Things I've Found That Just Work; Breakthrough Photography Filters

Breakthrough Photography filters are my choice because they "just work."

Back in the day...  Oh no, here it comes. Lol.  Well, not really.  But in the day when most of us actually bought our photo gear in our local camera stores, it seemed inevitable that the salesperson would really push you to buy a filter when purchasing a new lens on the pretext that it would protect it from damage if the lens were to be dropped or bumped up against something or such.  The reason for them pushing us to buy a filter was not really for our benefit but to the benefit of the store's income as those filters were usually cheap and generated additional profit.  The lens itself generated a far lesser percentage of profit.  

Those inexpensive filters were normally either an ultraviolet (UV) filter or a Skylight (1A) filter.  Either "supposedly" cut the bluish light from distant landscapes to "enhance" the scene.  This was in the film days so there was no way to adjust your final image to remove the bluish atmospheric haze during editing as we can today.  So there was some merit to putting on such a filter, in some respects.

Now, I don't plan on getting into the efficacy of whether or not it is best to always keep a filter on your lens or leave the front element bare, but rather I want to mention how a bad filter can affect your photography and how a good filter can enhance your images.

The ultimate question, of course, is why would your spend a lot of money, in some cases thousands of dollars, on an excellent lens that you carefully researched and specifically picked out to meet your standards of image quality then attach a cheap, uncoated or single-coated filter made with mediocre glass (were they even optical glass?) that can cause flare, reduce light transmission, cause color shifts and worst of all, degrade image quality from that expensive lens?  The correct answer is you wouldn't want to.  Cheap and bad filters do those kinds of things.

I've always tried to research and only buy good filters.  In the old film days, I used yellow, orange, red and green filters for black and white photography.  Also, I always carried a polarizing filter.  In those days, polarizing filters were linear.  Today, due to the digital cameras' focusing and light metering systems, they are circular polarizers.  The ones I almost always settled on were B + W.  I thought there were as good as any and could be purchased at a price I could mostly afford, even though they were much more expensive than the cheaper filters.  I've since moved away from B + W filters as I found my neutral density filters cast a strong amber tone to my images.  Yes, I could correct that in Lightroom, but a high quality multi-coated (even nano-coated) filter should be neutral and not create a color shift.  I had no issue with image quality with my B + W filters, however.  About two years ago, I decided I needed to replace my B + W filters.

After thoroughly researching other brands, I decided upon and bought several Breakthrough Photography (BP) filters.  I purchased 6X and 10X neutral density filters in 77mm size.  When I purchased my Nikon Z7 gear, I also then purchased 82mm filters as the 14-30mm Nikon S lens uses that size filter.  I use the filters on all of my lenses adapting them with step-down (sometimes also called step-up) rings.

I must say I am very, very pleased with the results.  There is no color cast and no image degradation as there is with cheap filters.  Also, I haven't seen any vignetting (shading) from my BP filters.  Another important aspect is that I've never had one of my Breakthrough Photography filters get stuck on a lens or step-down ring.  I have other filters that get stuck (I try diligently not to fully tighten them) almost every time causing me to have to buy and carry filter removal wrenches so I could get them off in the field.  The last time one got stuck the only way I was able to remove the filter after trying various methods was to place the lens and errant filter in my refrigerator to cause the metal to contract at different rates as they cooled.  We shouldn't have to do things like that.

Another aspect of BP filters is the knurling on the outside of the ring (see image above).  The knurling is substantial and easy to grasp when attaching or detaching a filter.  I found that the chances of a filter slipping from my grip while trying to attach or detach it has gone to zero.  

I have formed my opinions about BP filter after using them for about 2 years now.

Breakthrough Photography filters are not the most expensive out there but are also far from the least expensive.  That being said, I think they fit into the category of you get what you pay for.  In my opinion, these filters are of excellent quality and I will continue using them.  They come in sizes from 49mm to 82mm and in a couple of different grades.  I buy the X4 grade.  

Here is what BP says about their X4 filters:

The X4 ND 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 our state-of-the-art MRC and nanotec® coatings exceptionally well.

Here is where you can read more about how their filters are constructed including being weatherproof

Breakthrough Photography is located in San Francisco, California.  If you buy directly from them, you have 300 days to send your filter back if you are unsatisfied.  Also, they offer a 25 year "Ironclad Guarantee" against defects and workmanship.  These filters are the first I've ever seen to have a serial number etched into them so you can register your purchase and take advantage of the guarantee if ever necessary.  Finally, they give you a really nice red lens cleaning cloth with your purchase.  It really doesn't matter but the shade of red they picked is really pleasing to me.

BP offers filters for a variety of uses.  They have circular polarizers, dark circular polarizers (which incorporate ND with the polarization), neutral density filters of various strengths, UV filters, graduated filters, a night sky filter, a line of magnetic filters and some accessories.

Just to be up front, I have no relationship with Breakthrough Photography or any other company.  I don't get any kickbacks, nothing at a reduced price or free.  I pay what you pay.  I have no advertisements, nor click-through affiliate links.  I just pass on to you my experience hoping they will be of help to each of you at some time.  Back to the story.

I'll be using BP filters for the foreseeable future as, in my opinion, I have no criticism of them and they "just work" as they are supposed to work.  That is the key.

As for me, I don't often use filters.  I ALWAYS have a lens hood attached to the front of my lens so it takes the hit if dropped or bumped.  However, when necessary I'm happy to attach a high quality filter to the front of any of my lenses.  Today,  I only carry polarizing and neutral density filters.  The only time I would consider keeping a UV or 1A or some other clear filter on my lens would be if I were photographing on a windy day and the environment was sandy or near salt water.  But that is just me.

Join me over at my website, www.dennismook.com. 

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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