Can anyone educate me about filter holders?

[Hermes]

I'm looking into getting a filter holder system to be able to use more creative filters - especially ones I can customise. Getting tired of the overly smooth and artificial look produced when adding these effects in photoshop.

I've picked up some useful info on the quality of different brands of filters reading through this section of the forum, but the hardware side is still all a blur to me.

Is there a summary of the various filter holders and their pros & cons anywhere (tried searching with no luck so far). Particularly interested in a holder which allows the use of a hood and a circular polariser.

I'm also overwhelmed with the huge range of sizes of square filters - will 4"/100mm wide filters cover me for all 35mm lenses or are there wide-angles that require larger filters? Is there any significance to the thickness?

Would appreciate some advice.

[jdizzle]

Hi Hermes. I've been using the Lee filter holder for quite some time now and I don't regret the purchase. There are other options like the Cokin ( Cokin-Z) and Hitech filter holders. Personally, I love the Lee holder. It's built well and feels much more durable then the other holders. As for filters brands, there is Lee, Singh Ray, and Hitech. The Lee and Singh Ray come in 4x6 and the Hitech are 4x5. If you're on a budget, the Hitechs are nicely priced. The Lee would come next in paying a bit more and then Singh Ray.
Some of these filters vary in thickness but, it hasn't affected my images from what I've seen. The Hitech and Singh Ray come in 1.5 mm and the Lees are 2mm. When purchasing these filter holders be sure to get the wide angle adapters for your lens. This puts the holder closer to the lens to prevent vignetting. I hope this answers some of your questions. If there's anything I missed, I'll be glad to help out. :)

[Hermes]

Thanks, that's been a big help.

The Lee seems like a great system. Are you able to use the Lee hood and the 105mm front ring at the same time?

[NYPhotog]

Thanks, that's been a big help.

The Lee seems like a great system. Are you able to use the Lee hood and the 105mm front ring at the same time?

I also use the Lee system and I think the holder is better designed and built than the Cokin. Lee has several hood configurations, WA and Standard, with and without filter slots. Hoods can either be mounted on the front slot of the holder with the supplied rails or used independently by mounting on the adapter ring (after removing the rails). I have a WA hood that has two filter slots, plus a retaining ring for the 105mm CPL. I use this hood (mounted on a WA adapter ring) without the holder.