Matthews Studio Equipment has launched the MICROGrip Master Rigging Kit, an ultra-compact, precision-engineered system, designed for mounting lights, cameras, and a wide range of accessories. Built for versatility and easy use, this comprehensive selection of rigging tools makes mounting, rigging, and hanging straightforward and efficient for smaller equipment.

Included in a smartly configured Craftsman case are two styles of rigging plates to expand mounting options. The Standard MICROGrip Plate features multiple evenly spaced nail and screw holes, making it ideal for mounting into wood or building tabletop, podcast, or small-scale camera, light, or microphone rigs. The MICROGrip Nail-On Plate includes a unique T-cutout that fits between the plates of the MICROGrip Head—adding articulation and positioning flexibility.

The Kit also provides a new-style MICROGrip Head with dual 3/8” holes for rod mounting and a low-profile knob, offering a secure grip in tighter spaces. Also included is the new Micro Pin. This 3/8” pin provides an undercut for added safety, tapped with a 1/4”-20 thread to integrate seamlessly with industry-standard gear.

To assure accessory compatibility the 148-piece also Kit includes: MiniMatthellinis, Drop Ceiling Scissor Mounts, 3/8” rods, Micro Magnets, Baby Pins, D-rings, BM1 Bulb Mounts, hanging safety cables and a generous variety of bolts and nuts.

For a limited time, each MICROGrip Master Rigging Kit includes a complimentary Craftsman case. MICROGrip Master Rigging Kit is now available from Matthews dealers around the world. For the complete list of components and to get more information visit: https://www.msegrip.com/collections/microgrip-kits-accessories

BURBANK, Calif.—Matthews will introduce the 5-inch Pocket C-Stand with a ¼”-20 adapter for tabletop work, photographic, stop motion and miniature applications at the 2025 NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 5-9.

The sturdy, compact 5-inch Pocket C-Stand offers all of the key features of its full-sized counterpart in a scaled-down, functional package. Its height range is adjustable from 6 to 18 inches. Designed with a rugged steel build, the stand includes a double riser and a folding leg for enhanced stability and flexibility, the company said.

Available with a black powder coat, which is packaged separately for the first time, or as a chrome version, the stand is equipped with larger, easy-to-use knobs with the Matthews “M” logo. A detachable ¼”-20 screw designed for mounting small cameras, cell phone holders or other accessories makes the stand handy to use, it said.

For precise control, Pocket C-Stands feature two fully functional aluminum grip heads, equipped with 3/16-inch holes, well-suited to standard dot and finger flags or scrims. The ¼”-20 threaded adapter and 3/16-inch receiver allow easy mounting of small cameras, lights and other small set accessories. A flow spot on the 3/16-inch mounting surface prevents mounted items from rolling, it said.

The Pocket C-Stand, priced at $105, like the company’s family of C-Stands and line of grip gear is available via the company’s worldwide dealer network.

Matthews will be in N2031 in the North Hall of the LVCC.

More information is available on the company’s website.

Missed any of our product coverage during your busy week? The TV Tech weekly product and services news wrap-up provides links to all of our coverage from May 13 to May 17, with the most recent news listed first, day by day from Friday back to Monday. 

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Matthews Studio Equipment has introduced Grip Rail, which the company said offers a better way to mount equipment on location, in the studio, or on the fly. 

The multipurpose Grip Rail is a rugged aluminum lightweight telescoping grid pipe system that makes it quicker, easier, and safer to brace and hang cameras, lights, or backdrops, incorporate into a wall spreader, build overhead frames, and much more, the company reported. 

The latest in Matthew's lineup of gear, Grip Rail is the brainchild of Aaron Hammel. As a motorcycle race mechanic/crew chief and owner of Patriot Camera Cars (known for electric camera cars) he has dual expertise as a Local 80 Operator and in the intricacies of mounting technology. When Hammel needed a better rail-style mounting system that would eliminate wasted time and resources cutting pipe to size in the field, he went to his own machine shop and built it. When others requested his innovation, he partnered with the folks he trusted up the street—Matthews Studio Equipment.

