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Breakthrough Photography 43mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter with MRC16 & nanotec Coating Layers

SKU: BTX4CPL43MM MFR: X4-CPL-43MM
$129.00
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Key Features

  • Enhance image quality with this 43mm circular polarizer, reducing glare and reflections.
  • Capture richer colors and deeper contrasts in your photos using this polarizing filter.
  • Durable MRC16 coating ensures your X4 filter withstands tough conditions for years.
  • Nanotec coating makes this circular polarizer easy to clean and resistant to scratches.
  • Achieve stunning landscape photography with improved clarity and light reduction.
  • Get accurate colors and eliminate unwanted reflections with this essential lens filter.
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Questions & Answers

Shopper : Why Did You Choose This?CREN P : Good reviews.John P : They are excellent filters.FRED D : Top quality

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2024-10-27T15:12:40

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Filter

This is my second filter from Breakthrough Photography. Very happy with my filter.

Jeff B.

2024-07-31T04:19:22

Rated 5 out of 5

Highest quality and warranty

This is simply a great CPL. worth every penny. Rarely comes off my lens. Looks great as well.

Arthur R.

2024-03-08T13:14:09

Rated 5 out of 5

Would buy again

Very satisfied with the build quality and sturdiness of the polarizer. It comes with a nice carrying case. Thread is perfect and fits with no issues at all. Attached to a step-up ring for my 39mm lens. Only thing I was surprised by is how stiff the motion is for adjusting the polarizer itself. I am not sure if it will loosen up with use/time or if it will always be stiff, but at least it won't randomly adjust itself if I accidentally bump the camera.

JOSEPH I.

2023-11-20T04:38:55

Rated 5 out of 5

Long Wait But Worth It

I waited a long time with the item on backorder and it was worth it. Well made in the USA. Looks great. I am quite pleased with the purchase and would buy it again.

DANIEL H.

2022-07-21T12:27:45

Rated 5 out of 5

Filter review

It's everything seller stated about it. I love it!

Jeff H.

2022-02-11T19:39:47

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Filter - A new go to brand

Bought and compared to the B+W XS-Pro Kaesemann HT Circular Polarizer. I had a noticeable improvement over the B+W with the Breakthrough. The Breakthrough is also a more user friendly filter as well with the newest edition having indicators on the outer ring.

Brandon A.

2022-01-30T03:02:02

Rated 5 out of 5

Best investment anywhere in a CP filter!

First, let me apologize to Adorama. I did know you carried Breakthrough filters until after I purchased them direct from the company. I am by no means a professional photographer but I most always attempt to keep one principle in mind, that is to remember to ?write with light? as the word ?photography? actually means. I have used every major brand of filter including, Hoya, Tiffen, B&W, Freewell, PolarPro, K&F Concept, and a few other not so great filters that were junk. It was only after a few shots with a borrowed Breakthrough CP filter that I recognized the superior light and color rendering delivered with it. This means that with a much higher quality RAW file, I will have to do far less post editing to produce the final results. I am a customer for life even if it is likely the filters will outlive my camera and possibly even me... The attached photo was taken using the borrowed Breakthrough filter and that filter is what prompted me to purchase three of them for myself. Now, the Breakthrough CP stays on my Canon RF 24-105 L IS USM anytime I am outside and only comes off in low-lighting conditions or when I have some other special need for a different filter.

Dean S.

2021-01-29T06:27:59

Rated 5 out of 5

No Color Cast!

No color cast!

Libby D.

2020-07-13T08:30:33

Rated 5 out of 5

Great polarizer that is worth the cost

this polarizer works extremely well and doesn't degrade image quality as far as I can tell. the metal portions are machined precisely and it is noticeably more tactile than my Hoya CPL.

DAVID S.

