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- #13 in Camera Lens Polarizing Filters
Product Description
World’s most color neutral CPL.
The X4 CPL features ultra-clear SCHOTT B270 optical crown glass made with the highest purity raw materials and our cutting edge MRC16 and Nano Coatings technology.
At the core of the X4 is our all-new, internally designed CPL film made in the USA. While most manufacturers use off-the-shelf polarizing films intended for LCD panels, we developed a unique approach specifically for precision optics.
The result is an incredibly sharp, color neutral CPL with the highest light transmission of any available polarizer.
The all-new X4 CPL has 4 Polarizer Guide Symbols (aka “CPL Guides”) on the outside of the filter frame:
HOW IT WORKS:
STEP 1: Look through the viewfinder and polarize the scene to the desired amount.
STEP 2: Note the position of the filter by observing which symbol is on the frame.
STEP 3: Rotate filter back to the same symbol as you switch from horizontal to vertical compositions
A winning design proven by outdoor photographers.
We engineer every one of our filters to withstand a lifetime of use in extreme wind, salt water, dust and any other abrasive elements found in nature.
The X4 CPL filter is precision machined from high-quality brass with our signature traction frame.
Our rugged design was developed for durability and to make it easy to securely attach and remove the filter - even with gloves in cold conditions.
Our team spent years developing each aspect of the filter to maintain optical performance and reliable function for a lifetime of use.
25 YEAR SUPPORT
We stand behind each filter with our 25 Year Support and US-based phone, email and live chat.
NANO-COATING
Each filter incorporates our state-of-the-art Nano Coating technology which repels dirt, water and other debris by beading up on the surface rather than absorbing and smearing.
WEATHER-SEALED
Our X4 CPL filters are designed to hold up for years of regular use in the field. Each filter is weather-sealed and can withstand extreme wind, salt water, dust and other abrasive elements and conditions.
Arizona hiker
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2025
Nicely built, fits the lens perfectly. Large nubbies on the outside of the filter make it easy to rotate.
Frappetoik
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2025
There's nothing more expensive than a cheap mistake.Put simply, Breakthrough's X4 series is the best polarizer on the market, with the best customer service. The index markings are brilliant, the light transmittance is remarkable, and the polarization without flaw. Zero sharpness degradation; this plays very nice on 45mp and 60mp sensors. I was a Hoya HD3 fan, but these manage to be just as good for less money, as well as having features the Hoyas don't: Index markings, coatings that don't attract dust like it's somehow worth keeping, etc.The warranty coverage on these is excellent, from what I've heard. This is my fifth CPL from them, however, and all see regular use, but I've yet to encounter a single issue. I can't say that about any of the less expensive options I tried ... and with 95mm diameter lenses, it's tempting to try, but with a 30-year warranty it's safe to invest.Highly recommended. I now buy no other brand for serious purposes. These are functionally perfect.
Mr C Sweetman
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 27, 2024
This pro level filter even has its own product number. The protective case supplied is the best I have seen for any filter.
Mike Milton
Reviewed in Canada on February 1, 2024
The imaging is top notch, and the threads are metal that fit perfectly. Adjusting the filter is smooth and has just the right amount of resistance.
Ex-Photoshopper
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2024
The polarizer filter does exactly what it's supposed to do - eliminate reflections, saturate colors in leaves and darken the sky without any issues (e.g., discolorization, uneven darkening, etc.). I keep it with my lens all the time wihen I'm outside.
Jim H.
