If you want something done

I'm an optimist when it comes to DIY projects. Unfortunately that optimism usually fades as I actually engage in said projects.

In my early years as a freelancer I had to DIY equipment because, well, I couldn't buy a jib or lights. I was a newbie that had not a clue about the advantages of rental houses either. So most of my projects were lame attempts to construct something functional so I could get the shots I wanted, without looking like either an erector set or like a 5th grade Rube Goldberg job.

In the end, I discovered that renting equipment was a WAY better option. Sure it can be expensive, but how much time (and money) did I waste on DIY jobs that work only for a couple shoots before they start needing "maintenance."

Now I'm not knocking people who choose to DIY. Like me back in the day, they may not have the funds to purchase or even rent proper gear. If you are just starting out it's hard to drop $500 on ONE light fixture or slider. (Especially when your old veriflex skateboard from the 1980's is sitting in your basement.) It is also sometimes hard to get clients to pay for gear rental. Remember when you start out, you are usually scraping for work, ANY work, to get by. That usually means low paying clients that want the moon for the cost of bus fare.

What I am saying is that when it comes to camera gear, I dislike doing it myself. Good quality, well made gear that is thought out from a users perspective is usually worth whatever the company is charging for it.

Which is why when I realized my O'Connor O-Box has no matte inserts available as an accessory I was rather annoyed. O'Connor makes some very nice gear and I have a lot of confidence its ergonomics and longevity. But I find myself needing some sort of matte insert to help control flare. I work a lot of 1-man-crew type of jobs and having two more (or three if there is a lot of reflection from below the camera) flags to attach to the box would slow me down more than I'd like.

After much searching and posting on forums no one could point me to a commercially available matte insert.

What to do...
DIY. I hate DIY. I was not looking forward to a DIY solution for this. The O-Box is a well made mattebox and here I am, going to add something to it that in no way can match the fit/finish. BUT I needed this solution and necessity is ____________ and after all, it has to be better than the gaff tape I would use occasionally.

So here we go, after commandeering my wife's sewing machine, my solution:

As you can see, I took a little bit of a less complicated route than making actual inserts. 

I used strong magnets sewn into the matte and attached a strip of steel to the sides of the box to make the matte not only quickly added and removed, but adjustable too. Long lens? slide the mattes together. Wide? slide them apart. Super wide? take them off.

I used tabs of velcro to loosely hold the flexible ends of the matte to the flag and the bottom of the box.
I think it turned out OK, not an ideal solution. But the only one available to me. Also, the fit/finish isn't perfect, but it's a lot better than I dared hope. I do still need to figure out the sides. I considered velcro, but I want it to be easier to adjust, and I don't want to re-make the mattes just to include more magnets. I'm still thinking on it....

So, has my attitude towards DIY changed? Not a whole lot. I'd much rather have purchased something effective. I've spent a few hours on it already and I can't invoice myself. BUT if you can't find what you are looking for, or can't afford it if you do find it, DIY away my friend.

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