The Matte Field IQ is Irix’s tackle a light-weight matte field that makes use of their magnetic filters
Irix has expanded its product base from simply lenses as soon as once more. After having already branched out into filters, they’ve now introduced the brand new Irix Matte Box IQ. It’s a small, light-weight matte field designed for filmmakers and video shooters to assist management gentle spill on their lenses. It does have one slight downside for a lot of filmmakers, although, which is likely to be a deal breaker. It’s solely designed to work with Irix’s magnetic filters.
Should you’re already an Irix shooter and already personal a bunch of Irix’s magnetic filters, then this received’t be an issue. However for those who’ve been utilizing industry-standard 4×5.65″ glass filters for video work with different matte packing containers, then this one most likely received’t be for you. No less than, not on a regular basis. It nonetheless has some nice functions as a secondary matte field for a smaller, moveable, light-weight digital camera rig.
The Irix Matte Field IQ body is made out of plastic with a carbon fibre flag to forestall gentle sources (notably the solar) from flaring into the entrance of your lens. Its light-weight development signifies that it solely weighs 195g. That is even lighter than SmallRig’s Lightweight Matte Box, which is available in at 238g with out the highest flag put in. Whereas the 43g distinction within the matte field itself won’t sound like a lot, in the end, these little financial savings will all add as much as one large saving all through the rig as a complete, principally because of the truth that you’re restricted in what you possibly can connect to it. 4×5.65″ filters, for instance, might be fairly heavy. They’re usually stable glass (not resin) and 3-4mm thick. Irix’s magnetic spherical filters are smaller, thinner and really light-weight by comparability.
The advantage of Irix’s magnetic filters is that they’ve bought a fairly first rate vary of them now, together with a circular polariser and impartial density in strengths from 2 (ND4) to 6 (ND64) stops. So, for most individuals, you’re probably not lacking out on a lot by utilizing the Irix magnetic filters. And also you don’t even want a filter in any respect with a matte field if all you’re utilizing it for is a flag to cease the solar from hitting the lens. So, whether or not the shortage of compatibility with 4×5.65″ filters is absolutely going to be a problem is a private want.
Even with out filters, although, simply having a flag to dam the sunshine will assist to scale back flare and improve distinction and color saturation. It lets your digital camera’s sensor see the scene unhindered by gentle sources outdoors of the body. That is the first purpose why matte packing containers exist. It’s the video equal of the lens hood that comes equipped with many photographic lenses however with extra management. Management you want as a result of cameras capturing video are sometimes moved within the technique of capturing a clip.
The Irix Matte Field IQ comes with a local 95mm entrance mount diameter, letting you connect it straight to straightforward 95mm diameter cinema lenses. This implies you don’t must fiddle with any adapter plates. That being mentioned, for those who’re utilizing images lenses with smaller diameters, Irix has filter thread mounting adapters obtainable in a variety of sizes from 52-86mm. Particularly, they’ve 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, 82mm and 86mm – the entire commonest filter sizes we see on images lenses.
Irix says that the matte field can deal with extraordinarily huge lenses. Lenses as huge as 15mm on full-frame shouldn’t be a problem in any respect, they are saying, and shouldn’t seem within the shot. After all, this can rely on the place you might want to place the flag with a view to block the issue gentle. On the telephoto finish, naturally, you possibly can go so long as you need.
General, it looks like an honest resolution for small light-weight rigs the place you don’t want a extra substantial system that may take 4×5.65″ filters. Particularly so for those who’ve already purchased into the Irix magnetic filter system. But it surely does seem to be one thing of an oversight to not have help for 4×5.65″ filters. For these with a number of cameras and a number of wants, they’re not going to purchase into a number of matte field methods utilizing filters that may’t be shared between them. For single digital camera shooters or those who need a matte field devoted particularly to as gentle of a rig as potential, then this may very well be a improbable choice.
The shortage of 4×5.65″ filter help is a little bit of a deal breaker for me, personally, however would it not trouble you?
The Irix Matte Field IQ is offered to buy now for €75 (round $81.50) from the Irix web site. I count on it’ll be coming to the standard retailers within the coming weeks.
