Hey guys,

I have the Letus Extreme and I use the Cavision RS-15IIM(250) Rod Support System to hold it better.
After the first tests I noticed I really need a follow focus and eventually a matte box.
What are my options? Without going broke?
Can I extend my cavision system? Their website doesn't make any sense. <br><br>Post edited by: berlinfool, at: 2007/11/15 16:27

For a follow focus you obviously need longer rods, 45cm or 60cm depending on the type of lens your going to put in front of the adapter.

The followfocus I got is the redrock microfollow focus. Pretty nice piece of kit and if you order the basic 625$ + D ring set you can use it without the adapter as well.

Not sure if your rod setup is high enough to make this work though.

As for a Mattebox, check out the redrock micro site for their upcoming mattebox. www.redrockmicro.com/

They make solid stuff and from what I saw give the best bang for the buck. (not the cheapest)

Thanks.
The cheapest is probably indi focus. I didn't hear good things abour them - but they just came out with a new one.

I recommend the IndiFOCUSpro for the FF and longer rails system.

I believe you can purchase just the 18&quot; rails and not the whole system.

The reviews on the IndiFOCUS are misleading because an older model was reviewed and since then they've released a newer model that works very well (IndiFOCUpro).

If you're looking for a quality product on a budget I'd check out www.IndiFOCUS.com

As for the Matte Box I went with GearDear - it seemed to be the most flexible and cost efficient.

www.geardear.com

I love this thread...because I'm in the same boat. I'm looking for a good mattebox, follow focus, rail system to support the Letus35 adapter and some Nikon lenses. As the thread starter pointed out, I don't want to go broke on these things. I was configuring the Cavision system for follow focus, matte box with two side wings, and a rail system to support the Letus35 and it came to be around $1,800USD. That does not even account for the cost of Nikon lenses that I will be buying. So your suggestions and review of other brand is much appreciated.

P.S.

One more thing. I will be getting the Sony XDCAM EX1 camera. What type of matte box I should be looking for so that it works on my camera? I just checked the geardear.com site and they have three ready to use package, small, medium, and large. Can anyone recommend what package or should I choose idividually so that it works on my Sony EX1 camera?<br><br>Post edited by: ljtxoov, at: 2007/11/29 09:44

It's an awfully big boat because I am in it, too. Seems that I saw the current edition of DV Magazine that reviews the matteboxes. GearDear never would come in for me. I don't know why. I can tell you that if you like cheap you can try the Bollywood source at www.thecineshop.com out of India. They have really cheap priced stuff and all of it so far has been top quality. I guess the exchange rate works in our favor. You can find a steadi rig, vest and all, for about a thousand bucks. Yep, even cheaper than Steadicam Pilot or Indicam or Glidecam. You can get a mattebox for as little as $110 USD! Imagine that. Follow focus is really cheap as well. Their matteboxes are quality also.
However, I prefer something in a mattebox that will be the Chroizel equivalent that has the ability to Zwing aside for lens changes, cleanings, filter changes, etc. I have found that I will be buying the redrock Micromattebox that has something like Zacuto's Zwingaway built in (and Zwing away is almost $400 by iteself.)

Hey BerlinFool, Im in the same predicament as you and I really like that cavision setup but know I need longer rails for future upgrades. Did you find out if they sold extensions?
I have the same camera as you.

when u said I can tell you that if you like cheap you can try the Bollywood source at www.thecineshop.com out of India. so u mean the Proiam follow focus of cinecity?

Evidently Genus is about to release a follow focus.
Adam Ching has been using their matte box with his Letus rig. There is a post on the Genus blog which shows pictures of this Letus rig and the Genus matte box