Power Grip is a universal rig handle for filmmakers looking to consolidate accessories. Using the Kickstarter platform an Italian trio has designed a top handle with built in battery and start/stop record for your compact camera. I love a good old-fashioned, labour of love Kickstarter. The Power Grip looks like something straight out of a designer’s basement. Its core feature is offering an external power solution for compact cameras, whilst attempting to solve the often-subsequent dilemma of rigs becoming a little bulky and unbalanced. Whether it currently fulfills both is up for debate, but entrepreneur Marcello Mazzilli is “confident” a 20% reduction in size and weight on the final model, fingers crossed. The Power Grip has an array of 1/4 and 3/8” threads on the sides and top for adding accessories. The battery in the grip is a removable 50W, 6A lithium battery that’s said to have more capacity than 3 Canon LP-E6s. It connects via a pole tap DC Out 7.4V/12v port. There’s a screen on top which provides information such as battery voltage, as well as an integrated 10W front LED lamp, bubble level on the top and (get this) a telemeter on the front for calculating subject distance for focusing. The Power Grip has a removable bracket for mounting to your camera, Nato rail, 3 hole and single hole brackets will all be available. The start/stop button is located on the top of the Power Grip and is controlled via LANC and compatible Bluetooth cameras. My two cents would be to drop the light and telemeter, the former is too small to offer much use and the latter I can never see being used; operators will pull their own focus and focus pullers have their own tried & tested techniques. Efforts would be best spent reducing the size and weight of the Power Grip, as well as adding a second DC Out for powering accessories. The Kickstarter campaign is currently live, a €149 pledge will get you the Power Grip (predicted €50 saving from retail price). Please bear in mind that this is a Kickstarter campaign, not an online shop. Once the campaign is over, production will be ramped up and if everything goes smoothly, shipping should start. We would love to hear your thoughts about this innovative product. Please share your opinion in the comment section below.