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Learn The Technology Behind 'The Tuner' by Module 8

Create vintage Hollywood looks on your camera. A variable lens that brings a vintage aesthetic to your digital camera, adding character and feel to your images.

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Imagine an optical device that can transform your standard lenses and mirrorless digital cameras into portals that emulate the legendary vintage glass look of the renowned Super Baltars and Canon® K-35s.

Well, stop imagining because that's precisely what the Tuner does.

Thanks to Module 8's worldwide patent-pending technology, they've achieved groundbreaking results in cinematography. They've managed to emulate those iconic classic lenses, and even more remarkable, they've put the power in your hands to adjust the intensity of their look manually.

This isn't just next-level — it's a whole new game.

Module 8 Tuner on a Fujifilm camera body.

What is The Worldwide Patent Pending "Vari-Tune" Technology?

Iain Neill, the founder of Module 8, has spent the past five years developing The Tuner and the worldwide patent-pending technology behind it — Vari-Tune.

More than just a lens, Vari-Tune is a technology that enables us to ZOOM the look of a lens from a mild effect to something much more impactful, all while maintaining our focus. It's a platform they can build upon to create any look creators desire.

If you're interested in reading more about the founders of Module 8, read more on our article here.

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How Does The Tuner Technology Work?

The magic of the Tuner rests in its similarity to a ZOOM lens. These precision optical systems use multiple elements that move differentially within a cam to adjust certain aspects, usually the focal length while maintaining the image's focus.

Unlike detuning, the Tuner employs a precise optical system to adjust the level of image degradation, simulating any desired look.

The Vari-Tune technology can be thought of as a precision aberration generator. It allows the designers to develop specific or combined aberrations into the lens for distinct visuals. They can incorporate third and higher-order spherical aberration and subtle chromatic aberration to achieve the sought-after bloom and glow effect in modern-day projects.

Module 8 also introduced coma, astigmatism, and other aberrations to soften the frame edges and create unique depth-of-field effects. For instance, our L3 Retroscope lens incorporates off-axis astigmatism found in vintage anamorphic lenses. This can be used creatively, adding an anamorphic feel to your 2.4:1 flat footage, even with spherical lenses.

They've created a remarkably compact device compatible with ANY mirrorless camera using a sophisticated CAM mechanism and custom electronics board. There are additional plans to expand this technology into other exciting products, too, so keep on the lookout.

The Tuner works with Mirrorless Cameras using Sony E Mount and Canon RF Mount. All 3 Module 8 Tuners are now available with a Lens Side PL mount, compatible with many modern PL lenses, for serious cinematography — professional DP's use PL LensesLens Brands, Zeiss, Leitz, Tokina, Sigma, DZO. This means they are compatible with Sony Venice AND Red Raptor/Komodo systems. See our full compatibility table for more specifics.

While the Tuner is compatible with most Sony E-mount cameras, this tuner version does not work with the locking mount on the Sony Venice camera.

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"Rather than settling for a fixed-look vintage lens, you now have the freedom to choose your preferred aesthetic and manually adjust it from minimum to maximum settings."
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Real Glass, No Post-Production or A.I Tricks

Back to the basics, where analog is revered, manual optics are larger than artificial intelligence.

Some folks might say that a simple filter or some post-production wizardry could imitate that much-coveted vintage look. But Module 8's superior quality leaves AI and the cookie-cutter templates of tools like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere in the dust.

Module 8 aims to bridge the gap between high-priced, luxury equipment and more budget-friendly yet high-quality gear for everyday folks like you and me. It's a direct challenge to the status quo in a market marred by elitism, making genuine vintage glass within reach for those passionate about quality but hesitant to part with $50K.

Even though it caters to a niche audience, I can't help but feel a buzz of excitement about how this could turn the world of cinema on its head. Although this product was aimed at filmmakers in mind, it excited the vintage-lover in my photographer's brain more than ever.

Hand holding Module 8 Tuner against yellow.
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Module 8

L1 Tuner - Baltar Variable Look Lens - EF Lens / E Mount

$699$999

The Module 8 L1 Tuner is an innovative new lens that transforms your modern digital cameras into a nostalgic dream machine. It unlocks the cinematic magic of vintage films with a simple twist on lens adapter, available in three distinct looks. The L1 look is inspired by The Baltars. It gives you all of the glamour and glowing halation seen in a classic Super Baltar lens. It can evoke emotion by creating the nostalgic warmth, romance, and gritty realism of classic films, like the Godfather. When you max out this look, we like to call it the Wicked Baltars.

