Berlebach for medium format studio work

[removedacct3]

Hello!

I am in the market for a new tripod to do medium format studio work and I am considering to get a Berlebach. Anyone using a Berleback for studio work? Looking forward to hear about your experiences and the configuration you are using.

 

[Henning Serger]

I am using a Berlebach tripod for years. For all my photography when a tripod is needed. Studio, in my photo test lab and outdoors.
I have been absolutely satiesfied:
- Best vibration reduction of all tripod materials (Eschenholz / ash tree wood). There have been several scientific tests done in the past confirming that. These Eschenholz tripods are therefore also used for prof. Landvermessung (land surveying / field measurement) and in astronomy.
- Excellent production quality.
- Very robust.
- Relatively light (in relation to its robustness and sturdiness).
- Excellent service by the manufacturer.
- Lots of useful accessoires available by Berlebach.
- Natural, sustainable material.

Therefore from my experience over all the years I can highly recommend them.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Andrew Keedle]

I use one for my Ritter 7x17 ULF so you should be ok... ;-)

 

[btaylor]

Another vote for the Berlebach. It supports my Calumet C1. I have a pile of tripods from several makers, but the one I usually end up using is the Berlebach. It is simple to use and very stable, not very heavy. I like the wood. I think it is an excellent value, too.

 

[AgX]

"the Berlebach" ?? They offer different models. Different number of segments, with and without bracings.

 

[JensH]

Hi,

+1 to the comments above...
I have a black Berlebach UNI 6 with 3D Super head.
Heavy, nearly 7 kg. More then stable enorgh for my Sinar F2, or a heavy MF camera like a RB/RZ.
I have no doubts it would even fit a 8x10" Sinar P.

In the fields a Berlebach Report is fine for a 4x5" Linhof Technika, btw.

Best
Jens

 

[btaylor]

"the Berlebach" ?? They offer different models. Different number of segments, with and without bracings.

Yea, I have one of the lighter ones, the Report. Very sturdy, has reliably held cameras much heavier than the Technika. There are of course many more models in various configurations on their webpage.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I have been using my Berlebach Report 3042 almost exclusively since receiving it. This was not my intention, it is just so good to use and as Henning mentions, as vibration free as possible. I use it with everything from 35mm right through to an 8x10" field camera.

My own cameras range from 35mm through to 4x5" with a Toyo 45G monorail and a Shen Hao 4x5" folding camera. I intentionally use it with the inbuilt ball head, which is positioned in the strongest part of the tripod's head. I have the standard 100mm riser as well as the 500mm riser. In general, I only use the 100mm riser for the 4x5" cameras, keeping the 500mm riser for anything smaller than them.

I know for a fact that the tripod holds an RB67 with 250mm (?) lens rock steady. Not my camera, but we used it for a studio situation with a dolly. I would certainly suggest using a dolly if you are on a smooth floor; like many tripods, stopping the legs from moving around and/or splaying a bit, is completely stopped when a dolly is used. We built a cheap dolly using found pine (softwood) timber and a set of locking wheels from Aldi, perfect.

The built in bubble is accurate, and with my right hand holding/moving the camera, I can easily lock the ball joint with my left hand easily. I have never contemplated using anything like a triple head unit, they just waste time and are in my opinion not needed with this tripod. If though, you require extreme angles, then they could be useful. But for most situations they are another addition of gear that slows you down, especially with portraiture.

My tripod only has a single extension, which to my mind should be more stable than a double extension model. That though is conjecture as I've never used a Berlebach double extension tripod. Regardless, that was my reasoning for purchasing this model Berlebach tripod.

I have around 12 tripods, three of which can easily hold my 4x5" cameras, the Berlebach is the one I use all of the time now.

Attached are some images, the Shen Hao 4x5" wooden folder is running a 250mm telephoto lens, this shows the whole of the tripod. The Toyo 45G is running a 400mm telephoto lens, this is the heaviest combination I use on this tripod and pretty much getting to the limitations of this tripod if you wish for absolute integrity. The 8x10" wooden folder mentioned earlier, is lighter than this combination.

The weak point of my tripod is when using the rubber feet on smooth surfaces, to counter the spreading and sliding of the legs, I use a thin chain between all of the legs. Using a dolly, is the other better alternative on these kinds of surfaces. With the rubber feet removed when used out in the field, the spiked feet work very well; the tripod does have a small collar for your foot to press the spike into the dirt.

Mick.

 

[AgX]

The gliding of leg feet is a problem all tripods can show that have any elasticity within legs or at the hinges. Solution here either is to install better feet or chain/brace the legs.
Many Berlebach tripods are depicted without center collumn. You Mike, explicetely hint at attaching them. Otherwise a Berlebach means a retarding in action compared to metal or carbon tripods that typically come with such collumn.
A extended collumn though means leverage on the rest of the tripod inducing warping on the legs.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Well what you are seeing is the long centre bar, which I rarely use, but is very handy for medium and small format, which is what the original question is about; I do understand where you are coming from though.

My general centre column is the 100mm one, which is pretty much a non existent centre column. This particular tripod and it's head were the best combination for all facets of my photography that was affordable in the Berlebach range. Trust me when I say that delivery to Australia is not cheap and I've had this tripod for somewhere between 15-19 years.

The centre column I almost always use is attached below, it is 100mm in length. In this format the head of the tripod is virtually immovable, within the design parameters of the tripod that is.

Another picture of the Toyo 45G, it is a seriously heavy camera and this tripod handles quite well. That said, as mentioned previously, it is at the limit of this tripods' suggested working load.

Mick.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Hmm. I have a Berlebach 8023G. Obsolete model, with center post. Very steady, vibration no problem but even when clamped down as tight as possible there center post has a little play. OP, by all means get a Berlebach tripod, and a light one. For you the Uni series is overkill. But if you don't need a center post get a tripod that doesn't have one.

 

[AgX]

My general centre column is the 100mm one, which is pretty much a non existent centre column.

A such short center collumn has no ill effect on rigitiy of the tripod, but the same time practically has no use in camera height adjustment. If one does portrait work based on a fixed camera height, then such is fine. If one changes camera position (you yourself are even using a dolly under your Berlebach), then a (geared) center collumn seems benefitial.

 

[btaylor]

my Report model has no center column, I ordered it with leveling ball adjustment only, there is no play when tightened. If I need more height I have other tripods but for me that is rarely the case. (I have a Studio Linhof with center column. It is absolutely steady, even at full extension, but also large and not especially portable)

 

[removedacct3]

Thank you all for your input. A big thank you to Mick for detailing his setup and sharing his experiences using a Report 342. My main setup will be something that resembles your RB setup. In my case a Hasselblad with either a 80, 120 or 180 lens attached to it. A geared 50cm levelling without head should do the trick. Still indecisive whether it will a lighter Report or a heavier UNI17C. Thank y'all!!

 

[PonySoldier1887]

I have been using a Berlebach Report (2 section leg) and no center column for over twenty-five years for MF, 4x5 and a DX Wista 8x10. I only wish that every piece of equipment which I have purchased was as satisfactory as the Berlebach. I use a Manfrotto geared head attached directly to the tripod.
Joel