Bricks in Motion
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Hey guys I am an animator and I have been doing it for a few years. Just recently I got my 1st DSLR Nikon D3100. It has an 18mm-55mm lens. I need advice, what type of Lens do you guys recommend for brick filming? Thanks,
John Pace
PaceStudios
I recommend using the right lens for the right shot, there is no 'right lens for Brickfilming'
As far as a good, basic lens goes I recomend the Micro Nikkor 55mm prime lens However having some wide lenses and telephoto lenses and lens extensions in your tool kit are great options. I have an 18mm f4, 24mm f2.8, 35mm f2.8, Micro 55mm f3.5, 105mm f2.5, and a 300mm f4 (all prime lenses). I use all of them to animate. I find that my 24mm has the lowest quality optics (if we aren't counting my 18-55mm kit lens)
In addition to lens I also have a set of three lens extension tubes for additional macro shooting flexibility. When you get lenses for stop motion make sure they have manual aperture rings, and when shooting partially unscrew the lens so you don't get aperture flicker. If you want to get a set of lenses that will cover 95% of your film making needs I would get a 20mm or 25mm lens for when you need a wide angle shot, the 55mm macro for most of your basic shots, and a 105mm macro for close ups.
Well, if I needed one lens for close up shots, what do you recommend?
a 105mm macro for close ups.
Ok, thanks.
This is my 55mm Macro lens at f/3.5 as close as it can go (downsized to 640x480).
This is the same lens but with a 27.5mm lens extension at f/8
And this is the first image cropped from the orginal 18mp image cropped to 1920x1080 for a close up and downsized to 640x360
Don't mind the white balance, I just tossed these together, you could probably get by with the Nikkor 55mm Macro f/3.5 and a set of extension tubes and just use the zoom kit lens for any wide shots you can't use the 55mm for and get by just fine, (I use some old school Nikkor PK-1, PK-2, and PK-3 extension tubes so I can't vouch for those, you might want to look around but those seem well rated)
I personally use the Russian Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 prime manual lens.
It's a good brickfilming lens, but I'm sure there are better out there (but with a large price tag). This lens is pretty sweet. I have used it since September when I made The Death of Coiffure.
Here's how close I can go with the 58mm lens at f5.6:
Combine this lens with extension tubes and you get total mayhem (whether good or bad 
). With all of the extension tubes combined (I own this set of Fotodiox tubes: http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Extensio … 03Y5T464), I can get this close:
Sorry that the focus isn't the greatest, and the grain is bad. The lighting's not the best in here, so I had to raise my ISO.
You don't have to combine all of the tubes, though, and I actually recommend that you don't unless your going for some crazy closeup shot, because it's impractical to use it that close, but the extension tubes help a whole lot. Also keep in mind tht with an old lens like this, you'll need a lens adapter so the lens will fit your camera. Since it's an M42 screw lens, I use this adapter:
http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-07LAm42n … ref=sr_1_3
Although, I regret not getting the one with the removable infinity-glass, because I cannot take photos in focus beyond about 2 meters away. 
Also, if I would have turned the aperture down a bit, it would have had a less shallow depth of field, so it would have looked better. (Here's a better picture of how close I can get, though I didn't use all of my tubes to get that close, I left one or two out): https://www.flickr.com/photos/rioforce/15256100596/
Like Sloth said, there is no specific lens for brickfilming, just like there is not specific lens for portraits, or for landscapes. Kit lenses are designed to "do it all", but for specialty photography, most people get different lenses.
Last edited by rioforce (November 15, 2014 (03:29pm))
Just wondering, is there anything specific you need to do to adapt such a Helios lens to a modern DSLR (in my case, a Canon 550D)? Is it possible to obtain an adapter ring or otherwise change the fittings?
Also, can anyone recommend me a good set of cheap extension tubes? I do have a pair without electronic connections, but it's not very useful for lenses which don't have Aperture rings (i.e. all the lenses I currently own). I've been looking on Amazon, but all the ones I've gotten have been defective (I bought a pair for around £35, and I don't really want to risk the cheaper models after this experience).
Last edited by Mr Vertigo (November 15, 2014 (02:34pm))
Just wondering, is there anything specific you need to do to adapt such a Helios lens to a modern DSLR (in my case, a Canon 550D)? Is it possible to obtain an adapter ring or otherwise change the fittings?
Also, can anyone recommend me a good set of cheap extension tubes? I do have a pair without electronic connections, but it's not very useful for lenses which don't have Aperture rings (i.e. all the lenses I currently own). I've been looking on Amazon, but all the ones I've gotten have been defective (I bought a pair for around £35, and I don't really want to risk the cheaper models after this experience).
The Helios has an M42 mount, so you'll need an M42 to Canon (or Nikon) adapter. I bought the Nikon equivalent of this adapter. But you may want to get the one with the removable infinity glass, though, if you want it to focus beyond 2 meters.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G4QXN2/ref … zub1ASDWWM
If you'll notice the pictures on Amazon, the adapter is on a Helios 44-2. However, the problem with the cheaper adapters is that they may be defective. I also have the Type 2 silver version of the adapter (which is the one I ordered, but they sent me the black alternate model by mistake, so I told them and they finally sent me the silver one), but it doesn't fit my camera at all. I actually thankful that they sent me the wrong one by mistake, because I ended up using the black one, with just one modification: I had to drill the hole on the side of it to be larger so the pin on my camera would go in. The hole was unfortunately too small and offset a bit, but that was a minor issue.
As for extension tubes, if you're going to get electronic ones, I will say not to go with Fotodiox. I've never bought the electronic tubes, but they are rather expensive (well, 50 dollars, but still), and all of the Fotodiox produces I have bought have been defective, but I have modified them to be useable. So I wouldn't buy anything over 15 dollars from them for fear is would not work or break my camera or lens.
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