Blackmagic PL Mount Shim Kit

The Blackmagic PL Mount Shim Kit is an essential accessory kit containing a set of precisely measured metal rings, or shims, designed to adjust the flange focal distance (FFD) of PL (positive lock) mount lenses. The kit is compatible with Blackmagic's professional cinema cameras, such as the URSA and URSA Mini/Mini Pro series, which utilize the PL lens mount. The fundamental purpose of these shims is to compensate for microscopic manufacturing tolerances in both the camera mount and the lens itself, ensuring that a lens focuses sharply at all distances, particularly when the focus ring is set to infinity.

By adding or removing shims from behind the lens mount, camera technicians can ensure that the distance between the lens mounting flange and the camera's image sensor is exact, which is a critical step known as setting the camera's back focus. This process is especially vital for parfocal zoom lenses, where the focus must hold true across the entire zoom range. The kit ships with multiple shims of varying thickness, allowing for fine-tuning the FFD to achieve perfect optical accuracy, a professional requirement for high-end digital film production.

Product Features in Detail

High-Precision Flange Distance Adjustment

The kit is essential for fine-tuning the flange focal distance of PL (positive lock) lenses. This adjustment is critical for achieving optimal focus and superior image quality, especially when focusing on infinity or using wide-angle cinema glass, making it a professional necessity.

Dedicated PL Mount Compatibility

This shim kit is specifically designed for use with PL mount lenses on Blackmagic URSA Digital Cinema Cameras (including the URSA Mini, URSA Mini Pro, and other compatible URSA bodies). This ensures precise mechanical alignment and compatibility with high-end cinema lenses.

Includes a Set of Shims for Versatility

The kit comprises a set of eight meticulously crafted shims of various thicknesses. This range of shims provides the necessary versatility and precision to fine-tune the lens mount, accounting for slight variations in camera bodies and lens manufacturing tolerances.

Durable and Reliable Construction

The shims are made with high-precision manufacturing from durable materials, ensuring they maintain their exact thickness and shape over time. This robust construction guarantees long-term reliability and consistent performance, even with frequent lens changes in a fast-paced production environment.

Facilitates Quick Lens Swaps

The shims are designed to be easy to install and adjust. This ease of use is a significant benefit for filmmakers who need to quickly swap between different PL lenses while maintaining the camera's exact flange focal distance for consistent focusing.

Preserves System Integrity and Metadata

By ensuring exact alignment, the shims help maintain the integrity of the camera system. They preserve compatibility with the URSA camera system, which is essential for certain mounts (like the optional URSA Mini Pro PL Mount) to correctly read and record lens metadata (such as Cooke's i/Technology) for post-production use in DaVinci Resolve.