Grip Rail is a no-cutting, worthy alternative to imprecise and bulky pipe organs and other rail systems. Designed to work with off-the-shelf grip hardware including popular grid clamps, Matthellinis, and standard pipe fittings, the system can secure up to 60lbs/27.2kg in the horizontal (when properly supported on two ends) and 120lbs/54.4kg in the vertical position, Matthews explained. 

At one end, telescoping Grip Rail offers a 360° rotating Junior Receiver giving the user the ability to directly mount lights and adapters. To adjust the system, two grub screws are loosened to telescope the junior receiver end into the desired position. Each Grip Rail comes complete with a Clamp Reducer, a dynamic accessory for adding clamps or fittings along the skinny section of Grip Rail.   

Grip Rail is available in two pipe diameters: 1-1/4" (42mm) and 1-1/2" (48mm). For easy adjustability, both versions are available in either Small: 2ft-3.5ft/1m or Large: 3.5ft-6ft/2m lengths. For more length, Grip Rails can be coupled together thanks to the new Matthews double-ended Junior Pin. 

More information is available in a video at https://bit.ly/GripRailVideos and at https://bit.ly/GripRail. 

 BURBANK, Calif.—Matthews Studio Equipment has announced a new Mini Boom Rolling Kit that has been developed for the unique on-set needs of still photographers and content creators. 

Individually, each component was engineered to make the job easier, yet combined they become one efficient time-saver, sliding smoothly wherever needed on set, the company reported. 

The Mini Boom Rolling Kit package is designed to add speed and ease to repositioning the key light throughout a shoot so the photographer can better maintain flow and momentum. There's a smooth rolling 3-wheeled base with multi-direction locking casters carrying a 40” C-Stand riser. Atop it a 5/8” Baby Pin holds a sleek mini boom and all the goods needed to adjust lighting, the company said. 

The kit was inspired by renowned photo artist, Jeremy Saffer, who called it, “The solution to many potential problems. The versatility of the base, riser, and arm means I can set the light anywhere in the room at any direction even 10+ feet above the subject or lighting them in a balcony above. When that heavy light needs to be moved, I can do so with just a slight push of my finger as the Rollway Base takes on all the weight and moves smoothly in every direction.”

The Kit is a combination of four essential tools: the Runway base, 40” C+ Riser, Mini MatthBoom and a 10 pound/kg Boa Bag. 

The components may also be individually used. The low rolling Runway Base (6”/152mm) supports light fixtures (up to 250 lbs/113kg) mounted directly to its Posi-V-Lock Junior Receiver. Three non-marking, locking Tente casters provide straight tracking and secure locking. Weighing 20-lbs. (9kg), it expands to 32"/812mm, yet folds to 20”/508mm, the company said. 

The 40” C+ Riser offers the hallmark strength and reliability of Matthews renowned steel C-stands with ergonomic T-handles, steel reinforced threaded collars, and a knurled 5/8” Baby Pin featuring a 3/8”-16 threaded tip. It extends from 45.5” to 110.5”, Matthews explained. 

The accompanying Mini Matthboom is the solution for easy light fixture and strobe adjustment. Built of steel to remain rigid, even loaded with accessories, it can mount on a 5/8" Baby Pin and telescopes from 45”/115cm to over 80” 203cm at full extension, terminating in a 5/8" pin. Steel reinforced threaded collars ensure a solid bite from t-handles while set-screws and V-shaped brass brakes enable durable 3-point contact. A rear hook is ready to grab a sandbag for balancing while the knurled baby pin ensures safe mounting.

To help stabilize, Matthews includes a 10 pound/4.5kg Boa Bag. This versatile steel shot bag quickly wraps around the base of any stand, column, brace, T-handle, arm, or boom.

