We were recently caught up with Patrick Brown. After decades as a staff foreign correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Patrick is now an independent TV documentary maker based in Beijing. He had this to say about the Genus range of products

Selecting equipment for filming in the Peoples’ Republic of China often involves compromises. The need for discreet access in sensitive situations dictates limits on the size, weight and degree of obtrusive appearance of your gear, but there can be an undesirable tradeoff in image quality. The Matte Box from Genus was a happy discovery for us when we bought a Sony EX3 camera fitted with a Fujinon HS18X5.5BERM High Definition Lens. A matte box  is indispensible for certain kinds of shoots, but it attracts unwelcome attention by adding to the professional look of the camera. We can’t have our matte box  mounted all the time, but we need to be able to mount it quickly when it is needed. One outstanding feature of the Genus is that it is extremely rugged and stable when mounted with the advanced adaptor bars, but it can also be attached and dismounted very rapidly directly onto the lens.

The Genus is extremely light. Even with two filters loaded into the snug filter trays, it does not unbalance the camera or put significant stress on the lens mount. The matte box , filters and bars are compact. When not in use, they fit easily into our backpack run bag. The Genus is an ingenious and affordable design which outshoots more cumbersome and much more expensive brands.