The Tuner seamlessly integrates into your existing camera rig and allows adjustment of the look and character of your images in real time, during the shot. No more hunting down expensive lenses, paying exorbitant lens rehousing fees, or investing in the latest hyped up “detuned prime lenses”. The Module 8 Tuners work seamlessly with your existing glass to create the cinematic looks cherished by the top Cinematographers. The Tuners now come in two lens mounts, EF and PL. The EF Tuners are compatible with Sony E Mount and RF Mounts on Canon and RED cameras. The EF Tuners include build in electronics support for autofocus, aperture control and image stabilization of electronic lenses from Canon, Sigma and Tamron are supported. Due to the electronics, the EF version does not have the ability to change camera mounts. The PL mount Tuner supports a wide range of PL mount glass as long as the rear elements do not protrude too far from the mount. Since the PL Tuner does not have electronics, users can swap mounts to ANY mirrorless camera including Sony E, Canon RF, L Mount for Blackmagic, Panasonic and Leica, and Fujifilm X.

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Module 8

L2 Tuner - K35 Variable Look Lens - EF Lens / E Mount

$699$999

The Module 8 L2 Tuner is an innovative new lens that transforms your modern digital cameras into a nostalgic dream machine. It unlocks the cinematic magic of vintage films with a simple twist on lens adapter, available in three distinct looks. The L2 Tuner is the perfect amount of vintage for professional DP’s looking to take the edge of harsh digital footage and create a vintage vibe to the shot. Its neutral position means you can always keep it on your camera and then tune the image to taste, without being distracted. It creates beautiful portrait shots by adding subtle halation and a constant field roll off and side flare found in the original lenses. With original K-35 lenses pushing 300K+, the L2 is the cost-effective way to create this look.

The Tuner seamlessly integrates into your existing camera rig and allows adjustment of the look and character of your images in real time, during the shot. No more hunting down expensive lenses, paying exorbitant lens rehousing fees, or investing in the latest hyped up “detuned prime lenses”. The Module 8 Tuners work seamlessly with your existing glass to create the cinematic looks cherished by the top Cinematographers. The Tuners now come in two lens mounts, EF and PL. The EF Tuners are compatible with Sony E Mount and RF Mounts on Canon and RED cameras. The EF Tuners include build in electronics support for autofocus, aperture control and image stabilization of electronic lenses from Canon, Sigma and Tamron are supported. Due to the electronics, the EF version does not have the ability to change camera mounts. The PL mount Tuner supports a wide range of PL mount glass as long as the rear elements do not protrude too far from the mount. Since the PL Tuner does not have electronics, users can swap mounts to ANY mirrorless camera including Sony E, Canon RF, L Mount for Blackmagic, Panasonic and Leica, and Fujifilm X.

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Module 8

L3 Tuner - Retroscope Variable Look Lens - EF Lens / E Mount

$699$999

The Module 8 L3 Tuner is an innovative new lens that transforms your modern digital cameras into a nostalgic dream machine. It unlocks the cinematic magic of vintage films with a simple twist on lens adapter, available in three distinct looks. The L3 Tuner is Module 8’s co-founder Iain A. Neil signature look and is the culmination of decades of experience designing some of the most iconic cinematic lenses, especially anamorphic. L3 gives you the funky astigmatic characteristics of classic anamorphic lenses, even though you are using spherical optics. L3 will simulate the vertical / horizontal depth of field effects seen on vintage anamorphic glass (without the flares or bokeh). Most lens tunings focus on halation and glow, or simple filed curvature. The L3 creates a very complex effect that adds off-axis character.

The Tuner seamlessly integrates into your existing camera rig and allows adjustment of the look and character of your images in real time, during the shot. No more hunting down expensive lenses, paying exorbitant lens rehousing fees, or investing in the latest hyped up “detuned prime lenses”. The Module 8 Tuners work seamlessly with your existing glass to create the cinematic looks cherished by the top Cinematographers. The Tuners now come in two lens mounts, EF and PL. The EF Tuners are compatible with Sony E Mount and RF Mounts on Canon and RED cameras. The EF Tuners include build in electronics support for autofocus, aperture control and image stabilization of electronic lenses from Canon, Sigma and Tamron are supported. Due to the electronics, the EF version does not have the ability to change camera mounts. The PL mount Tuner supports a wide range of PL mount glass as long as the rear elements do not protrude too far from the mount. Since the PL Tuner does not have electronics, users can swap mounts to ANY mirrorless camera including Sony E, Canon RF, L Mount for Blackmagic, Panasonic and Leica, and Fujifilm X.

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