Hydra Alien Car Mounting System - Gold Mount

A suspended system for mounting a camera on a vehicle. Dovetail plates and three suction cups rated for 50 kg combine in eight ways according to Tilta — on the hood, the flank, the rear and the roof. The shock absorbing arm carries 7.5 kg and cuts the jolts of rough tarmac. Power comes from two Gold Mount battery plates good for about eight hours. The remote control kit and the monitor bracket are optional accessories.

The Tilta Hydra Alien Car Mounting System is a suspended camera mount for vehicles. Dovetail plates, three suction cups and a shock absorbing arm with a hydraulic damping pole make up a rig you can set on the hood, the flank, the rear or the roof — and place exactly where the camera needs to be. Power comes from two Gold Mount battery plates, so gimbal and camera get through a full shooting day.

Eight ways to get the camera onto the car

The system is built from dovetail plates L1 to L4, a connector plate and three suction cups that can be linked differently every time. Tilta describes eight mounting configurations — front low angle, side low and high angle, rear, car corner, roof and hood. That lets you set the rig exactly where the camera has to sit, even on awkwardly shaped bodywork.

The shock absorbing arm carries 7.5 kg

The shock absorbing arm with its hydraulic damping pole is the core of the rig and carries 7.5 kg. A DSLR or mirrorless body with a lens on a gimbal therefore fits, not just a small action camera. The stiff spring together with the hydraulic damping cuts the amplitude of sharp jolts, so the image stays calm even on rough tarmac.

Every suction cup is rated for 50 kg

Both the large and the small Hydra Alien suction cup are individually rated for 50 kg. The highly elastic shock-absorbing silicone lasts longer and abrades less, and the revised plungers seal better in cold weather too. Three suction cups set in a triangle give the rig a stiffness a single mounting point never has.

Dovetail plates reconfigure in minutes

The plates link to one another and carry mounting holes along their whole length, so you tune camera position by the centimetre rather than by pre-drilled holes. The folding design and the quick-release wheels mean the rig is reconfigured in minutes between two setups — and folded back into the case after the shoot.

High, low, from the side and off the roof

High, low, on the flank of the car and up on the roof — the Hydra Alien builds into almost any shot. The spring-loaded shock absorbing head and the included 90 degree adapter also let you hang the gimbal upside down when the shot calls for it. The suction cups cope with curved bodywork and with surfaces where an ordinary mount would not hold.

Power for a full shooting day

Two Gold Mount battery plates power gimbal and camera over P-Tap and last around eight hours of continuous operation. The dual plate support bracket holds both batteries firmly against the post, and the included power supply base plate for the RS 2 protects the camera at speed and on rough surfaces. Ten cable clamp suction cups tidy the wiring along the plates.

A complete kit, not a half-measure

In the case you will find dovetail plates L1 to L4 and the connector plate, one large and two small suction cups, the shock absorbing arm with hydraulic damping pole, the shock absorbing head with 90 degree adapter, the power supply base plate for the RS 2 with cable, two Gold Mount battery plates, eight 220 g counterweights, a set of ten cable clamp suction cups, tools and a safety belt.

Waterproof case with cut foam

The whole system packs into a waterproof hard shell case with cut foam. You move it between locations without risking scratches or lost parts, and between shoots the kit has a home. The case shrugs off rain and snow and works for other gear as well.

The remote control is an optional accessory

The Hydra Alien supports wireless and wired control of the DJI RS 2 and RS 3 Pro gimbals — the handle with its thumbstick drives pan and tilt, starts and stops recording and triggers stills as well. The remote control kit is not part of this package; Tilta lists it as an optional accessory (Remote Control Kit for DJI Ronin) and it is bought separately.

The same goes for the Hydra Alien monitor bracket (HDA-T02-MB), the 75 mm and 100 mm ball head risers and a second power supply base plate. If you want a kit that already includes the remote control and the monitor bracket, take the Pro Kit version of the same family.

Compatibility and limits

The system carries any gimbal that mounts with a 1/4″-20 screw and powers over P-Tap or from its own battery — Tilta names the DJI RS 2, RS 3, RS 3 Pro, Ronin 4D and Zhiyun Crane 3S. On the RS 3 and RS 3 Pro the M button on the optional handle cannot mimic the gimbal function, it only switches the mode.

The battery plates are not compatible with 26V batteries. Two batteries on the plate last around eight hours of continuous operation.

Using the suction cups safely

Set the suction cups on a flat, clean surface and keep the weight of the arm balanced over their centre. Always press down firmly when fitting, so the cup is visibly compressed — merely placed, it lets go far more easily. Secure the rig to the vehicle with the included safety belt.

Tilta advises against using the suction cups on a wrapped vehicle: in direct sunlight and heat they hold worse and mark more easily. Protect the paint with a protective film instead.