paper and tape to get what you need.)
K&F have really started to produce some excellent products this year; this matte box isn’t perfect, but it does a good job; and for a reasonable amount of weight.
This box only has a vertical carbon fibre (to keep the weight down) barn door, it doesn’t have any French flags. Thanks to mounting to the lens, you can use the door from above or below to protect from stray light. I setup an example showing light hitting the lens and the door blocking it in the photos. The door acts as the cover to protect your lens/ filter when in use. The door has a tightening knob that will keep it in place.
The filter holder happily holds my 100 x 150mm filters; and has a good mechanism to hold them in place. I’m not sure if my filters are thicker than normal but I found the filter holder can only hold one filter. I can’t say the same about the mechanism that attaches to the lens adaptor; I found it impossible to lock things in place on an 82mm threaded lens.
The matte box is quick heavy; my scales weighing it in at around 213g (photo attached - without a filter.) For outdoor shooting on a summer day, it’s a step up from a lens hood as it gives you more control over the light hitting the lens; it also makes it easy to use 100x150mm filters without needing other adaptors. It’s a great starter matte box; from the price, the lightweight not making your arms droop on a long day. If your project has you shooting in bright sunlight for hours you may want one with more options to block light (or use some black paper and tape to get what you need.)
K&F have really started to produce some excellent products this year; this matte box isn’t perfect, but it does a good job; and for a reasonable amount of weight.
24/10/2024