Thank You Berlebach!

MenacingTourist · Jul 7, 2005

I recently purchased a Berlebach or clone (not sure really) on eBay that was missing one of the rubber feet. I emailed Berlebach and asked about buying a replacement part from them. Marion Totterwitz emailed me back asking to see photos of the feet to make sure which model I had then sent me replacements for all three feet at no charge!

Maybe this is common practice for them but it can't be cheap to send things from Germany to Utah. I've gotten used to the idea that this hobby is expensive and to have Berlebach do this is like a breath of fresh air.

I'm posting this because I think it's nice to see praise when praise is due.

Alan.

blaze-on · Jul 7, 2005

That's cool Alan...

Maybe I'll take a pic of my bare feet, send the photo to Gucci and see if they'll send me some new loafers...

jjstafford · Jul 7, 2005

I would be surprised if there were a clone of Berlebach. No name on the unit? Have you put it by a real Berlebach? I'm lucky because I bought one when they were under $100 here. Good 'pod.

MurrayMinchin · Jul 7, 2005

That's amazing service considering you aren't the original owner!

blaze-on said:
Maybe I'll take a pic of my bare feet, send the photo to Gucci and see if they'll send me some new loafers...

Hmmm...I've been toying with the idea of sporting a leopard skin thong at the beach this summer...then again...maybe Fredricks of Hollywood is still selling that "May West" prosthetic butt for men...

"Honey can you grab the 35mm? You just HAVE to take a pic of this full moon".

Murray

MenacingTourist · Jul 8, 2005

blaze-on said:
That's cool Alan...

Maybe I'll take a pic of my bare feet, send the photo to Gucci and see if they'll send me some new loafers...

Matt, I like the way you think. I'll try this with a photo of my empty wallet and send to several banks. If those Nigerian scams can work why not this?

Seele · Jul 8, 2005

The cost of sending out small parts to a customer would be negligible compared to the loyalty it brings, and the referral sales. I have a pressure cooker bought some time in the early seventies, and the rubber gasket wore out. I wrote to the manufacturer in Italy asking if the part is still available and offered to purchase a replacement. A packet came through the mail less than two weeks later with two brand new replacements at no cost. Sure it would be the opposite of deliberately taking the product off the road so that I need to buy a new one, but then if I have to buy a new one there is no guarantee that it will be one of theirs.

Look at the camera situation nowadays when a camera which was bought new only months ago is no longer supported, forcing us to get a new one, then another, then another... Sooner or later we might just want to have some good service and support, but who knows if those people willing to give such old-fashioned service would still be around.

modafoto · Jul 8, 2005

I had the same experience with Krups. I ruined some of the equipment that came with my blender and asked them about buying the parts from them...they sent me a new jug, blades and to accesory packs for free!

NICE, but then again...now I have the brand, KRUPS, melted into my brain as a GREAT brand that I will buy from again.

Tom Stanworth · Jul 9, 2005

I have two models from new and their service is absolutely superb.....and I told them too. I am one very happy customer. Fast, efficient....almost as if they are German or something....

Changeling1 · Jul 20, 2005

I purchased a Berlebach model 2042 "Report" on ebay. Came with the original box. The sliding center column with the ball crown is interesting as are the feet which can be changed from outside spikes to inside plastic. The crown design makes it possible to use the tripod without a regular head if need be. I put a used Bogen 3047 on mine. Be very careful adjusting the center column with a heavy camera on board- it could slip and pinch your fingers wickedly and you might end up with the camera on the ground! The plastic feet seem a bit too hard and could skid on hardwood or tile floors. A softer rubber might be better. When I laced a strong nylon cord through the metal donuts on the inside of the legs, the tripod became considerably more rigid. The Berlebach Report is MUCH lighter than my Ries J-100 or "Lightweight" Zone VI. On the inside of one leg it reads Made in Germany by Berlebach- Mulda. The same nice lady (I think) in Germany answered 3 emails I sent to her with questions about their product. I can easily imagine a colorful group of elves deep in the Black Forest happily crafting Ashwood tripods. How else could Berlebach charge such reasonable prices if not for free elf labor? They also come with a 5 year guarantee.

