PolarPro BaseCamp Matte Box Kit review: an expandable matte box system that could just be the only one you'll ever need

Matte boxes are one of those things that it seems like all aspiring filmmakers feel they should have, although not necessarily for the 'right' reasons. There's something about them that lends an air of professionalism to a rig that can fool you into thinking the operator must be good. Just look at all that stuff!

That said, they are useful tools and there's nothing wrong with wanting to boost a client's confidence.

From an operator's perspective, they offer a way to control light that can make or break a shot, eliminating flaring, retaining contrast, and so on. Often they can house filters and here is where they start to diverge. Some will take traditional 4x.65" or 6x6" filters with stackable filter trays. Others allow access to the front of the lens for using photography-based screw-on filters. Neither is right or wrong, so choose what suits your workflow.

Polarpro has a reputation for good quality filters, especially amongst the photography and creator user groups, with endorsees like Peter McKinnon boosting the brand, and for good reason. They are nicely made, perform well, and cover the needs of a wide range of users.

The Basecamp matte box kit takes things to another level and I was very keen to see how it compares to both my larger Shoot35 system and my preferred Smallrig mini.

PolarPro Basecamp Matte Box: Specifications

PolarPro Basecamp Matte Box: Price

The single-stage kit comes in at $649 / £649, while the 3-stage is a whopping $1,399 / £1,399 and there's the directors kit, which has everything at $1,999 / £1999. This feels expensive and, while a lot of money, it isn't bad value. Matte boxes and filters are costly items, so the $649 for the kit I tested feels reasonable, although in reality you are locked into their ecosystem, so any filters you already have may go to waste.

There are also various rails mounts at $119 but I'd recommend only adding those if you are using a three-stage kit, where the extra weight would benefit from the support.

PolarPro Basecamp Matte Box: Design & Handling

PolarPro gear is always nicely presented and well-built. The BaseCamp kit is no exception, coming crafted from very nicely quality plastics with a high-end look and rugged detailing. The components you interact with most, like knobs and latches, are metal and finished in a classy-looking bronze.

The kit is comprised of the matte box itself, which has the main filter stage, which attaches via compression, with adapter rings supplied between 67 and 114mm lenses. There's the front section which can be detached for a minimalist rig and this is where the flag is attached. The flag is mounted to one side, with a ratchet for adjusting the tightness. This is really the only design flaw I can see. It works well enough but mine doesn't sit quite square to the matte box. If the hinge ran across the full width, or there was a second on the other side, this wouldn't be an issue. That (and overall weight) is countered by the fact that the flag itself is made from a nice piece of carbon fiber.

While there is an option for a 4x5.65 filter adapter I imagine most people will want to stay within the ecosystem, as the filters are good quality and also have some additional protection with a metal frame, each having a tab on top for easy fitting and removal, without touching the glass. Again, these look and feel great quality.

The way this kit works is by having one of these square ND filters in the tray, with the variable part taken care of by the circular polariser, which sits in the rear. If you've ever tried to adjust a CPL when it's in a matte box you'll know the frustration that ensues but that's no issue here. PolarPro has made a clever mechanism, where the CPL sits in a rotatable caddy, controlled by a large knurled control, which is easily accessible and sized so you can dial the exact amount of ND you want. Good move PolarPro!

My only real gripe with this kit is that it ships with four cases. They are all nicely made and have pouches for cleaning cloths, easy open zip tags, etc but I wish it was a more condensed kit. I realize that they offer different kits and you can buy things separately but there is no option for one larger case that can house everything. That would negate the possibility of missing a bag when packing and make the whole experience a bit neater.

However, as your filter collection grows, PolarPro does have a nice case, made for storing lots of filters in, which looks nice and is pretty good value.

PolarPro Basecamp Matte Box: Performance

My time with the Basecamp has converted me, which I wasn't expecting. I have a bunch of ND's and other filters that I use regularly and many cameras have some level of ND built-in these days but I found that I was turning to the PolarPro more and more.

This is mostly because the design just works so well. I shoot in a wide variety of situations, so my adaptable nature suits me really well. For some simple light control, just using the core is perfect but for some scenarios clipping the front section on is needed and the flag can be a big bonus.

I'm also a huge fan of the way setting the VND is done. That large, easy to access, control wheel is superb. So much better than trying to reach into the matte box to twist a screw-on filter, which can feel rather cumbersome. On top of that, you can make micro-adjustments without needing to get in front of the shot, another plus.

All this is great but how do the filters themselves fare? For the most part, they are very good. I only tried the VND part but PolarPro does have a collection of others and I'd be keen to try those too. Especially the mist filters.

The 2-5 ND works well. There's very little color cast across most of the range but I did notice some indigo-blue color creep in at higher strengths, although not to the extent it isn't workable.

However, you do need to be careful. As with many VNDs if you turn the polariser a bit too far you do get some aberrations, with a soft darkening of portions of the image. Once you get used to dialing things in this isn't such a problem and this did perform better than others I have tried.

The 6-9 performed even better, with almost no color shift and far less of that typical CPL issue. I'm not sure why that is the case but I spoke to someone else with the same kit and they reported the same results. The trouble is it can be hard to see when this creeps in on a field monitor, especially as you could well be in a bright situation (hence the need for IDs in the first place). Not the fault of Polarpro but keep it in mind.

Overall though, the kit works great and makes shooting that much easier, and, once you get that muscle memory and nowhere to stop cranking, the results are really very good.

PolarPro Basecamp Matte Box: Verdict

The PolarPro Basecamp kit is a really nicely designed bit of kit (except for the storage solution), which provides some much-welcomed adaptability, good quality NDs, and a user experience that makes shooting that bit easier, faster, and more convenient. £299 for an adapter is a little steep to be able to continue using existing filters but it's nice to have that option. All in all, I'd recommend the Basecamp. For those new to matte boxes it's a no-brainer and for those looking for a new solution, I'd urge at least trying one out. They work well, look classy, and should last a long time.

Alternatives

Tilta’s mini matte box is similar in features and price. It does have a rod adapter available too, should you need one.