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024
I have purchased Breakthrough Photography products in the 82mm, 77mm and 72 mm filter range (CPL, Dark CPL, and Neutral Density).I think the product is high quality. I am a Nikon guy and almost exclusively purchase Nikon products. Also, all my lens wear a Nikon NC filter. My choice to keep the NC filter clean and minimize touching the much more expensive lens.I am currently on a 5.5 month trip to the Philippines and Thailand and thought I would bring along various Breakthrough Photography filters and see if I noticed a difference from my Nikon filters. Equally important, to my knowledge Nikon does not offer the 'dark CPL' type filter.My experience: excellent filter, easy to clean and does the job it is supposed to do. When compared to similar Nikon products I do not see a major difference but (to be fair), I am only looking at my photos on my MacBookPro so I will not be able to do take a better look at comparisons until I return to the USA.What I do NOT like: the Breakthrough filters get 'bind' to my Nikon NC filter. I can NOT unbind them. I have tried filter clamps (a waste of money and time). I have removed the 'set' and used as much force as I dared to try.What has worked for this ridiculous situation. I leave the bound filters in the sunlight in my hotel room window for a while. Most of the time once the filters have heated up I can pry them apart (by unscrewing them). But out in the field I have never been able to get them apart.My next strategy is the because of this problem I place another Nikon NC filter on my lens (I have spares). I then just let the two filters that are 'stuck' to each stay stuck to each other. When I do not need a CPL type filter I just remove both the filters and replace it with a single Nikon NC filter.This situation is annoying but I do have a work around.I have also tried to 'loosely' connect the CPL lens -- this approach does not work. When I have adjusting the CPL directivity the entire filter also turns. And given the significant cost of the Breakthrough filters I do not trust that it won't just fall off and break at some point.Recommendation: I do like these Breakthrough Photography filters. I wish the engineering staff did a better job of periodically placing some type of minor extensions along the gripping part (knurled edges) of the lens so you can actually get a grip on the d@mn filter to apply some torque to remove it. This is probably a problem in itself due to placing lens hood.An alternative is to provide an actual grip device (like a filter clamp) that is specifically designed for this product line. An OEM provided tool (should hopefully have) gone through quality control such that it 'perfectly' fits the Breakthrough Photography knurled edges.
Jianan Zhang
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2024
Very smooth, well designed!
maurice byatt
Reviewed in Canada on May 2, 2022
Colour neutrality is phenomenal. Most other CPL impart some “warming” to the image
A. J. Lock
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 10, 2021
Breakthrough Filters are the best filters I have used (and I have tried a good number through the years). No colour shift with the Polarizer - the combined Polarizer and ND are take away the need for using more than one filter enabling you to hold the detail. And always packaged incredibly well. Would highly recommend.Used on my Nikon D810, 77mm lenses.
Tim C
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2018
TL;DR: X4 if you have the money or NEED the best. Gobe if you're willing to correct white balance in post.After recently deciding to buy a CPL for my camera, I whittled the available options down to two -- Gobe 3 Peak (Schott), and Breakthrough Photography X4.On paper, the Gobe has the same specifications as the X4: Schott B270 Glass and 16 layers of coating.The X4 boasts that it's coatings are unlike any other, and that it is able to capture the highest level of sharpness while maintaining perfectly neutral colors. Many comparisons have shown that the X4 is top dog against all the major players. However, I could not find a direct comparison against Gobe and hence decided to give both of them a shot myself.Sharpness: I could not find any significant difference in sharpness between the Gobe and the X4. They are both spot on and do not appear to affect sharpness in the least.Colors: The Gobe definitely shoots "warmer" than the X4. The X4 comes out neutral as advertised. If you seeking out-of-camera accuracy, the X4 wins hands down. However, the Gobe is only SLIGHTLY off, and it can be corrected in a single Spot White Balance click in your post processor of choice. Since most serious photographs will do some amount of post processing anyway, this is not a huge deal. I don't think the average amateur would even notice the difference without a side by side comparison, anyway.Polarization: Both filters were very effective in removing glare in my tests. I could not find a significant difference between the two.Production quality: Both filters are quality products, but the X4 wins here again. The grip portion of the X4 sticks out much further and it easier to screw on and off as a result. The Gobe is much more likely to get stuck on a lens with its design.Extras: The packaging of the X4 was surprisingly hard to open and seems that they tried too hard to make it seem "nice". The amount of jostling that it took to separate the box parts was excessive considering that there is a $160 piece of glass inside it. Gobe on the other hand uses modest packaging and also plants trees with the money they make from their products.Final opinion: The X4 is the better product but, for me, it is not worth the extra $100 that I could instead spend on adding ND filters to my collection. If money is no object or you demand the best, get the X4. If you don't mind a touch of white balance correction and a slightly lesser product in general, get the Gobe.I have included some pictures of my tests. In all pictures, the order is: No filter, Gobe, X4. The car is demonstrating the polarization, and the text is a 100% crop to compare the sharpness.
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