2020-02-09T10:22:10

Rated 5 out of 5

Worth the extra $

It's an honest one-stop CPL, which I find can be a critical factor when I'm using 1.4x or 2x extenders and/or in evening light. I can't say I've done any controlled comparisons of color neutrality, but my perception is that it's really good. I've never noticed the least bit of color cast. The lack of reflectivity is kind of fun to show off. Put a normal $30 CPL on your lens (mounted on a camera) and look at your own reflection in the end of the lens. Then switch to the Breakthrough Photography X4. It's like looking into a dark tunnel ;-) The deep lugs on the ring is a bonus feature.

DAVID G.

2020-01-29T09:35:11

Rated 5 out of 5

Can’t go wrong

I got in on Breakthrough when it was a Kickstarter! Awesome filters!

MATTHEW B.

2019-12-22T13:47:15

Rated 5 out of 5

Great CPL

I think this is one of the best CPL in the market. No color cast and easy to use.

Fernando H.

2019-11-12T14:43:41

Rated 2 out of 5

The Good and the Bad

The Image Quality of Breakthrough filters, and especially the Circular Polarizer is excellent, however the polarizer ring appears to be viscous damped. It is difficult to turn when warm, very difficult when cold, and almost impossible any time with a deep lens hood.

ROBERT G.

2019-11-08T08:48:40

Rated 5 out of 5

Breakthrough Photography 77mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter with MRC16

The build, optical, and finish quality of this filter are very impressive. I really like the ribbed design. Which is very useful because the filter is a little on the stiff side. It is also good to see a high quality optical product being manufactured in the USA.

Roy D.

2019-10-13T14:45:09

Rated 5 out of 5

Color cast problem solved

I shoot a lot of Cruise-In pictures and have been having a problem with a blue color cast on the chrome and windows. I replaced my cp filter with this one and it corrected my problem. The only thing I don’t like about it is when using a lens hood to keep the sun off the lens is it is extremely hard to rotate the filter. My old filter could be rotated easily with one finger.

RICHARD H.

2019-08-16T08:48:34

Rated 4 out of 5

Unquestionable color neutrality

I've seen better and more consistent finishing quality on filters that are literally 1/10th the price of these, but the issues are still minor and entirely cosmetic. The filters came brand new and fully sealed, but still seemed to exhibit poor finishing that looks almost like light usage on the filter ring.

Kobaine K.

2019-06-05T09:21:07

Rated 5 out of 5

The perfect CPL

The best color and clarity and well made filter on the market, period

Gabriel M.

2019-05-13T10:07:58

Rated 5 out of 5

Fit for NASA

Build quality is superb. Perfect filter of the highest quality. There really is nothing better than Breakthrough Photography filters.

Amik A.

2019-04-19T06:07:24

Rated 4 out of 5

Excellent glass

If you don’t have to ever deal with the owner, you can’t go wrong. Breakthrough Photography Glass is excellent. I would shy away from the magnetic stuff till they design a better holder. Both versions are currently junk

JON D.

2018-12-27T08:34:03

Rated 5 out of 5

Breakthrough CP4 filter

This is a wonderful CP filter, and it brings out the sharpness of the subject, and I can see no added color tone. The pictures I took were just to try it out in my back yard, and so far I haven't tried it out elsewhere. The day was overcast, so I didn't have the sun at a 95 deg. angle, but it still think it made the picture better. I know I am going to like it, and love the quality of it with the step-up ring. I have several 7mm lenses, and can use this with those lenses to with the step-up ring.

Carolyn C.

2018-12-06T01:10:19

Rated 5 out of 5

Breakthrough Photography CPL

The polarizer works as advertised, and seems to be a quality product. The operable portion of the filter was a bit stiff to turn, but the deep grooves cut into the metal rim afforded a solid grip.

THOMAS M.

2018-11-30T11:11:15

Rated 5 out of 5

Very pleased

I have been very pleased with the neutral tone of the polarizer. The construction is solid and I appreciate the machined notches that allow for easy adjustment.

Matthew C.

2018-11-27T14:40:40

Rated 5 out of 5

Missing piece

I’ve been trying to capture a great sun star picture for quite a while and When I put on the the filter....magic happened..

donna h.

