BaseCamp is PolarPro's full-size matte box offering. It is a 2-3 stage filter system, geared towards high-level video production. With a variety of adapters to accommodate a range of setups and different mounting solutions, BaseCamp is ideal for cinematographers and camera operators looking for a professional filter system to enhance their options while shooting.
Technical Specifications
Filters
Filter Type |
Dimensions (mm) |
Weight (g) |
Frame Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| BaseCamp Stage 1 | 111 x 111x 4 |
48 |
Aluminum |
| BaseCamp Stage 2 & 3* | 140 x 122.5 x 4 |
100 |
Aluminum |
| BaseCamp Stage 3 Graduated | 140 x 160 x 4 |
136.5 |
Aluminum |
| 4x5.65 | 101.6 x 143.5 x 4 |
82.5 |
Aluminum |
*Stage 2 & 3 filter dimensions do not include the finger tab at the top of the frame.
Core Components
Part Name |
Dimensions (mm) |
Weight (g) |
Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| BaseCamp Core (No Hood) | 155 x 132 x 30.7 |
153 |
Aluminum |
| Hood (BaseCamp Core) | 184 x 143 x 23.8 |
77 |
Glass-Filled Nylon |
| Flag (BaseCamp Core) | 184 x 155 x 5 |
66 |
Carbon Fiber |
| Stage 3 Adapter (No Hood) | 155 x 132 x 25 |
90 |
Aluminum |
| Hood (Stage 3 Adapter) | 201 x 155 x 32.6 |
116 |
Glass-Filled Nylon |
| Flag (Stage 3 Adapter) | 201 x 155 x 5 |
44 |
Carbon Fiber |
| 4x5 Adapter (No Hood) | 155 x 137.5 x 10.7 |
116 |
Aluminum |
| Hood (4x5 Adapter) | 201 x 155 x 32.6 |
110 |
Glass-Filled Nylon |
| Flag (4x5 Adapter) | 201 x 155 x 5 |
44 |
Carbon Fiber |
Thread Plates
Thread Size |
Dimensions (mm) |
Weight (g) |
Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67mm | 114 x 114 x 10.1 |
31 |
Aluminum |
| 72mm | 114 x 114 x 10.1 |
30 |
Aluminum |
| 77mm | 114 x 114 x 10.1 |
29 |
Aluminum |
| 82mm | 114 x 114 x 10.1 |
28 |
Aluminum |
Miscellaneous
Part Name |
Dimensions (mm) |
Weight (g) |
Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thread Plate Defender | 127.91 x 15.3 |
51 |
TPE |
| Light Fly | 121.3 x 49 |
79.5 |
TPE + Aluminum |
| Rail Mount - 15mm LWS | 112 x 33.5 x 35 |
84 |
Aluminum |
| Rail Mount - 15mm Studio | 155 x 72.4 x 35 |
125.5 |
Aluminum |
| Rail Mount - 19mm Studio | 155 x 77.8 x 39.5 |
141 |
Aluminum |
What is a Matte Box?
A matte box is a device used on the end of a camera lens to block out sources of direct light, with the end goal of keeping flaring and glare out of a shot. Matte boxes typically come with adjustable doors or fins on the front. They serve the same function as a lens hood, but on a larger scale, and with the ability to integrate with filter systems.
Setting Up Your BaseCamp
Given the flexible nature of the BaseCamp, the setup process will vary at least slightly for each user. Not everyone will use all the filter slots on their BaseCamp each time they shoot, and everyone's needs and preferences will be different when it comes to mounting and storage solutions. A good starting point, if you're new to the BaseCamp system (or matte boxes in general) is the following video:
A second video goes into additional detail about the Stage 3 Adapter, along with some of the new filters we released during the first expansion of the system:
Additional Tutorial Videos
Choose a Mount
The BaseCamp Matte Box can be mounted on a camera setup in one of three ways:
- Threaded onto the camera lens, with a BaseCamp Thread Plate.
- Clamped onto the outside of the camera lens barrel, either natively (on 114mm diameter lenses) or with one of the Clamp Rings.
- Mounted on a rail system, using one of the available BaseCamp Rail Mounts and Light Fly.
Using Thread Plates:
The BaseCamp Core, as well as most of the pre-built kits we offer on polarpro.com, comes with the 77mm and 82mm Thread Plates included by default. We offer other sizes separately, here. Thread Plates can also be stacked with an existing step-up ring, if the user wants to adapt the BaseCamp to work with smaller lenses that are not natively supported.
We recommend against over-tightening the Thread Plates on any lenses or step-up rings, as this may lead to jamming or cross-threading. The user should feel minimal resistance on installing a Thread Plate, and never rotate past hand-tight.
If you'd like to leave a Thread Plate living on one or more of your lenses, we offer Thread Plate Defenders to help keep the lens glass safe and covered.
Using Clamps:
The BaseCamp Core has a clamping mechanism integrated into its design, which has a diameter of 114mm. This means the Core will natively accommodate any lens with an outer barrel diameter of 114mm (which includes most cinema lenses), no adapters needed.
If the lens in use has a smaller diameter, but does not offer front threading (or has threading larger than our Thread Plates accommodate), then it may be possible to use one of the Clamp Rings to allow the Core to grab onto the lens. The Clamp Rings are essentially just spacers that make the front of the lens larger. The Clamp Ring Set contains rings in the following (inner) diameters:
80mm | 87mm | 95mm | 100mm | 104mm | 110mm
Pro Tip: If installed in either of the above manners on a lens that has a front element which rotates when the focus or zoom is adjusted, the user will see the BaseCamp rotate along with the lens. This is normal and the workaround is to slightly loosen the clamp on the Core, hold it steady while rotating the lens, and then tighten it back down.
