Figure 1: The Zgrip iPhone Jr. in action

If you've ever held your iPhone 3GS shaking slightly in landscape mode in your two hands and had your finger suddenly cover the lens or you've ever been extremely keen on amateur to prosumer level video production, you've probably thought, "I wish I had a tripod for my iPhone 3GS right now." Zacuto has created the Zgrip iPhone Jr., priced at $69, as a handgrip system to help you more easily balance the video you're shooting with your iPhone 3GS with only one hand. Zacuto sent us a demo unit for review, and we've spent the last several days determining if the Zgrip Jr. is worth your $69. 

Figure 2: Zgrip iPhone Jr. in hand sans iPhone 3GS

The Build

The Zgrip iPhone Jr. is very light, weighing just a few ounces, and consists of a metal armature cradle that holds the iPhone 3GS tightly in place with soft rubber covers over all the grip points to prevent the metal from scratching the iPhone. The top middle prong has a standard tripod thread for mounting the unit upside down on a tripod or for attaching a light. The metal armature is secured in the handle grip via six screws. 

The handle itself has a rough, almost sand-paper-like texture to it for better grip, although it is not at all uncomfortable to hold.There is also a gap in the middle of the grip that both makes the handle lighter and keeps air flowing onto your palm so that your hand doesn't become uncomfortably warm or sweaty while holding the Zgrip Jr. You can even fit your fingers in this gap if that is a more comfortable hold for you.

The handle appears to be made out of a material similar to what we've seen come out of 3-D printers in the past, as it is extremely light, however, it's also very firm and not at all rigidly fragile. We conducted multiple drop tests with our demo unit with no damage whatsoever to the handle or the metal armature.

The bottom of the Zgrip iPhone Jr.'s handle also features another thread point for mounting the device on a traditional tripod, making the Zgrip iPhone Jr. both a handheld, pistol-grip system for filming with the iPhone 3GS, as well as a tripod mount for the iPhone 3GS.

Figure 3: Front of the Zgrip iPhone Jr. with iPhone 3GS

Figure 4: Zgrip iPhone Jr. firmly holds the iPhone 3GS in place even when pointed straight up.

Shooting Video

I never realized exactly how incredibly awkward shooting video with the iPhone 3GS was during the first few weeks I owned the device, simply because I was blinded with joy at owning an iPhone that could shoot video (albeit non-HD video). However, after using the Zgrip Jr. for a few moments, I was sold on it being a much better filming experience. Although using the device ads weight, that weight is mitigated by the lessened awkwardness. The Zgrip iPhone Jr. feels naturally balanced when being held upright or even on its side for shooting in portrait mode. Also, since you're not holding the iPhone 3GS directly in your hand, you don't have that feeling of the iPhone running hot and the previously mentioned slot in the middle of the handle means that your hand remains cool and comfortable.

Here's a sample video taken from within my apartment (contrast this with any of my previous videos to see how much stability is added):

Here's another, longer (and more nauseating clip) that was taken as I walked down the stairs of my apartment building and outside to begin taking my dog for a walk:

And finally, here's some video of my pet parrots, shot while holding the Zgrip Jr. on its side to film in portrait mode:

It should be noted that by no means am I professionally trained cameraman, nor was I really trying at all to maintain steady, smooth shots while recording these videos. In the hands of a pro, or even an attentive amateur, I'm confident the Zgrip iPhone Jr. could be used to produce some very nice and steady video.

Obsessable Recommendation

While many of you may complain about paying $69 for a handlegrip shooting peripheral for a device that only manages to shoot 640x480 VGA quality video to begin with, the only real competition on the market for this particular peripheral is the Zgrip Pro, which has several adjustable parts, a removable cradle and tripod attachment, and which runs $295. The Zgrip iPhone Jr. does what it was designed to do and does it well, and despite a price point that will be a bit too high for most users, there are going to be many prosumer level users or videographers looking to do something interesting with a limited video camera like the one found in the iPhone 3GS, who will find value in the device. 

The device is clearly not designed for your regular user who is simply shooting video for the first time because they suddenly found themselves owning a phone that is always in their pocket and which is capable of shooting video. The Zgrip iPhone Jr. is a bit too big and oddly shaped to carry everywhere in your pocket (although it did fit comfortably in a large pocket of some cargo shorts I was wearing), but could prove useful for someone looking to occasionally use the iPhone 3GS as a replacement camcorder.

Obsessable Rating: 8 out of 10