Testing out new Opteka X-GRIP XL DSLR Rig

Been out in the French Alps this Winter testing out the Nikon D7000 with a new mount, the Opteka XGRIP-XL for DSLRs:

Feel:
Although not the most versatile stabiliser I’ve ever used, the Opteka’s advantages are the rigid, U-shaped structure that is brilliant for filming sports in particular. If you’re following a skier or skateboarder for instance, you can grip with one or two hands and point it easily at your subject. 
Quality:

Thanks to it’s moulded plastic material, it’s lighter than it looks which is a plus for carrying but I noticed it had a little too much flex for my Nikon. The plastic ‘feet’ on the bottom also snapped off quite easily but they aren’t crucial.

Stabilisation:

The frame doesn’t do much to increase stability apart from allowing you to bolt the camera down to the grip and use your own frame to keep the tracking smooth. I found it fine for filming skiing but for other, more bumpy sports it wouldn’t be great.

Value:

It’s pretty darn cheap so the value is amazing for what you get, I paid about £20 for it.

Here’s a video taken with it without any stabilisation added:

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