2018-10-23T07:38:56

Rated 5 out of 5

Superior quality at an excellent price

Buying this filter was the smartest thing I've done in a long time. The clarity and quality of this filter outdoes any of my filters that cost me much more.

ELISE J.

2018-07-01T16:29:47

Rated 5 out of 5

A great Buy.

I am a working Professional for over 40 years. When I saw the Breakthrough polarizer a ND filters there price was a little higher than most, but, my research and now my own use show's me that I made a good investment. It's design makes it easy to use and it's glass is top notch.

WILLIAM K.

2017-01-22T09:54:19

Rated 4 out of 5

Best Filter Ever

I bought the X4 CPL filter for use on the Sigma 150-600 S lens AND intended to use it on the Lee Filters CPL 105mm adapter ring. The filter works amazing, HOWEVER, it is so low profile it is almost impossible to remove due the extremely thin ring grip. I got it removed a couple times but it takes so much effort I've given up and decided to buy a second X4 CPL for the Lee Kit. The pro is that you don't accidentally unscrew the filter from the lens when adjusting the CPL, the con is that is is close to impossible to remove once screwed to the Lens. And no i didn't over tightening. My 2 other X4 77mm filters have the same challenge, but they are permanently attached to the host lenses.

Paul M.

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Breakthrough Photography X4 CPL Specifications

  • Size

    43mm

  • UPC Code

    650229351539

Models
Breakthrough Photography 43mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter
$129.00

In Stock

B + W 43mm Master High Transmission Circular Polarizer MRC Nano Filter
$92.19

$136.62

Save:$44.43 (33%)

In Stock

Material-Glass-
Circular Filter Size43mm43mm43mm
CoatingMulti-CoatedMulti-CoatedMulti-Coated
Filter Type-UV (Ultra Violet)-
MountStandardStandardStandard
Polarizer TypeCircular-Circular
UV Filter Type-UV Blocking-

About Breakthrough Photography X4 CPL

FEATURED REVIEWS

Breakthrough Photography 77mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter with MRC16

By Roy D.

The build, optical, and finish quality of this filter are very impressive. I really like the ribbed design. Which is very useful because the filter is a little on the stiff side. It is also good to see a high quality optical product being manufactured in the USA.

A great Buy.

By WILLIAM K.

I am a working Professional for over 40 years. When I saw the Breakthrough polarizer a ND filters there price was a little higher than most, but, my research and now my own use show's me that I made a good investment. It's design makes it easy to use and it's glass is top notch.

Introducing the world's most advanced circular polarizer.
The moment you use the X4 CPL, you know you've never used anything like it. Featuring Breakthrough Photography all-new American made CPL film and an all-new brass traction frame features best-in-class design and durability. And that's just the beginning.

Technology

World's most color neutral CPL. Guaranteed.
Breakthrough Photography all-new and internally developed CPL film is at the core of the X4 CPL and they manufacture it right here in California. To achieve the worlds most color neutral performance, they had to develop a unique approach to manufacturing rather than selecting off-the-shelf CPL film common among filter manufacturers, which is designed and intended for LCD panels, not photographic optics.

All commercially available CPL filters exhibit a yellow cast due to a gradual transmission increase starting around 600nm and then spiking at 650nm onward into IR. With Breakthrough Photography X4 CPL film they achieved a gradual transmission decrease from 600nm onward and instead of spiking uncontrollably near 650nm and far into infrared, the X4 CPL sees very controlled transmission into IR, without the curve spike. The real world result Warm and lively images without the apparent color cast.

Transmission Curve
Spectrometers are optical instruments that can detect spectral lines and measure their wavelength or intensity. Spectrometers can also be used to test the efficiency of an optical filter in order to evaluate color neutral performance. A perfectly flat transmission curve would yield a perfectly color neutral result and while there is no such thing as a perfectly neutral CPL filter (contrary to what other filter makers may claim) the X4 CPL is the most color neutral any CPL filter, guaranteed.

