Breakthrough Photography Cinema DFM Released – PL-Mount Drop-in Filter System for RED

Lens Adapter

by Francesco AndreolaSeptember 13^th, 2021

Breakthrough Photography just released the Cinema DFM, a PL-mount drop-in filter system compatible with the RED DSMC1 and DSMC2 lines as well as the RED KOMODO and V-RAPTOR cameras. The adapter is now available for pre-order on the Breakthrough Photography website starting at $699.

Breakthrough Photography has been largely criticized on the web lately. In fact, many customers have been complaining about the long shipping times for their drop-in filters for the Canon EF to RF adapter.

Apparently, the American company has been busy developing a new product. The new Cinema Drop-in Filter Mount (DFM) makes it possible to attach PL-mount cinema glass to RED cameras, while maintaining the flexibility of built-in ND filters. Let’s take a closer look.

Breakthrough Photography Cinema DFM: overview

We all know RED cameras are great tools. However, the lack of built-in ND filters make them a little bit annoying to work with sometimes. In fact, the use of an external matte box isn’t always the best solution.

Canon partially solved this problem for KOMODO (and now V-RAPTOR) users by releasing their EF to RF adapter with drop-in filters. Now, while RED announced the development of a proprietary PL to RF adapter with electronic NDs, Breakthrough Photography is trying to play in advance by releasing their Cinema DFM.

Specifically designed to attach PL-mount cinema glass to RED cameras, the BP Cinema DFM is a behind-the-lens drop-in filter mount system.

It comes in different options that make it compatible with the RED DSCM1 and DSMC2 lines (both S35 and VV) as well as with the most recent RF-mount models (KOMODO and V-RAPTOR). Moreover, a dedicated option for the upcoming RED V-RAPTOR XL is currently under development and will probably come in 2022. Despite the compatibility with these RED camera models, the mount is not RED Approved yet.

It’s worth noticing that this company offers more than 30 different filters that are compatible with the Cinema DFM. Moreover, this new adapter features a built-in 0.8 MOD gear. This allows for remote control of the supported Rota-Pola and 1.5 to 11-stops VND filters.

Design and TacLock

This PL-mount features a lightweight and compact design. In fact, while its most important elements are made of titanium, the main body is built from aluminium. Depending on the type of filter in use, the lens can accomodate lenses with different flange depths, as described by the table below.

Moreover, the TacLock locking system features a push button that emits a loud “click” when the filter is inserted in the mount, thus warning you that it’s securely locked.

Price and availability

The new PL-mount Cinema DFM is now available for pre-order on the Breakthrough Photography website. Pricing starts at $699 for the Cinema DFM mount with a clear filter and it goes up to $999 for a larger kit including a X4 VND.

You can book yours today by leaving a deposit of $99 and then pay the entire amount once the unit is ready for shipping.

What do you think about the Breakthrough Photography Cinema DFM? What solutions have you been using for mounting PL-mount lenses on RED cameras while maintaining the ability to have ND filters? Let us know in the comments below.