[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]

By Jim Stomper Rhinehart from Midland City, Alabama on 10/19/2007

I used a aluminum tripod and a 3-way panhead for years. I wanted a nicer and lighter tripod. I looked at carbon fiber but was turned off by the high prices and a lot of negative reports on the legs sticking. Wood doesn?t stick. I chose the Berlebach 8023 Report wood tripod and teamed it with a Acratech ball head. I also opt for the short center column as I do not use the long column for anything and like to get down close to the ground for micro work. The short column lets me do this. The old with the new. I guess the first tripods were made from wood and maybe for a good reason. The weight carrying ability of a wood tripod compared with its own weight is as good as or better than most any other tripod. I use this tripod and head combination (7 lbs. 6 oz.) with my Nikon F-100. My lens include most everything between a std. 55mm, f1.8, to my 80-200mm, f2.8. No problems at all. The head is great and the tripod perfect. If you notice on the Berlebach, the legs are attached to 6 points as opposed to 3 on other standard tripods. This makes it much more stable to start with. I am 61 years old and don't mind carrying this over my shoulder on a 2 - 3 mile hike wearing my photo backpack. The wood legs are uncomfortable on the shoulder but the padded backpack straps takes care of this. If I just want to take the camera and tripod, I use a tripod strap. People keep saying that carbon fiber is the way to go, but at half the price, I'll keep the Berlebach. I also keep thinking those who want to save 2 - 3 lbs. on a tripod, maybe it's not the tripod than needs to shave a few lbs. I highly recommend the Berlebach 8023 Report for anything a weekend photographer or professional photographer would want to use it for, indoors or out and it looks great.