Built-in ND filters may be a basic feature of broadcast and most professional camcorders, but when it comes to small mirrorless cameras or high end cinema cameras – these can be a luxury, that users have to work around. For example, if you are using the Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K (not the Pro) you will have to use either a matte box or an ND filter holder in front of the lens in order to control your exposure or use any polarizer/diffusion or other creative filters.
Sometimes using a traditional 2 or 3 stage matte box is not an issue, and often a necessity. However, in situations where you have to keep your setup as compact as possible, this can be challenge. For example, when flying cameras like the Red Epic/Scarlet-W/Raven or a Panasonic GH5 for example on heftier drones or on 3-axis stabilizer gimbals attaching ND filters to the lens in a very compact and lightweight can be tricky.
Luckily the good people at Wooden Camera have a nifty rubber solution for this. It’s called the Zip Box and is basically a low-profile rubber filter holder that simply attaches to the front of your lens without the need for 15mm rod support.
Wooden Camera have a couple of new models in the Zip Box range – namely the Zip Box Double and the Zip Box Round.
The Zip Box Double 4×5.65 Kit can accommodate a variety of lens front sizes 80-85mm, 90-95mm, 100-105mm, 110-115mm via adapter rings is a bundle that includes the Zip Box Double 4×5.65 (80-85mm), Zip Box Double 4×5.65 (90-95mm), Zip Box Double 4×5.65 (100-105mm), Zip Box Double 4×5.65 (110-115mm), and the Zip Box Adapter Rings (49, 52, 55, 58, 62, 67, 72, 77mm) at a reduced package price of $399.
You can also buy the different size Zip Box’s for $125 each.
The Zip Box 4 x 5.65 holds two Panavision sized 4×5.65″ (100 x 144mm) filters and clamps to the front of lenses between 80 to 85mm, 90 to 95mm, 100-105mm, and also 110 to 115mm in exterior lens diameter.
The lens shade design allows for even the widest lenses and sensor sizes to be covered without vignetting. Zip Box is extremely lightweight and weighs about the same as a standard filter which makes it perfect for gimbal and drone use. The Zip Box even has a small rubber separator inside to prevent the two filters from rubbing against each other.
Stainless steel components and unibody rubber design are very durable and stand up to the toughest conditions. You don’t have to worry about reflections as the distance between the back of the filter and the lens is only 1.5mm.
It is important to note that you should measure based on outside lens diameter and not based on the threaded filter ring size. If you have a smaller lens like that for an E-Mount or MFT camera, you can utilize the included Zip Box Adapter Rings (49, 52, 55, 58, 62, 67, 72, 77mm) which adapt smaller threaded lens fronts to the included Zip Box Double 4×5.65 (80-85mm).
Specifications
- Weight: 120 g (0.26 lbs)
- Dimensions: 124 x 164 x 30mm
Zip Box 138mm Round (90-95mm) holds one 138mm filter or diopter and clamps to the front of lenses between 90 and 95mm in exterior lens diameter. It can hold a 138mm diopter of any strength due to the open front of the Zip Box.
The lens shade design allows for even the widest lenses and sensor sizes to be covered without vignetting. It is important to note that you should measure based on outside lens diameter and not based on the threaded filter ring size.
Zip Box Round Specifications
- Weight: 136 g (0.3 lbs)
- Dimensions: 38.1 x 165.1 mm diameter (1.5 x 6.75 in diameter)
The Zip Box Round is priced at $125 and available to purchase from authorised dealers such as B&H.
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