Name: Breakthrough Photography 46mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter with MRC16 & nanotec Coating Layers
Brand: Breakthrough Photography
SKU: BTX4CPL46MM
Price: 129.00 USD
Availability: BackOrder
Rating: 4.8 (26 reviews)

Breakthrough Photography 46mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter with MRC16 & nanotec Coating Layers

Breakthrough Photography X4 CPL

Breakthrough Photography

Breakthrough Photography 46mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter

Order now, your card will not be charged until it is ready to ship.

On Backorder

Order now, your card will not be charged until it is ready to ship. Estimated to Ship: 09/2025.

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Photography

Lens Filters

Polarizing Filters

Breakthrough Photography Polarizing Filters

Breakthrough Photography X4 CPL 

Enhance image quality with the Breakthrough Photography 46mm X4 Circular Polarizer. Durable build, MRC16 & nanotec coatings. Shop now for superior light reduction!

 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.

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

Great Filter

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

Highest quality and warranty

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.

Would buy again

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.

Long Wait But Worth It

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

Filter review

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.

Great Filter - A new go to brand

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.

Best investment anywhere in a CP filter!

No Color Cast!

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.

Great polarizer that is worth the cost

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.

Worth the extra $

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

Can’t go wrong

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

Great CPL

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.

The Good and the Bad

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.

Breakthrough Photography 77mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter with MRC16

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.

Color cast problem solved

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.

Unquestionable color neutrality

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

The perfect CPL

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

Fit for NASA

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

Excellent glass

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.

Breakthrough CP4 filter

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.

Breakthrough Photography CPL

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.

Very pleased

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..

Missing piece

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.

Superior quality at an excellent price

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.

A great Buy.

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.

Breakthrough Photography 46mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter with MRC16 & nanotec Coating Layers

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Breakthrough Photography 46mm X4 Circular Polarizer Filter with MRC16 & nanotec Coating Layers

Save 5% Every Day†

Key Features

Product Options

Protect your gear with Adorama Protect.* Learn more

Save 5% Every Day^†