Modding for Motion: Why and How to Declick Photo Lenses for Video

If you’re a filmmaker using adapted photo lenses, you’ve probably run into the hard stops and audible clicks of a traditional aperture ring. While perfectly fine for still photography, these mechanical detents are less than ideal for video. That’s where declicking comes in.

What is Declicking?

Declicking is the process of removing the hard stops from a lens’s aperture ring. Most photo lenses are designed with preset aperture stops that "click" into place at standard f-stops (like f/2.8, f/4, etc). This tactile feedback is great for photographers who need to quickly know which stop they're on. But for video, it presents two problems:

1. Noisy adjustments: The clicks are audible and can get picked up on a mic.

2. Lack of smooth control: You can't make subtle, seamless exposure changes while rolling.

3. By declicking, you get a smooth, continuous rotation of the aperture ring—ideal for video work.

Why Declicked Lenses Are Better for Video

For cinematographers, fluidity and control are everything. Declicked lenses allow you to:

• Adjust exposure mid-shot without jarring jumps in exposure

• Pair with follow focus or aperture gears for professional rig setups

• Achieve more precise depth of field control

This small mod helps bridge the gap between photography glass and true cine lenses—at a fraction of the cost.

Is Declicking Permanent?

Contrary to popular belief, declicking is not permanent. In most cases, it involves simply removing a single steel ball bearing from the aperture mechanism. This process is fully reversible, provided you keep the ball bearing stored in a secure place. If you ever wish to restore the original clicks, it can be reinstalled.

What Tools Are Required?

To declick a lens, you'll need:

• An appropriately sized screwdriver, usually a #000 Phillips head

Highly suggested items:

• Paper towel or cloth rag to clean up the aperture ring and outer housing of the lens

• A rubber or silicone mat: Pressing the lens into this surface allows you to stabilize it and use both hands to apply controlled pressure with the screwdriver.

• Lens Grease (see next section)

Warning: The screws in vintage lenses are often very small and have been set in place for decades. They are extremely easy to strip. Once stripped, they become nearly impossible to remove. Use significant downward pressure and patience paired with the proper size screwdriver.

The Missing Piece: Damping Grease

Most DIY guides overlook this critical step. Once a lens is declicked, the aperture ring will be loose, noisy, and overly sensitive. Without proper damping, the ring won’t stay in place and can easily change aperture with the slightest touch. This step is crucial. A declicked lens without a dampened aperture ring behaves like a broken lens and would be considered a downgrade.

At LensLids, we use a proprietary grease sourced from Europe, specifically formulated for camera helicoids and aperture rings. It’s the heaviest, thickest grease available for this application, offering maximum damping.

To test the quality of damping, try this: rotate the aperture and focus rings in opposite directions at the same time. With adequate damping, the opposing forces should result in a smooth, fluid resistance—a hallmark of pro-grade cine lens behavior.

Disclaimer: Rehoused cinema lenses are designed so that any damping grease is fully enclosed within the lens body. However, most photo lenses have aperture rings that ride externally with no full enclosure over their seams. While damping grease is too thick to run, it's normal to see minimal grease at the seam of the aperture ring. If this seems alarming, just wait until you open the back of the lens—you'll find grease is used generously inside. This external grease does not affect performance in any way.

Should You Do It Yourself?

Having nominal experience with lens teardown and reassembly, you should be able to declick your vintage photo glass on your own. But be warned: lenses are complex and delicate and the requirements vary depending on the lens. As an example, the older Pentax K lenses have the a delicate aperture assembly with tiny springs, levers and a ring which is very easy to pull off when you remove the back of the lens. This is not fun. to reassemble. Meanwhile other lenses like the newer Pentax M 50mm keep all these delicate parts internally housed making it one of the easiest lenses to declick. We highly suggest you do some research pertaining to your particular lens to confirm whats going on behind the back cover before you remove it.  Many modders choose to send their lenses to specialists who can declick, shim, and even add cine gears and hard stops in one go.

At LensLids, we offer professional declicking services for Pentax K, M, and A series lenses, as well as Pentax Takumar glass. If you have one of these classics and want it cine-modded with care, we're here to help.

Final Thoughts

Declicking is one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can make to a photo lens for video use. It gives you the control and flexibility of cinema glass without the price tag. If you're serious about cine-modding your gear, declicking is an essential first step.