Hydra Alien Car Mounting System Pro Kit - V 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. The shock absorbing arm with its hydraulic pole carries 7.5 kg and cuts the jolts of rough tarmac. The Pro Kit version adds a remote control kit for the DJI RS 2 and RS 3 Pro, a monitor bracket, two V-Mount battery plates and a waterproof case.

The Tilta Hydra Alien Car Mounting System Pro Kit is a complete suspended camera mount for vehicles. On top of the base Hydra Alien system it adds a remote control kit for the DJI RS 2 and RS 3 Pro and a monitor bracket, so you drive the gimbal and watch the image from inside the car. Dovetail plates, three suction cups rated 50 kg each 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.

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 combined differently every time. Tilta describes eight mounting modes — front low angle, side low and high angle, rear, vehicle corner, roof and hood. You place the camera exactly where the shot needs it, even on a complex body shape.

The shock absorbing arm carries 7.5 kg

The shock absorbing arm with its hydraulic damping pole is the heart of the rig and carries 7.5 kg. That means a DSLR or a mirrorless body with a lens on a gimbal, not just a small action camera. A stiff spring together with 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 elastic damping silicone lasts longer and abrades less, and the revised plungers seal better in cold weather. Three cups set in a triangle give the rig a stiffness a single mounting point never has.

The shot from exactly the spot you pick

High, low, on the side of the car or up on the roof — the Hydra Alien reconfigures for almost any shot. The plates connect to each other, so camera position is tuned by the centimetre rather than by pre-drilled holes. The spring-loaded shock absorbing head and the included 90° adapter also let you hang the gimbal upside down.

Drive the gimbal from inside the car

The Pro Kit includes a remote control kit for the DJI RS 2 and RS 3 Pro. The handle with its thumbstick drives the gimbal’s pan and tilt, starts and stops recording and triggers stills — wired over the 500 cm 6-pin Lemo cable, or wirelessly through the receiver module. You operate it from inside the car, so you never have to reach the camera while driving.

Monitor bracket within arm’s reach

The included Hydra Alien monitor bracket puts the screen where you can actually see it while operating the gimbal. Without it you compose a remotely operated camera blind. The bracket is part of this Pro version only — the base Hydra Alien system does not include it.

A complete kit, not a starting point

The case holds dovetail plates L1 to L4 and the connector plate, one large and two small suction cups, the shock absorbing arm with hydraulic pole, the shock absorbing head with 90° adapter, the power supply plate for the RS 2 with cable, eight 220 g counterweights, a set of ten cable clamp suction cups, tools and a safety belt. None of it has to be bought separately.

Waterproof case with cut foam

The whole system fits into a waterproof hard shell case with cut foam. You move it between locations without risking a scratch or a lost part, and between shoots every piece has its place. The case shrugs off rain and snow and can be used for other gear too.

Compatibility and limits

The system carries any gimbal that mounts on a 1/4″-20 screw and powers over P-Tap — Tilta names the DJI RS 2, RS 3, RS 3 Pro, Ronin 4D and the Zhiyun Crane 3S. The remote control handle, however, works only with the RS 2 and RS 3 Pro. On the RS 3 and RS 3 Pro the M key cannot mimic the gimbal function either; it only changes the Mode setting.

The battery plates are not compatible with 26 V batteries. Two batteries on the plate last about 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 push down firmly when attaching, until the cup is visibly compressed — merely resting it on the surface makes it far easier to detach. Secure the rig to the vehicle with the included safety belt.

Tilta advises against using the suction cups on wrapped vehicles: in direct sunlight and heat they hold worse and are more likely to leave a mark. Protect the paint with a protective film.