Seele · Jul 20, 2005

Berlebach is one of the success stories of a company which was in the DDR which managed not just to survive, but flourish after the wall came down. I have a copy of the 1970 photographic equipment export catalogue from the DDR, and of course Berlebach's products were listed: interesting designs but not really in the same mould as Gitzo or Manfrotto as in modular construction and parts interchangeability. Being a smaller company Berlebach hit it big on the international market while giant conglomerates such as Carl Zeiss faltered.

atenlaugh · Jul 20, 2005

I've been tempted for weeks now to get a Berlebach with the money I don't have. I wish people would write more negative reviews about them!

modafoto · Jul 20, 2005

atenlaugh said:
I've been tempted for weeks now to get a Berlebach with the money I don't have. I wish people would write more negative reviews about them!

here you go:

"Berlebach Sucks..."

Now give me some money...a bad review costs a lot

User Removed · Aug 4, 2005

I cannot give the same praise to Ries tripods. I have an older model Ries which is missing a small little bolt. They still use this same bolt on their new tripods, so I called to get a replacement and they wanted $50.00+shipping for a BOLT! What ever happened to Ries Tripods having a lifetime warrenty anyways? Oh well. I went to a hardware store and got one that worked for only a few cents.

colrehogan · Aug 4, 2005

So which tripod(s) do you guys use and for what format?

Donald Qualls · Aug 4, 2005

I use a Porter Cable contractor's tripod for my plate cameras. Rock solid (sturdy enough I'd confidently mount a 6" telescope with equatorial mount on it), tall without a center column, and it was relatively cheap.

For lighter equipment, I mostly use a tripod that cost me $17 from American Science and Surplus about ten years ago. Even with the center column up, it isn't really tall enough, and I keep envisioning it swaying like a metronome pendulum when I put my Spotmatic on it with the column raised, but it was cheap, is compact and light, and has lasted pretty well (though I don't beat it around much).

MenacingTourist · Aug 5, 2005

I just bought another Berlebach on auction based on how much I like my first one. This one is much older but goes much taller. Of course it only has two of the rubber pads that go over the spikes. I'm going to contact them again but this time I'm going to really try and pay them. It's like trying to buy lunch for my Grandpa
I also have a Majestic tripod with the giant aircraft carrier geared head. I think one of Jim 11x14 cameras would be perfect on it...Hmmm.

kuenstler · Feb 26, 2007

Changeling1 said:
I can easily imagine a colorful group of elves deep in the Black Forest happily crafting Ashwood tripods.

Except they are in Saxony. . . not Bavaria. There are no elves in Saxony, only dwarves that do the mining - who else could get into those small spaces? Maybe they outsource the tripods to somewhere in Switzerland?

Anyway~

I just purchased the 9043 from their website about 1 hour ago and within minutes Marion sent me an e-mail asking which tripod thread I'd like and that the goods would be shipped tomorrow.

Service here just isn't what it used to be! Imagine having to wait a whole day for something to be shipped!

Johnny

Media Director
kfm Verlag
Switzerland/France

fpjohn · Feb 26, 2007

Hello : I can recommend the Wolf (www.wooden-tripods.com) tripods which are Berlebach work alikes. My 8023L supports a Graphic View without problems.

I suspect Chinese elves fashion them rather then Saxon dwarves.

yours
Frank

yours
Frank

Mick Fagan · Feb 27, 2007

The Wolf company is the only company I know that sells a Two legged tripod!

Look up model number 8003.

Mick.

Christian Kolinski · Feb 27, 2007

kuenstler said:
Except they are in Saxony. . . not Bavaria.

Hmm. The Black Forrest may be way down south here in Germany, but it's certainly not Bavarian.

Also, black-forrest elves are too expensive... as they are all busy assembling those Coocoo-Clocks for the tourists.

Curt · Feb 27, 2007

Two years ago I bought one for me and one for my son. The Berlebach tripods have proven to be very nice indeed. As for Porter Cable in Jackson Tn. a company I can't say enough good things about; I bought the 1/2 inch drill, a really heavy duty keyless chuck a few years ago. The chuck stuck well after the it was out of warranty. They said take it to the service center and they will take care of it. I took it in and they replaced just about everything but the case and cord. The entire motor assembly and chuck was replace with all of the bearings etc.. All of it was done for free, complements of Porter Cable. You can't beat that, of course I would recommend a company with that business program.

Chazzy · Feb 27, 2007

Does Berlebach make anything sturdy enough for ULF? When I buy my next tripod, I want a big one and I don't want to outgrow it.

Christian Kolinski · Feb 28, 2007

Chazzy said:
Does Berlebach make anything sturdy enough for ULF? When I buy my next tripod, I want a big one and I don't want to outgrow it.

Yes, they do.
Mail or phone them.

They do rather big tripods for astronomical equipment, so ULF should be no problem.

Thank You Berlebach!

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