John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Need a new CPL for the new camera / lens combo.
BREAKTHROUGH has had some reviews on here and many have commented on their quality.

I'll be getting a 77mm + a step down ring to 67mm, but what I want to know is has anybody used both the X2 and X4 variants and if so is the X4 worth the extra £'s?

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

I've used both. The X4 does perform better. Whether its worth the extra money -- depends on the amount I guess.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

You’ll be happier with a step-UP ring!

repleo Loc: Boston

I've had two Breakthrough CPL's. I'm not sure if the first one was an X2, but the second one was definitely an X4. My first one had a nice smooth movement. The second one was much too stiff. When I rotated it counterclockwise, the whole filter would unscrew. I sent it back. The replacement was better but still pretty stiff. I preferred the very first one but I'm not sure if it was an X2. Other than the ease or rotation I didn't notice any difference between the two.
I'm still a fan of Breakthrough. Great product.

PS
OOPs - I meant to reply to OP, not wds0410

Festus Loc: North Dakota

I have several Breakthrough filters. I find them extremely true to color and very well made. Google reviews for Breakthrough. There has been several excellent comparative testing studies. Breakthrough generally comes out at the top of the list.

robertperry Loc: Sacramento, Ca.

I have never used a step-up/down ring, but I recall another hogger commenting you can't use a lens hood with the step ring attached. Makes sense to me. I have 2 Breakthrough filters. I thought about buying a step ring instead of spending $$$ on the same filters at different sizes. But if I can't use my lens hoods, I guess I'll spend the money.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Breakthrough filters are fine... Though a little bit expensive.

Breakthrough X4 CPL in 77mm costs $149 (Adorama). This filter uses German Schott B270 Superwhite glass, is mounted in a slim brass frame and uses 16-layer Nano multi-coatings that are resistant to finger oils and water drops, as well as a little easier to clean. I don't know if the Breakthrough X4 CPL is "high transmissive", which is a new type of CPL that's not as dark as they have been traditionally, so a little less light is "lost"to the filter.

In comparison, a B+W XS-Pro in 77mm costs $99.95 (B&H Photo). It uses German Schott B270 Superwhite glass, is mounted in a slim brass frame and uses 16-layer Nano multi-coatings that are resistant to finger oils and water drops, as well as a little easier to clean. The B+W XS-Pro is "high transmissive", so not as dark as they have been traditionally, so a little less light is "lost"to the filter. Where standard CPL "cost" between approx. 1.5 and 2.25 stops of light (depending upon the setting), the B+W "high transmissive" blocks between approx. .75 and 1.5 stops. It's noticeably lighter in tonality, than traditional CPL. B+W XS-Pro (and F-Pro) CPL filters also are "Kaesemann" type, which use a finer polarizing foil and are edge-sealed to keep moisture out of the filter. I don't know if the Breakthrough filters are similar in these respects.

Both Breakthrough and B+W offer less expensive versions with slightly lower specs. Breakthrough's 77mm "X2" CPL sells for $129 (Adorama). B+W's 77mm F-Pro CPL costs $78.95 (B&H Photo). However, in this case, there's a bit more of a difference in the specs. The B+W F-Pro is identical to the XS-Pro in all respects, except it uses 8-layer multi-coatings and it's brass frame isn't quite as slim (though it's still pretty slim... I never had a vignetting problem even on 10mm ultrawide lenses). The Breakthrough X2 is similarly "downgraded" to 8-layer multi-coating, but no longer uses top quality Schott glass. I think it uses Japanese Asahi glass, which is pretty darned good too. It's possible the X2 still uses a slim brass frame now.... but Adorama's listing states it's brass one place, aluminum in other places... aluminum galls and gets stuck more than brass. Again, I don't know if the X2 is "high transmissive". The F-Pro is. The F-Pro are Kaesemann (finer foils and weather sealing). Don't know about the X2.

In other words, you can get just as good... almost identical in fact... for less money. The only difference of any significance is that Breakthrough filters use a deeply knurled frame that might make them a little easier to screw onto a lens. The B+W filters all have some knurling on the rim, too.. but it's much finer and their rims are mostly smooth. The deeper knurling might make easier to get an overly tightened filter loose from a lens... But, at the same time, it might encourage over-tightening.

Do yourself a favor and DON'T buy a step ring. At least not for the purpose of using an oversize filter on a lens. The problem with doing that is you can no longer use most lenses' matched hoods, which are important... possibly even more important when using a filter.

Instead get a filter in the correct size. B+W XS-Pro CPL in 67mm also costs $99.95 (at B&H Photo). So you'll end up spending a bit more than the Breakthrough filter plus a step ring.... but you'll be better for it. I noticed B&H currently has a used B+W XS-Pro CPL, 67mm, for $69.95 (9 condition, essentially "like new", but not in the original box). If you grab that, you'd only be spending $20 more for two top quality filters in the correct sizes, rather than one Breakthrough.

In 67mm size, the lower spec and cost Breakthrough X2 CPL sells for $89 (Adorama), while the same size B+W F-Pro CPL sells for $69.50 (B&H Photo).

Alternatively, maybe you don't really need both filters. For example, I use CPL fairly frequently on wide angle to very short telephoto lenses... but virtually never use them on longer telephotos and macro lenses.

So few filters are needed for digital photography, it makes little sense to use step rings and have to fore-go using lens hoods! (Some people like to get a screw-in hood for the filter, to make it easier to turn, but it's difficult to find a "generic" hood that's a good match for a lens... especially for zooms.)

I do use step rings... but only to be able to stack different size filters for storage. I carry a "stack" of 58mm, 67mm,77mm CPL, ND and UV filters with step rings between them. Filter "stackers"... threaded metal top (male) and bottom (female) caps... are very good protecting the filters in storage. I had to buy two... one each in the largest and smallest sizes of filters I carry. That gave me enough to make up two separate stacks, but I only use one. The resulting stack, with about a dozen filters, is about the size of a 17-35mm or 17-55mm lens and fits into one of the lens compartments in my backpack (or shoulder bag, when I'm using one).

You wouldn't be disappointed by the Breakthrough filters, I'm sure. They're good.

But you also are unlikely to be disappointed by the B+W filters... for less money, they're good, too.

There *are* others brands that are even more expensive than both the above.... 77mm Hoya HD3 C-Pol costs $199. 77mm Heliopan HT "Slim" CPL costs $175 (identical specs to B+W XS-Pro, too)

ricosha Loc: Phoenix, Arizona

Wow, and I thought I researched filters...Thanks, I have always used B&W filters, including B+W XS-Pro. Great Info, again thanks...