The Wooden Camera BMPCC 6K PL Mount Modification Kit, as its name suggests, lets you convert the camera’s Canon EF mount to PL.
I own a BMPCC 6K, but I don’t have any Canon EF lenses. I have been using adaptors with the camera, but In all honesty, I would prefer to use PL mount lenses that I already own with the BMPCC 6K.
Now that there is a PL mount modification kit available for the camera I wanted to see how that camera would perform when coupled with PL glass.
This isn’t Wooden Camera’s first rodeo with PL mount modification kits. They also make kits for both the Canon C200/C300 Mark II and the Panasonic EVA1.
So let’s have a closer look at the Wooden Camera BMPCC 6K PL Mount Modification Kit.
Key features
- Allows an ARRI PL-mount lens to be used on a BMPCC 6K
- Attached lens can focus to infinity
- Aluminum-alloy construction provides a lightweight camera-to-lens connection
- Lens Mount Shim Set provides the ability to adjust the flange focal distance of an attached camera and lens to help ensure that video or images are sharply rendered
- Lens Adapter Universal Support Foot or Lens Adapter Foot to help prevent stress on the camera mount if the supported camera and lens combination is to be placed on video support rig or tripod
- Screwdrivers for installation or removal of shims, Lens Adapter Universal Support Foot, or Lens Adapter Foot
- PL Mount Cap to protect the interior of a camera when the adapter is mounted on it without a lens
Is the modification easy to do?
This is a modification kit and not an adapter. The BMPCC6K’s own EF Mount screws are used to attach the PL Mount to the camera. With this kit, the modification is performed by the user. An optional Wooden Camera installation service is available for an extra $250 USD. Email [email protected] for more info.
So is it easy to do this modification? Yes, and no. Even though the step by step video from Wooden Camera is pretty detailed, it is quite a fiddly and nerve-racking process to complete the modification. It probably took us around 30 minutes to do.
The modification process can be reversed. If you choose to go back to EF mount in the future, you can do it by reversing steps in the process, however, switching back and forth will eventually strip the plastic in your camera as the sensor block is made of a composite plastic material (it is strong but still plastic).
I haven’t tried putting the native EF mount back onto the camera yet. I fear this is going to be a considerably more difficult task than it was taking it off.
What PL lenses are compatible with the BMPCC 6K?
The majority of modern, s35mm lenses are compatible, but lenses with a rear protrusion longer than 40mm, measured from the PL flange, are not compatible and other lenses may not fit due to the shape of the original Blackmagic 6K body design.
Please review the diagram above to measure the protrusion requirements for fitting your lens into a modified BMPCC6K. If you are still unsure, you can check the BMPCC 6K Compatible PL Lens Chart which you can download at the top of this section.
Weight & Size
The adapter weighs 251g (0.6 lbs) and has physical dimensions of 85.1 x 81.8 x 48 mm (3.4 x 3.2 x 1.9 in).
Build Quality
The build quality of the adapter is good. It’s nice and lightweight, and once fitted to the BMPCC 6K there is no wobble or movement.
The PL Mount is made of stainless steel and aircraft-grade aluminum and includes the PL port cap.
PL mount lenses lock down securely and are easy to put on and take off.
Flange Focus
If you are going to use expense PL glass on a camera you need to make sure that the mount not only keeps the lens secure and doesn’t wobble around, but that it has been pre-shimmed for accuracy.
Before the adapters are shipped, Wooden Camera sets the flange focus using collimation tools. You only need to adjust the shims should you find that your camera is out of calibration. Shims are provided with the kit for adjusting back focus and the appropriate shims are installed prior to shipping. Further adjustment should not be needed but can be checked using a wide angle lens and a focus chart. The BMPCC6K’s own EF Mount screws are used to attach the PL Mount to the camera.
Shim Set (stackable to achieve necessary thickness):
- Silver .0127mm (0.0005″)
- Amber .0254mm (0.001″)
- Purple .0381mm (0.0015″)
- Red .0508mm (0.002″)
- Green .0762mm (0.003″)
- Tan .1016mm (0.004″) [Installed]
- Blue .127mm (0.005″)
Above you can see a nice instructional video from Wooden Camera that shows you how to do this. I like that Ryan makes a lot of instructional videos for Wooden camera products, more companies should be doing this.
Performance
I can never quite understand why people always seem to browse eBay or Amazon to find the cheapest lens adapter available. If you are going to put an expensive piece of glass on your camera why would you want to use the cheapest adapter you can find? You wouldn’t put retreads on an expensive car, so why would you want to do the equivalent thing with your camera.
One of the common complaints with lens adapters is lens wobble because the connection between the adapter and the camera mount is not tight enough. So how does the Wooden camera Adapter fare? There is no wobble between the lens and the camera mount. The locking PL mechanism is smooth and lenses attach to the adapter without any problems.
Other Alternatives
Wooden Camera is not the only company that makes a PL modification for the BMPCC 6K. A company called Bezamod recently had a Kickstarter campaign, which has since been funded, for their own BMPCC 6K modification kit. This is expected to start shipping in December to early backers of the project. The price will be $329.95 MSRP.
What do you get?
- 1x PL adapter
- 1x Shim Set
- 1x Jeweler’s Screwdriver
- 2x Strips of Flocking Tape
Price & Availability
The Wooden Camera BMPCC 6K PL Mount Modification Kit costs $499 USD and it has just started to ship.
At $499 USD it is the same price as the companies Canon C200/C300 Mark II, and Panasonic EVA1 modification kits.
Conclusion
If you are using the BMPCC 6K as a ‘B’ or ‘C’ camera with a high-end digital cinema camera then converting it to PL mount makes a lot of sense, especially if you want to run the same lens or lenses that are on your main cameras.
The modification kit is a little fiddly to install, but once it is on the camera the mount is rock solid. Even though you can change it back to its native Canon EF mount, I’m not sure this is something many people are actually going to do.
Given the complexity of converting it back to EF mount, I think most users buying this modification kit are going to buy it with the intention of leaving it as PL mount.
If you want to convert your BMPCC 6K to PL mount then the Wooden camera solution is the best available option at the moment.