Matthews’ equipment is built to be durable from top grade industrial materials including steel components which are welded, coated, polished, and assembled. Caster wheels are non-marking and lock in the caster position as well as rotationally. Brakes ensure 3-point secure locking. Equipment's Mini Boom Rolling Kit is manufactured, and quality controlled in Matthews Burbank, California headquarters, adjacent to some of the world’s most demanding studios, the company explained. 

The Mini Boom Rolling Kit will be on display at the BILD Expo in NYC, September 6-7 at the Matthews Studio Booth # 228. 

For more information visit: https://bit.ly/MSE-MBRK and www.msegrip.com. 

BURBANK, Calif.—Matthews Studio Equipment has introduced Gatorbuddy, a professional tool to help video shooters and photographers work with bounce and fill cards in an efficient way to increase their productivity on the job.

The sturdy yet mobile Gatorbuddy features a steel base and four Tente caster wheels. It can glide around the studio and then lock safely in place to enable lighting adjustments. Gatorbuddy can be used to move panels and V-Flats smoothly in and out to swap backgrounds, the company said.

Able to create walls and dividers instantly, Gatorbuddy also can be equipped with a laptop or monitor to use as a workstation, it said. 

The design features a sturdy wheeled base with a low center of gravity for stability. Eight inserts offer positioning of the three screw-in aluminum Baby Risers while a slider knob accommodates width and angle adjustment of various size panels. Adding a Junior Wall Plate to support a C+Riser or a V-Flat holder as well as adjusting angles is easy, the company said.

The new product is compatible with professional grip equipment. It uses 5/8-inch Baby Ppins on each aluminum Baby Riser along with multiple tapped 3/8-inch -16 receivers. Adding Baby Pins, clamps, grip heads and other accessories is simple, it said.

Gatorbuddy has a matte black finish and measures 39-inches by 18-inches by .82 inches. It is available today from Matthews dealers worldwide.

More information is available on the company’s website.

BURBANK, Calif.—Matthews Studio Equipment has unveiled the BM1 Bulb Mount Kit, which is designed to enable greater versatility and support improved grip compatibility when working with professional battery-powered LED bulbs. 

The kit comes with four Matthews BM1 Bulb Mounts made of sturdy, lightweight, matte-black molded nylon. Each has a standard lamp socket thread (1.25-inch outer diameter) to hold a single E26/E27 medium LED bulb. At the other end, a standard ¼-inch-20 female threaded insert is ready to accept a micro grip pin, scissor clamp or micro grip rod, the company said.

Two threaded micro grip pins are included to facilitate interfacing the bulbs with 5/8-inch (16mm) receivers. The kit also includes a micro grip rod for 3/8-inch (9.5mm) receiver. The included scissor clamp make bulb mounting easy from drop ceilings. A 2.6-inch (66mm) rubber coated disc magnet for mounting to steel beams, cabinets and other metal is included, it said.

The BM1 Bulb Mount Kit is available through the Matthews worldwide dealer network.

More information is available on the company’s website.

BURBANK, Calif.—Matthews Studio Equipment is keeping its customers informed of delivery delays that it is experiencing with certain products because of the pandemic and other factors.

In an email, MSE noted that supply chains have been strained as a result of “COVID-19, weather events, port holdups and shipping catastrophes” (though not specifically mentioned, the Suez Canal incident is among one of the most recent high profile examples of the latter). It adds that material availability, staffing shortages and demand have impacted its ability to fill some orders.

As a result, MSE says that some of its products are facing delays until early summer. Certain items are available in stock, though; wait times vary depending on the product.

“For those experiencing a delay on your order, we apologize and thank you for your patience,” the email reads. “Be assured that we are fulfilling orders in the sequence they were placed.”

MSE recommends that if a customer is planning a project that calls for a product purchase that an order be placed early.

Investments are being made for additional staff, equipment and warehouse space to address these issues, MSE said. The company also says it will share updates on estimated delivery schedules.

BURBANK, Calif.—Matthews Studio Equipment has introduced a new offering that aims to help with the practice of social distancing on set, the Sheet Plate Adapter Kit.

