Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: tim wolcott on November 15, 2017, 10:43:51 pm

Title: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: tim wolcott on November 15, 2017, 10:43:51 pm
I used to say the only good filter is a broken one.  I was wrong, I recently check and got some breakthrough filter.  ND and graduated filters.

Wow can't say enough about them.  Big, beautiful and scratch resistant.  With no color shifts when using, they really thought about how to make this for photographers.  I used them with the Phase One on my recent Phase One pods workshop I was teaching, everyone really loved them.  If your in the need for some check these out.  I used them on the images below, I'm going to get the circular polarizer in a day or so.

TimothyWolcott.com
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: BernardLanguillier on November 16, 2017, 12:44:33 am
Nice images, but how exactly did these filters contribute to their quality?

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: Farmer on November 16, 2017, 01:56:44 am
I assume Tim is saying that they didn't detract from the image in any way but gave him the benefit of the protection of the filter on the lens (and he's going to try their CPF as well).
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: alan_b on November 16, 2017, 02:03:04 am
I have a couple of their polarizers, 77 & 95mm. 

Good color & polarization (high-transmission type), but my experience is the coatings scratch easier than B+Ws.  I'm not a fan of the exaggerated "traction" ring design either.  The large knobbies on the polarizing ring stand out farther than the smaller knurling of the screw ring.  This makes it hard to get a good grip on the screw ring.  They're the hardest to remove polarizers I've used if they get on too tight.  I purchased mine through the initial Kickstarter run, no idea if anything has changed since then.
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: Michael Erlewine on November 16, 2017, 06:13:07 am
I have a bunch equipment from "Breakthrough Photography," including their ND filters, polarizers, etc. But what I also find really helpful are their step-up rings, which are really solid and made well. And also they make a little Arca-Swiss plate for $10 that is really well made. I used those too. And les caps.
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: John Cothron on November 16, 2017, 11:56:49 am
I have some ND's and GND's on order, still waiting..... 

Can't wait to give them a test though, they certainly seem to be better than the Lee I'm using now.
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: BobDavid on November 16, 2017, 12:38:56 pm
Breakthrough filters are excellent. The Hoya Pro ND filters are good too, however they are set in aluminum rather than brass.
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: alatreille on November 16, 2017, 11:06:46 pm
I'm extremely happy with my NDs and my GNDs.

I ordered the new filter holder.  It's good....sturdier than my Lee.
I'm hoping they'll make a 4mm filter slot for wider filters.

Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: John Cothron on November 17, 2017, 06:09:07 am
For those of you that already have them, what have you noticed regarding flare control?  One of the issues with resin filters is the increased flare when shooting near strong light sources.  Loses contrast, flare spots, decreased sharpness on sun starts, etc.
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: Alan Smallbone on November 17, 2017, 10:35:23 am
The Breakthrough filters are screw on only, not the 100mm resin type slide in filters. so less convenient than say Lee filters. The Breakthrough filters are nice and neutral, and their step up rings are nice. I got mine from the Kickstarter and it was not a pleasant experience, fortunately now the founder is not dealing with the buyers as far as I know.

That being said, I have not finished all my testing but I am finding that NISI filters, which are a Lee type filter holder and filters are excellent. As neutral as any filter I have tested. My testing has been real world and with a spectrophotometer. The Nisi filters are very neutral, much much more than the Lee filters.

For screw in filters the Breakthrough are very neutral, B+W not so neutral.

Alan
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: John Cothron on November 17, 2017, 10:56:51 am
The Breakthrough filters are screw on only, not the 100mm resin type slide in filters. so less convenient than say Lee filters. The Breakthrough filters are nice and neutral, and their step up rings are nice. I got mine from the Kickstarter and it was not a pleasant experience, fortunately now the founder is not dealing with the buyers as far as I know.

That being said, I have not finished all my testing but I am finding that NISI filters, which are a Lee type filter holder and filters are excellent. As neutral as any filter I have tested. My testing has been real world and with a spectrophotometer. The Nisi filters are very neutral, much much more than the Lee filters.

For screw in filters the Breakthrough are very neutral, B+W not so neutral.

Alan

Alan,

FYI breakthrough now has square no filters and rectangle filters same size as Lee, however they are made with tempered glass. Supposed to be the same high quality as the round ones.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: tim wolcott on November 17, 2017, 01:19:18 pm
I got all the large square and large rectangle filters.  They are spectacular.  I find most people use them too much or should I say too strong.  The ability to move the filters up and down allow you to use it like a burn tool like you would've in the darkroom and with digital you can see it right after you use it and use it to varying degrees.  T
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: alatreille on November 17, 2017, 08:39:30 pm
I got all the large square and large rectangle filters.  They are spectacular.

These are the ones I have.

NDs 3stop and 6 stop.
GNDs 2 and 3 stop soft.

I've asked if they'd make NDS in 1 and 2 stop, so we could stack for a whole variety of ranges from 1 - 9.

The cases they come with are beautifully made, if a bit on the bulky side.

A
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: tim wolcott on November 20, 2017, 11:27:24 pm
Alatreille those are the same I have and the polarizer.  They have a major announcement they tell me coming out in 2 weeks or less.

I find these are very good, So glad Steven Friedman turned me on to these. 
Title: Re: Breakthrough Filters
Post by: Alan Smallbone on November 21, 2017, 10:50:36 am
Alan,

FYI breakthrough now has square no filters and rectangle filters same size as Lee, however they are made with tempered glass. Supposed to be the same high quality as the round ones.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks John, I had not realized that they added them.

Alan