The Blackmagic Design Spares - Camera PCC6K - Glass Filter is the protective, IR-cut optical glass that sits directly in front of the Super 35 sensor. This part is common to both the original Pocket Cinema Camera 6K and the 6K G2.
In the Blackmagic ecosystem, this glass serves two primary roles: it is an Infrared (IR) Cut Filter and a physical dust shield for the sensor.
Core Functions
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IR Pollution Prevention: Digital sensors are naturally sensitive to infrared light, which causes black fabrics to appear brown or magenta. This glass "cuts" those wavelengths to ensure accurate color rendition, especially when using ND filters.
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Optical Path Consistency: The thickness of this glass is factored into the camera's flange focal distance. If this glass is removed or replaced with an incorrect thickness, your lenses will not hit their infinity focus marks correctly.
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Sensor Protection: This is the part you are actually touching when you "clean your sensor." It prevents dust and moisture from reaching the sensitive silicon wafer of the sensor itself.
When to Replace the Glass Filter
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The "Magenta Shift": If your footage has a permanent red/purple cast that wasn't there when the camera was new, the IR-cut coating on the glass may have oxidized or degraded.
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Permanent Scratches: If a piece of grit was caught in a sensor swab during cleaning, it can leave a permanent "hairline" mark that appears in all your footage.
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Coating Delamination: In high-humidity environments, the multi-layer coatings can sometimes "bubble" or show an oil-slick rainbow pattern.
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Fungus/Mold: If moisture is trapped inside the camera, fungus can grow between this glass and the sensor, requiring a replacement of the filter and a deep clean of the sensor stack.
Technical Installation Note
Repair Level: 4 (Expert). Replacing this glass is one of the most delicate repairs because any mistake is permanently visible on your footage.
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Clean-Box Environment: You should only attempt this in a space with zero air movement or a HEPA-filtered "clean box." A single speck of dust trapped behind the glass during installation will appear as a permanent black spot on every frame you shoot.
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Sealing Gasket: The glass is held in place by a rubber gasket or an adhesive ring. It must be perfectly level. If the glass sits at a slight angle, you will experience "planarity issues" (e.g., the left side of your image is sharp while the right side is soft).
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No-Touch Zone: Never touch the underside of the new filter. You should handle it only by the edges using specialized vacuum suction tools or lint-free plastic tweezers.
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Static Charge: Use an air ionizer or a manual blower to remove static charge from the sensor before laying the new glass down, otherwise, the sensor will act like a magnet for dust the moment the glass is lowered.
Identifying the Issue
| Symptom |
Probable Cause |
| Small black spots visible at $f/22$ |
Loose dust (Try a manual blower first). |
| Soft, blurry spots at all f-stops |
Physical scratch or dried oil (Attempt a professional wet clean). |
| A "haze" or "fog" inside the glass |
Coating failure or moisture (Replacement required). |
| Purple tint in daylight |
IR-cut coating degradation (Replacement required). |
Expert Advice: Before ordering a replacement, perform a Professional Wet Clean. Use a $24\text{mm}$ (Full Frame/APS-C) sensor swab and specialized sensor cleaning fluid. Often, what looks like a permanent scratch is actually a streak of dried mineral residue from condensation that a dry cloth won't remove.
Are you seeing permanent marks on your footage, or has the glass suffered a physical crack?
