Breakthrough Photography X4 CPL 72mm Circular Polarizer Filter - Schott B270 - MRC16 - Nano Coating - Weather Sealed - 25 Year Support

I usually go with B+W when it comes to filters but I decided to try Breakthrough after hearing about them recently and I’m sold on this brand. Everything including the packaging is top notch. The CPL filter doesn’t impart any weird hues to your image and I really like how it has the highest light transference in industry. I believe you only lose 1 stop of light vs 1.5-2 on others. As an everyday filter this is excellent. I shot a few test images this weekend and on my a7CR there is no visible sharpness impact and colors and contrast look incredible. Will be ordering their ND as well next.

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.

Quality filter. No problems with the threads. Made of brass, so very sturdy.

This is my third filter from Breakthrough Photography, and all of them have been great quality, outstanding performers. The filter arrived in the usual high quality packaging and was received on time and in great condition. The physical characteristics of the filter were high quality. The filter threaded onto the lens with ease. The CPL rotation function performed with just the right amount of tension. The filter was used on one outing so far, and the polarizing effect was perfect. Not too much, no dark sectors. The clouds and sky popped quite nicely on a very humid day in New York's Catskills. I'm looking forward to putting the filter to good use in the future. Highly recommended.

Construction is very solid but I'm having a hood compatiblity issue similar to what's mentioned in a few reviews already. On a Nikon 16-80mm 72mm lens, it is very difficult to attach/remove the stock HB-75 hood with the CPL filter on. It takes lots of wriggle/push/pull/if not minor brute force but is doable once you get the hang of it. Another option is to attach/detach the CPL filter with the hood on. Not very efficient as the hood limts finger movements and can be challenging if the filter is very tight...