Wide Angle Lens Filter Solution With SmallRigs Matte Box and DIY Donut

Motivated wide-angle lens shots can look great in your productions. Also, a wide-angle lens is great for YouTube content creators allowing them to be close to the camera and microphone while also capturing their surroundings. I like and often need to use filters on my lenses. But most wide-angle lenses are missing the threading that allows for the use of filters. This is a big problem if you need to use filters on a wide-angle lens.

There are some unique, expensive, and not particularly versatile solutions out there. Google “NISI Wide Angle Lens Filter Adapter” It’s a great product. For me though, it is too expensive and not versatile enough for my use.

If you just need ND filters Haida and Polar Pro both make rear lens filter kits for the Sigma 14-24 DG DN Art Lens. Also, you can use a template that ships with the Sigma and cut your own out of ND film, however, I have seen tests where the color quality is poor. Besides, using plastic ND filter film with a nice lens like the Sigma doesn't make the most sense to me.

So I landed on a great solution that uses the parts listed below:
(Note: I am in the process of becoming an affiliate so will include links when I am approved - Which requires my channel to have a certain amount of views and subscribers.)

Camera///
Sony a7S III

Lenses///
Sigma 24-70mm f /2.8 Dg Dn Sony E-mount Art lens
Sigma 14-24mm f /2.8 Dg Dn Sony E-mount Art lens

Matte Box///
SmallRig Lightweight Matte Box#2660
SmallRig Support Rod#2663
SmallRig Lens Support#BSL2681
SmallRig Adapter Ring#2661 (This adapter ring reduces the gap between the lens and matte box hole and helps stabilize the setup as well as helping to block out light but is not 100% necessary)

Filters///
Tiffen Black Pro-Mist ¼ #44BPM14
B+W 2-Stop ND#1089121
B+W 3-Stop ND#1089122
B+W 6-Stop ND#1089123

Rubber Foam Tape///
Foam Weather Adhesive Stripping 3/4 Inch Wide X 3/8 Inch Thick
Neoprene Closed Cell Foam Seal Weather
Note: Best to order the width you need Probably ¾” would be ideal. I ordered it way too wide and had to cut it. Also, make sure not to cut your lengths too short, the outer piece especially seems to need a good amount of extra length when sticking it down.

Timecodes
0:00 - Wide Angle Lens Filter Solution Intro
0:26 - The Problem
0:41 - My Lenses
0:48 - Why I Use Filters
1:05 - The Solution
1:31 - Parts List
1:43 - Matte Box Setup
1:55 - DIY Lens Donut
4:57 - One Issue & Solutions
5:28 - Sigma Rear Lens FIlter
5:58 - Outro
6:58 - World's Fastest Punch