The Matte Field IQ is Irix’s tackle a light-weight matte field that makes use of their magnetic filters
4 min read
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 mild spill on their lenses. It does have one slight disadvantage for a lot of filmmakers, although, which is perhaps a deal breaker. It’s solely designed to work with Irix’s magnetic filters.
When you’re already an Irix shooter and already personal a bunch of Irix’s magnetic filters, then this gained’t be an issue. However in the event you’ve been utilizing industry-standard 4×5.65″ glass filters for video work with different matte packing containers, then this one most likely gained’t be for you. At the very least, not on a regular basis. It nonetheless has some nice purposes as a secondary matte field for a smaller, moveable, light-weight digicam rig.
The Irix Matte Field IQ body is produced from plastic with a carbon fibre flag to stop mild sources (significantly the solar) from flaring into the entrance of your lens. Its light-weight building implies 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 an entire, principally resulting from the truth that you’re restricted in what you may connect to it. 4×5.65″ filters, for instance, could be fairly heavy. They’re sometimes stable glass (not resin) and 3-4mm thick. Irix’s magnetic spherical filters are smaller, thinner and really light-weight by comparability.
The benefit of Irix’s magnetic filters is that they’ve bought a fairly respectable 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 not likely lacking out on a lot through the use of 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 dearth of compatibility with 4×5.65″ filters is basically going to be a difficulty is a private want.
Even with out filters, although, simply having a flag to dam the sunshine will assist to cut back flare and enhance distinction and color saturation. It lets your digicam’s sensor see the scene unhindered by mild sources exterior 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 taking pictures video are sometimes moved within the means of taking pictures a clip.
The Irix Matte Field IQ comes with a local 95mm entrance mount diameter, letting you connect it instantly to plain 95mm diameter cinema lenses. This implies you don’t must fiddle with any adapter plates. That being mentioned, in the event you’re utilizing images lenses with smaller diameters, Irix has filter thread mounting adapters out there in a spread of sizes from 52-86mm. Particularly, they’ve 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, 82mm and 86mm – the entire most typical filter sizes we see on images lenses.
Irix says that the matte field can deal with extraordinarily vast lenses. Lenses as vast as 15mm on full-frame shouldn’t be a difficulty in any respect, they are saying, and shouldn’t seem within the shot. In fact, this can rely on the place you’ll want to place the flag so as to block the issue mild. On the telephoto finish, naturally, you may go so long as you need.
Total, it looks like a good 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 in the event you’ve already purchased into the Irix magnetic filter system. Nevertheless it does look like 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 techniques utilizing filters that may’t be shared between them. For single digicam shooters or those who need a matte field devoted particularly to as mild of a rig as doable, then this might be a unbelievable choice.
The shortage of 4×5.65″ filter help is a little bit of a deal breaker for me, personally, however would it not hassle 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 same old retailers within the coming weeks.