Using a Rail Mount & Light Fly:
Camera rail systems are specialized mounting setups designed for users who want to install numerous attachments onto or around their lens. These attachments include things like a follow focus, hand grips, and a matte box. One of the benefits of this type of setup is the ease of swapping out camera lenses, which are often not directly connected to any of the gear on the rails.
On the underside of the BaseCamp Core, there is an attachment point for use with a PolarPro Rail Mount. Third-party rail mounts are not supported. We offer three Rail Mounts in the following configurations:
The differences between the position and sizes of the rails each mount accommodates are outlined in the following image, found on the product page for each respective Rail Mount:
While a Rail Mount can be used in tandem with a Thread Plate or Clamp Ring if needed, we strongly recommend using the BaseCamp Light Fly instead. The Light Fly makes it much easier to swap out lenses while the BaseCamp is installed on rails, and it has the added benefit of more easily accommodating lenses which do have a rotating front element.
Choose Filters
Before installing the BaseCamp Core on your chosen mount, you'll want want to pick filters to shoot with. The Core offers two filter stages - one for a circular Stage 1 filter, and one for a rectangular Stage 2 filter. A third stage, for a second rectangular filter, can be added using either the Stage 3 Adapter or the 4x5 Adapter.
Stage 1
This slot will accommodate one of the available circular filters for the BaseCamp:
Filter Name |
Filter Effect |
Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| CP (Circular Polarizer) | Cuts glare and reflections. | Required to use BaseCamp VNDs. |
| BlueMorphic | Creates blue-tinted anamorphic-style flares from light sources. Rotation adjusts flare angle. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| GoldMorphic | Creates gold-tinted anamorphic-style flares from light sources. Rotation adjusts flare angle. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
Since only the CP filter works with the BaseCamp VNDs, this is an especially important choice when considering your intended setup. The CP can also be used without a VND, if you just want traditional polarization.
Stage 2
This slot will accommodate any of the rectangular Stage 2 filters for the BaseCamp. The available Stage 2 filters can all be viewed individually here, and a helpful overview can be found below:
If a VND of any kind is in use, we recommend installing it in this slot, so it is directly next to the CP.
Filter Name |
Filter Effect |
Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Armor UV | No effect. Made of tempered glass for extra protection. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| ND2 | Cuts exposure by 1 stop. Also cuts IR pollution. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| ND4 | Cuts exposure by 2 stops. Also cuts IR pollution. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| ND8 | Cuts exposure by 3 stops. Also cuts IR pollution. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| ND16 | Cuts exposure by 4 stops. Also cuts IR pollution. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| ND64 | Cuts exposure by 6 stops. Also cuts IR pollution. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| ND128 | Cuts exposure by 7 stops. Also cuts IR pollution. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| ND256 | Cuts exposure by 8 stops. Also cuts IR pollution. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| VND 2-5 | Cuts exposure by a variable stop value. | Requires the BaseCamp CP. |
| VND 6-9 | Cuts exposure by a variable stop value. | Requires the BaseCamp CP. |
| VND 2-5 Mist (1/4) | Cuts exposure by a variable stop value. Adds a noticeable white mist diffusion effect. | Requires the BaseCamp CP. |
| VND 6-9 Mist (1/4) | Cuts exposure by a variable stop value. Adds a noticeable white mist diffusion effect. | Requires the BaseCamp CP. |
| VND 2-5 Mist Heavy (1/2) | Cuts exposure by a variable stop value. Adds a strong white mist diffusion effect. | Requires the BaseCamp CP. |
| VND 6-9 Mist Heavy (1/2) | Cuts exposure by a variable stop value. Adds a strong white mist diffusion effect. | Requires the BaseCamp CP. |
| Mist Light (1/8) | Adds a subtle white mist diffusion effect. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| Mist (1/4) | Adds a noticeable white mist diffusion effect. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| Mist Heavy (1/2) | Adds a strong white mist diffusion effect. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| BlueMorphic Rectangular | Creates blue-tinted anamorphic-style flares from light sources. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
| GoldMorphic Rectangular | Creates gold-tinted anamorphic-style flares from light sources. | Any BaseCamp filter. |
Stage 3
This slot is the outermost one on the BaseCamp, and is achievable only with the use of either the Stage 3 Adapter or the 4x5 Adapter.
The Stage 3 Adapter was designed specifically with the Graduated filters for the BaseCamp in mind (it will allow the filters to be moved up or down to adjust the horizon line), though it will accommodate any of the other rectangular filters as well, if the user chooses. At this time, two Graduated filters models are available:
Graduated filters are primarily going to be used for landscape shots (video or photo) where the exposure of the sky needs to be selectively reduced without impacting the exposure of the ground. The Stage 3 slot allows for the horizon line in the Graduated filters to be adjusted up or down according to the user's needs.
The 4x5 Adapter, on the other hand, accepts any one industry-standard 4x5.65" filter in its slot. PolarPro makes a few such filters, and they can all be found here. 4x5.65" produced by other manufacturers will also work great.
Questions, comments, or concerns? Send a quick email to support@polarpro.com and we'll be happy to help out.