When filter makers use off-the-shelf polarizing films originally designed for LCD panels, it produces a predictable transmission increase at 650nm onward and a spike in transmission around around 680nm and into IR. During Breakthrough Photography research into alternative manufacturing methods, they were able to solve this problem. As a result the X4 CPL sees a decline in IR transmission across the visible spectrum and is very well controlled throughout the IR range.

Dynamic Range

Expand your dynamic range in-camera.
Outdoor photographers frequently struggle with dynamic range, as the human eye has a dynamic range over 20-stops, while a mid-day outdoor scene (like the one below) may range between 15-18 stops. Professional camera systems range between 12-14 stops and during the last decade very little expansion progress has been made. You can sometimes recover detail in shadows if there's enough data there in post-processing, but you can't remove glare in post-processing and the removal of glare adds vibrancy, contrast and reveals details that are otherwise unseen.

When you rotate a circular polarizer you will see it turn ON and OFF through the viewfinder, allowing you to control the amount of polarization necessary for your shooting situation. The higher in elevation you shoot, the more pronounced the polarization and the more dynamic range is increased as a result.

Design

A winning design proven by outdoor photographers.
Breakthrough Photography took all they learned from the success of the X3 ND and designed an entirely new circular polarizing frame, unlike you've ever seen before. And like the X3 ND, they specifically designed the X4 CPL as a workhorse CPL for field work, built to withstand extreme wind, salt water, dust and other abrasive conditions and elements where other filters may fail. And Breakthrough Photography guarantee each and every X4 CPL to perform with optimal optical clarity and color neutrality for 25 years even in the harshest of conditions.

Weather-sealed
Breakthrough Photography specifically designed X4 CPL as a workhorse circular polarizer for field work, built to withstand extreme wind, salt water, dust and other abrasive conditions and elements.

Nano Coatings
X4 CPL incorporates their state-of-the-art nanotec Nano Coatings Technology, which beads water and other elements rather than absorbing and smearing.

25 Year Support
Breakthrough Photography stand behind each X4 CPL filter with their 25 Year Ironclad Guarantee with US-based phone, email and live chat support.

World's sharpest CPL filter. Guaranteed.
The X4 CPL features SCHOTT Superwhite B270 optical glass, which is an ultra clear crown glass. It is produced by melting high purity raw materials and then made using the continuous draw process. The result is excellent transmission in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectrums and a high surface quality that accepts Breakthrough Photography state-of-the-art MRC and nanotec coatings exceptionally well.

Breakthrough Photography state-of-the-art multi-resistant coating (MRC) is an optical coating applied to both surfaces of the glass disk to reduce reflection and to increase surface durability. Breakthrough Photography proprietary MRC coating is structurally harder than the glass itself and the reduced reflections improve the efficiency since less light is lost. The reduction of reflections also improves the contrast of the image by elimination of stray light. The real world result Better contrast and color.

Low light transmission and green flaring are common problems with uncoated glass. As MRC coatings are added to each side of the optical disk light transmission steadily increases with flaring steadily decreasing. In their lab tests light transmission apexes at about 16-layers of MRC and slowly decreasing in transmission at 18 and above. 8-layers of MRC are applied evenly to both sides of each optical disk resulting in MRC16.

Warranty Information

This product has a limited warranty of 300 months.

Key Features

  • Enhance image quality with this 43mm circular polarizer, reducing glare and reflections.
  • Capture richer colors and deeper contrasts in your photos using this polarizing filter.
  • Durable MRC16 coating ensures your X4 filter withstands tough conditions for years.
  • Nanotec coating makes this circular polarizer easy to clean and resistant to scratches.
  • Achieve stunning landscape photography with improved clarity and light reduction.
  • Get accurate colors and eliminate unwanted reflections with this essential lens filter.

What's in the box:

  • 43mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter with MRC16 & nanotec Coating Layers
  • Breakthrough Photography 25 Year Limited Warranty