K&F CONCEPT was kind enough to send me their Mini Matte Box to test out, and as someone who's been looking to add a more professional look to my video work, I was excited to put it through its paces. A matte box is essential for controlling light and preventing lens flare, and this one promised professional features in a compact, affordable package. Here's my review.

The K&F CONCEPT Mini Matte Box is a lightweight and versatile tool designed for both DSLR and mirrorless cameras. It's built primarily from carbon fiber, making it durable without adding a lot of weight to the front of your lens. It offers excellent light control and the flexibility to use professional-grade filters.

This matte box is packed with useful features that you'd typically find on more expensive models. These are the ones that stood out to me:

• Adjustable Carbon Fiber Flags

• Versatile Filter System

• Wide Compatibility & Mounting Options

• Protective Storage Case

The matte box comes with a premium storage case. It’s a semi-rigid case with custom foam cutouts for the matte box, flags, and adapter rings. This keeps all the components safe and organized during transport, which is fantastic for anyone shooting on location.

The main job of a matte box is to block stray light from hitting your lens and causing unwanted flares or reducing contrast. This one does the job perfectly with its adjustable flags. The top flag is made of lightweight carbon fiber and can be opened a full 180°, allowing you to precisely control light from above. The side wings extend up to 40°, giving you even more control over light coming from the sides. They are sturdy and hold their position well.

One of the biggest advantages of a matte box is the ability to use different types of filters. This K&F CONCEPT model features a dual-filter system that can hold two 4 x 5.65" filters, which is a standard size in the filmmaking industry. This allows you to stack filters, like an ND and a mist filter, for more creative control.

Additionally, you can use a circular screw-on filter (like a variable ND or a circular polarizer) at the same time as the 4 x 5.65" filters, giving you maximum flexibility on a shoot.

Out of the box, the matte box is ready to mount on a wide variety of lenses. It includes four adapter rings for the most common filter thread sizes: 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, and 82mm. It clamps securely onto these rings, so there's no risk of it falling off.

For added versatility, the matte box frame includes multiple expansion ports (1/4" and 3/8" threads, plus a cold shoe mount on top). This is incredibly useful for mounting accessories like a monitor, a small video light, or a microphone directly onto your camera rig.

While I generally love this matte box, I did run into one small limitation that videographers with large lenses should be aware of. Using a circular screw-in filter, like a variable ND, can be a bit tricky with larger diameter lenses.

To mount a circular filter, you have to remove the two 4x5.65" filter trays to make room. Even then, the system is designed to accommodate circular filters up to 82mm. If you rely on a larger 95mm variable ND for a fast telephoto lens, you won't be able to screw it directly into the provided adapter rings. For most standard setups this isn't an issue, but it's something to consider if your workflow depends on very large screw-in filters.

The K&F CONCEPT Mini Matte Box is a fantastic piece of kit that brings professional-level features to an accessible price point. The lightweight carbon fiber construction, excellent light-blocking capabilities, and versatile dual-filter system make it a powerful tool for any videographer or filmmaker looking to improve their production value.

It's well-built, easy to use, and the included adapter rings and mounting points offer incredible flexibility. While there's a small limitation when it comes to using screw-in filters larger than 82mm, its core functionality is outstanding. For anyone looking to get their first matte box or in need of a lightweight travel option, I can highly recommend this one.

If you're interested in buying this matte box, you can do so using the following links:

K&F CONCEPT Mini Matte Box:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4eL5N7x (use promo code DEJORAN10 for 5% off)