Shopping for a tripod for wedding phtography. Any recommendations?

[wedding photographer]

I have an old (but very good) Italian tripod which I am about to retire. The problem is that it is too heavy to carry around during weddings. It is stable but very heavy for wedding work. I guess it is more for landscape. You can even kill a bear with it so it is very useful for nature photography...
I am looking for a tripod which is
- light,
- lasts forever,
- reasonably priced, and
- it is small when collapsed so I can travel with it internationally.

Can you recommend something?

[gryphonslair99]

Light......stable.......reasonably priced.

Like ordering in a Chinese restaurant. You can only pick two. Personally I choose Light & Stable = Gitzo composite tripod. They are not cheap.

Amazon.com: Gitzo GT3830 Series 3 Basalt 3 Section Tripod: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: Gitzo GT3830 Series 3 Basalt 3 Section Tripod: Camera & Photo
Amazon.com: Gitzo GT3830 Series 3 Basalt 3 Section Tripod: Camera & Photo

will This meet your requirements for light & stable along with lasting forever (with care). Price however is another matter.

Amazon.com: Gitzo GT2542L Series 2 6X Carbon Fiber 4-Section Tripod with G-Lock - Replaces GT2541L: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: Gitzo GT2542L Series 2 6X Carbon Fiber 4-Section Tripod with G-Lock - Replaces GT2541L: Camera & Photo
Amazon.com: Gitzo GT2542L Series 2 6X Carbon Fiber 4-Section Tripod with G-Lock - Replaces GT2541L: Camera & Photo

This would also be an excellent choice and meet all of you criteria.

[n8]

I have a rocket fish (best buy) carbon fiber tripod that is very light and stable...pretty cheap too. I have recent replaced the head with a vanguard ball head.

[Skyman]

out of curiosity how does a tripod fit into your workflow with weddings?
I know a lot of wedding photographers that find it slows them down too much or have opted for a monopod. I don't shoot weddings very often, but when I do, the tripod stays in the car except when I am shooting the formal shots

[wedding photographer]

It is helpful in dark rooms for wedding details.

[WesternGuy]

Any good carbon-fibre tripod and ball head should meet your requirements. Only suggestion I would make is that your ball-head have a quick-release, so that if you need to get the camera off the tripod in hurry, you are not fiddling around with unscrewing attachments and all that stuff.

I have a Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 with a Manfrotto 486MGRC0 ball head - works for me, although I do not shoot weddings, but it is stable, easy to set up and take down and the ball head has a quick release that works quite well when I need to take my camera off the tripod for some action shots. Good luck.

WesternGuy

[JETA]

I have a gitzo 3530s that I use for portrait photography (sports, not weddings) and have hiked in the mountains with it. I'm a small female and can totally handle it. It's also sturdy as heck and I believe can handle a f/2.8 300mm easily.