Moment, a photographic gear manufacturer, introduced The Tuner by Module 8, the world’s first variable-look cinematic lens system, last spring. Moment and Module 8 introduced their tuner series for PL mount lenses last December. Thanks to recently released adapters, the tuners are now compatible with X and L-mount lenses.

If you haven’t heard of The Tuner by Module 8, it’s worth taking a closer look at what they are and why people might want to adapt them to other camera systems. The Tuner comes in three versions: L1, L2, and L3. Each tuner fits between a lens and a camera, allowing users to improve the appearance of their images and videos. The variable-look tuners, which are based on real-world vintage glass, add an element of nostalgia.

The L1 replicates the appearance of legendary Super Baltar lenses. The L2, on the other hand, has the character of original K-35 cinema lenses, which sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars on the used market these days. The L3 completes the trio, designed by Module 8 co-founder Iain A. Neil, an accomplished optical artisan with 13 Oscars to his name. The L3 is essentially Neil’s baby, custom-built to his image quality specifications.

Understanding what makes tuners unique requires an appreciation for their craftsmanship. Unlike digital filters, Module 8’s Tuners influence the light that reaches a camera’s picture sensor at the physical (wavelength) level. The glass inside the tuners was deliberately developed to perfectly replicate the appearance of vintage lenses that are either hard to locate or prohibitively expensive. While users can attempt to tune lenses manually or use artificial ways to give modern cameras an old-school appearance, Module 8’s Tuners are consistent, made with lab-derived optical designs, and their strength can be modified. Each tuner is changeable, which means that users can control the strength of the tuning effect.