MSE’s Sheet Plate Adapter Kit is a bracket mount that adds a welded 3/8-inch pin to any sheet material (i.e. Plexiglass, plywood, etc.) to create on-set barriers that can be sanitized. Two 3-inch steel plates sandwich the material via four bolts. 

The adapter kit can also be used for camera protection, custom light modification and set building, per MSE.

For more information, visit www.msegrip.com.  

BURBANK, Calif.—Matthews Studio Equipment has created a new line of docking systems that are meant to be used to keep gimbals safely out of the way when they are not in use between shots.

The new tool is a combination of Matthews’ Slider Stand and Dutti Dock tools. It measures in at 3 feet and can make rig adjustments.

The wide-based Slider Stand comes with two rocky mountain legs for leveling on uneven surfaces. It also has multiple mounting options, including two long cheese plate slots for adjustable plate balance position. 

The unit is constructed from 6061 T6 aircraft-grade aluminum and can collapse to 25-inches. It comes with black anodized aerospace-design-inspired braces.

Matthews has three versions of its new docking system: The 99045 offers the Dutti Dock/Slider Stand; the 99046 adds a Matthews Caster Wheel set of three; and the 99047 ships with the Rock n’ Rollers wheel set with rigid safety locks.

For more information, visit www.msegrip.com.  

BURBANK, Calif.—Matthews Studio Equipment has put its own spin on the wheel, unveiling the Rock n’ Roller wheel sets to make production equipment mobile even on difficult surfaces.

Designed using input from industry professionals, the Rock n’ Roll wheel set is an add-on that features three foam semi-pneumatic tires 3-inches wide and 8-inches in diameter and can be used on a variety of surfaces, including rocks, gravel, asphalt, uneven concrete and soft grass. They are also capable of 360-degree rotation.

Specific features of the wheels include a face locking pedal brake with an adjustable pad with a dual-lock mechanism, a round top plate and Matthews’ Spring Steel Sleeve for attaching the wheel to a stand.

Matthews offers the Rock n’ Roller wheels in three versions, the Monitor Wheel Set for Monitor Stand II and Slider Stands; the Combo Wheel Set for Combo Stands or any stand with a 1-inch square tube leg; and the Mombo Combo Set that works with stands with 1.5-inch square tube legs.

More information is available from Matthews Studio Equipment.

LAS VEGAS—At the 2017 NAB Show, Matthews Studio Equipment will bring its new Rover smartphone camera cage, a professional style camera rig that supports the use of smart phones for videography and cinematography. With its minimalist design, the Rover is strong, lightweight and ergonomic, yet versatile enough to work with most smartphones, lenses, microphones, lights and other accessories.

The Rover lets users keep their hands and arms relaxed while it keeps the camera movement smooth and steady. When used with the company’s MicroGrip hardware, it can be mounted on rails, windows, trees, cars or other surfaces, as well as on tripods.

The open Rover cage design accommodates many third-party lens systems, and the repositionable cold shoe mount adaptor accommodates microphones and lights. The handles, which become a natural extension of the body, can also double as easel supports for low angle shooting or tabletop viewing and editing.

The 2017 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 24-27. Matthews Studio Equipment will be in boothC5437. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

LAS VEGAS—At the 2016 NAB Show, Matthews Studio Equipment will unveil the Infinity Arm, a reliable, articulating support arm for today’s cameras, lights, monitors and other gear. The arm allows equipment, such as a camera/lens package, to be mounted in the precise position needed for production.

DP/Videographer Sage Seb designed the Infinity Arm and promoted it on Kickstarter before entering into a strategic partnership with Matthews, which now manufactures it at its Burbank, Calif. facility.

The Infinity Arm is made of steel and aircraft aluminum and plated with anodized nickel phosphorus. Its center pivot point includes a 60-section rosette for superior strength and adjustability. It’s also designed to allow quick interchange of a wide variety of equipment.

The 2016 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 18-21. Matthews Studio Equipment will be in booth C5437. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.