eddie2

This is a 6 stop ND filter in combo with a CPL. Has anyone had any experience with this setup? Good or bad?
Thank you!

Julian Loc: Sarasota, FL

Can’t tell..,

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I purchased the same Breakthrough Photography X4 ND filter, but in 3-stop density. Waffled over getting a 4-stop instead. I have been very pleased with the build quality, value, clarity and color neutral transference of the filter. I would not hesitate to purchase Breakthrough products again.

Bill P

I have earned my living through photography since 1971, and I can't remember a time when so many folks were so fascinated with ND filters. Is there a big uptick in folks shooting waterfalls?

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

I use them not only for waterfalls, but for long exposures in general. I like long exposures

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

ND filters are also a useful option when facing very bright scenes.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I recently bought a 6 stops ND filter by Breakthrough but it was not waterfalls what I had in mind. This is the first time in more than 50 years that I buy a ND filter. For many shots my ND filter over the years has been a polarizer.

Haydon

Infrequently I will stack filters within my Lee system to balance sky and foreground for long exposures. I've used 6 and or a 10 stop with a GND and a polarizer to cut down reflections with varied results. I've had less than adequate results when using focal lengths less than 24 mm with a CP on a full frame. It's not uncommon for skies to become blotchy using UWA.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I prefer B+W filters. So, no experience with Breakthrough. However, I have used mine in conjunction with a CPL and it produced a very nice photograph.
--Bob

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

I have thought over this and I think I wouldn't buy a 6-stop ND and CPL combined. I think its use would be limited. I would probably go for a 3-stop ND and a separate CPL that I could stack.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

I've used that combo filter on waterfalls. Drops the glare on rocks and vegetation while slowing the shutter speed to smooth things out. Breakthrough X4 filters are the most neutral filters on the market, in my opinion, and they are almost indestructible. Almost every landscape pro I have come across uses them. I also appreciate that the design makes them easy to remove.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Breakthrough Photography's X4 are their top of the line and are excellent quality.

HOWEVER, in my opinion a combination C-Pol and ND filter is highly specialized. In fact, strong ND filters themselves are very specialized, while C-Pol filters are much more widely useful.

There are a whole lot more times that I'd want LESS light loss from a C-Pol filter... NOT more! For that reason I really appreciate the relatively new "High Transmissive" type that "cost" approx. 0.75 to 1.5 stops of light... versus the 1.5 to 2.25 stops lost to the older, darker type of C-Pol. Just the opposite of a C-Pol/ND combo. I'd have little interest in a C-Pol that "costs" around 6 stops! If needed and possible, I'd rather stack separate C-Pol and ND filters, for the same effect. The two filters separately would have more useful, IMO, than a combo would.

Of course, filter stacking might not be possible with some wide angles. Maybe only a single filter can be fitted before vignetting can be a problem. In that case, maybe a combo C-Pol and ND filter would occasionally be useful... Although I still think it would be pretty highly specialized, not something I'd find use for very often.

I see that Breakthrough is offering X4 "Dark" C-Pol/ND combos in 3-stop and 6-stop strengths. Ain't cheap though... the C-Pol/6-stop ND version costs $209 in 77mm size. Compare to their standard X4 C-pol that sells for $149 or the C-Pol/3-stop ND for $199 in that size.

The Breakthrough C-Pol/ND combos are a lot more affordable than similar from Singh-Ray... Their "Waterfall" filters in 77mm size sell for $370 to $400!

Schneider (parent company of B+W) and PolarPro C-Pol/ND combo filters are also available in various strengths, which sell for around $250 in 77mm size.

Breakthrough X4 are quite good. But aside from the heavily knurled outer ring... the specs are pretty much EXACTLY the same as B+W XS-Pro Kaesemann C-Pol, which sell for $100 in 77mm size.

Both use Scott glass. Both use 16-layer "Nano" multi-coatings. Both filters are sealed for weather resistance and mount in brass frames to minimize galling. And both use special high quality polarizing foils. I guess it all comes down to whether the knurled edges of the Breakthrough X4 are worth an extra $50.