Berlebach Report Tripod Models 7023-9023

I purchased the 8023 due to the holding ability and price. I have mounted a Bogen 8047 head to the tripod. this combination requires an adaptor ring to mount the head.

the tripod itself is light and strong. it has the ability to have the center colum reversed. easy to adjust the legs. this tripod holds 20 pounds and my long lenses only twitch in a strong breeze.it is also very good looking. i actually get more coments because its wood rather than metal.

i bought the three leg section version, this is kind of bulky, i would get a 2 leg copy if i need to purchae a second tripod. there are plenty of options you can get, but these have to be bought from the web site, no one carries the full product line.

i have used a few velbons and slik tripods

I am reviewing the 8023 version of Berelebach's ash wood tripod. My 8023 is the "g" gray version, which I think is less conspicuous than the blonde version. Of the few rolls I've shot using the Berlebach so far, all have been outdoor landscapes and macros shot on a Mamiya Pro TL with both the 80mm f/2.8 and 120mm f/4 Macro A lenses. I am using a Manfrotto 488rc2 midi ballhead with it. The 8023 is probably overkill when mated to the 488, but unfortunately I couldn't afford a heavier duty ballhead at the moment. The pair seems to be more than adequate for the type of photography I do (the 120mm f/4 macro is the heaviest lens I own). There is simply no competition for this tripod in the price range. Carbon fiber approaches the stability, but costs much much more for similar load capacity.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with the 8023. The build quality is phenomenal and the tripod is simply beautiful. Key features I've appreciated are the ability to reverse mount the center column for very low angle shots, independent and infinitely adjustable leg spread with two set angles (25 and 45 degrees), retractable spiked feet, and greater weather and resistance (including salt water), durability and vibration dampening to weight ratio than metal or carbon fiber tripods.

A few things that could see improvement in my opinion are: The feet are of a hard plastic rather than grippy rubber that, while lasting longer, don't really grip smooth, flat surfaces well. The center column is a necessity for me in certain circumstances when height is as important to critical sharpness. The center column on the 8023 is indeed tall- about four inches too tall when the legs are completely retracted. I saw four inches off the bottom if I could still reverse-mount the camera without the threaded bottom end. Also, the rapid column screw is of the type that has one long arm. While simple and quick to use, the long arm, if tightened the right amount can impede the leg spread if the arm is pointing downward. I have already had to remove and mount the screw facing the opposite direction and will probably have to do it again eventually.

This is the first professional-quality tripod I've used. I previously owned a sub-$100 Velbon not in the same league as the Berlebach.

I purchased mine through B&H who has very good customer service. As for Berlebach Co., I have no idea, but the paperwork delivered with the product was sparse to say the least.