Inside Emulsion Pictures' Abracam ClipOne 6×6 Setup

At Emulsion Pictures, we spend a lot of time thinking about the small, often overlooked accessories that make specialty lenses truly usable on set. One of the most unique examples in our kit is a custom-designed matte box solution built specifically for the TLS True Lens Services rehoused 35mm LOMO Round Front anamorphic.

This is not a generic solution. It is, in fact, the only matte box configuration that properly works with this lens, and it is included at no additional cost in the same case as the lens when you rent it from us.

The Challenge of a 190mm Front Diameter

The 35mm LOMO Round Front anamorphic is a physically large lens with a 190mm front diameter, which is highly unusual for a cinema lens. That size alone eliminates most standard matte box options. Typical clip-on or swing-away systems, including common ARRI 6×6 designs, simply do not fit.

Before rehousing, the lens presented an even bigger challenge. The original optical block featured a telescoping and rotating front that moved during focus pulls. That movement made clip-on matte boxes unusable and created significant complications for focus pullers, often requiring extra-thick focus gears on both the lens focus barrel and the wireless focus motor, along with a large neoprene donut on a rod-mounted matte box.

TLS addressed this issue beautifully in their rehousing. The front of the lens is now completely stable. It does not rotate or telescope when pulling focus from infinity to close focus. However, that still left one major problem unsolved: what matte box could actually be used with this lens?

Abracam's Custom ClipOne 6×6 Matte Box

The solution came from Abracam, a French manufacturer known for designing highly specialized camera accessories. Abracam has built a reputation for solving problems that off-the-shelf equipment cannot address, particularly for unusual or one-off lenses.

For the 35mm LOMO Round Front, Abracam designed a ClipOne 6×6 matte box specifically sized for the 190mm front diameter. It is lightweight, precisely engineered, and manufactured using modern 3D printing techniques. That approach allows for a level of customization and iteration that was not realistically possible in earlier decades.

Lightweight and Purpose-Built

Despite its size, the matte box is impressively lightweight. This is one of the major advantages of its 3D-printed construction, especially when working with an already large and heavy anamorphic lens.

We also had Abracam fabricate a custom front eyebrow for our unit. The original eyebrow did not fully cover the height of the filter, and we wanted ACs to be able to fold it down to better protect the front of the lens. Abracam produced a revised version with increased coverage, which adds practical protection without unnecessary bulk.

The top eyebrow also includes expandable wings that help control flare and stray light while maintaining a compact footprint.

A Secure and Space-Efficient Filter System

The Abracam ClipOne does not use traditional slide-in filter trays like many ARRI matte boxes. Instead, it uses a compact, spring-loaded system designed to save space while remaining extremely secure.

The matte box is a two-stage 6×6 design. 6.6×6.6 filters are inserted from the front and locked into place using a lever mechanism at the top back. A spring-loaded top pincher holds each filter firmly once seated. Two 6.6×6.6 filters can be mounted simultaneously, and both remain very secure even in handheld or fast-moving setups.

This design keeps the overall profile smaller than many comparable matte boxes while maintaining professional reliability.

Using the Same Matte Box Across the LOMO Round Front Set

While the 190mm front diameter of the 35mm LOMO Round Front is by far the largest in the set, the 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm lenses are significantly smaller. All of the other TLS LOMOs feature a 143mm front diameter, which normally allows the use of standard 4×5 matte boxes such as the ARRI LMB4x5.

Abracam offers an accessory that allows the same ClipOne 6×6 matte box to be used across the entire set.

190mm to 143mm Insert Adapter

This insert mounts inside the rear of the matte box and steps the opening down from 190mm to 143mm. It aligns via a locating notch at the hinge side of the matte box and seats securely against the front of the lens.

Once installed, the matte box clamps down just as solidly as it does on the 35mm, allowing a single matte box solution for multiple lenses.

6×6 to 4×5 Step-Down Filter Trays

To complete the system, Abracam also produces spring-loaded 6×6 to 4×5 step-down trays. These allow standard 4×5.65 filters to be used inside the same 6×6 matte box.

Filters snap into place securely and are held by spring tension. Removal is quick and controlled using an upward pull tab. Just as two 6×6 filters can be used at the same time, these step-down trays allow two 4×5.65 filters to be used simultaneously.

A Fully Integrated, Production-Ready Kit

All components are housed together in the lens case. The case includes a dedicated compartment for the 35mm LOMO Round Front, storage for the step-down trays, and space for the 190mm to 143mm insert.

Given the size and weight of the 35mm lens, rod-based lens support is required, and the case is designed to accommodate systems such as the ARRI LS-9 for 19mm studio rods or the LS-10 for 15mm studio rods, along with the rods themselves.

Abracam's History of Solving Difficult Problems

This project fits into a broader pattern of Abracam tackling lenses that fall outside industry norms. A notable example is the Fujinon Duvo 25–1000mm, a Super 35 cinema lens with an extraordinary 40× zoom range.

No standard matte box fit that lens either. In collaboration with PhotoCineRent, Abracam developed a ClipOne 6×9 matte box and custom filters, which were featured in Film and Digital Times, Issue 122–123.

Final Thoughts

This article is not intended as a formal review, but rather a practical overview of how the system works and why it exists. A great deal of attention to detail went into every part of this design, and that care shows in real-world use.

We are proud to include this custom Abracam ClipOne 6×6 matte box as part of our 35mm LOMO Round Front anamorphic kit, packaged together in the same case and ready for production use.

Rent the Full Kit

Interested in shooting with the 35mm LOMO Round Front anamorphic? The Abracam ClipOne 6×6 matte box, insert adapter, and step-down trays are all included with the lens rental at no additional cost. Get in touch to check availability.