Tilta Camera Cage for Blackmagic PYXIS 6K Base Kit

The Tilta Camera Cage for Blackmagic PYXIS 6K Base Kit is a cage for the Blackmagic PYXIS 6K and 12K with two handles added. The five-part modular cage wraps the camera body and adds NATO rails, an ARRI rosette, a cold shoe and dozens of 1/4″-20 and 3/8″-16 threads. The kit includes both a Tilta Xeno top handle and a height-adjustable Tilta Xeno side handle, so you can shoot handheld right out of the box.

The Base Kit is the middle configuration of the Tilta ES-T21 cage for the Blackmagic PYXIS. It adds two Tilta Xeno handles to the cage — a top handle and a side handle — so you can hold the camera without ordering grips separately. The cage is machined from aluminium alloy, wraps the body on all sides and keeps the connectors, controls and cooling vents accessible.

Modular design

The cage is built around the PYXIS body and consists of five parts: top plate, left and right side arm, bottom plate and side plate. It matches the camera’s native accessories, and the top, bottom and side plates can each be used on their own, so you can build exactly the rig a given shoot needs.

Multi-functional side plate

The side plate carries an SSD mount for external recording plus multiple 1/4″-20 and 3/8″-16 threads for accessories, from a smartphone clamp for livestreaming to a monitor mount. In a vertical rig it doubles as the bottom plate.

SSD mount for common drives

The mount takes drives 52 to 60 mm wide and up to 12 mm thick, which covers the usual external SSDs. A release lever on the top plate unlocks the drive, so you can swap it without tools and without taking the cage apart.

Aligned with the optical axis

In a vertical rig the bottom plate has its threads positioned so that the baseplate lines up with the optical axis of the lens, while still leaving enough room between the rods and the lens for a matte box or follow focus.

Clearance for heat dissipation

Both the top plate and the bottom plate are routed clear of the body’s cooling vents, so the PYXIS keeps its original cooling performance even on long, hot shooting days.

Two handles in the kit

The top plate accepts the native PYXIS top handle, and a removable 3/8″ to 1/4″ thread adapter opens it up to others. The included Tilta Xeno top handle attaches over a NATO rail and carries its own 1/4″-20 threads and a cold shoe for a monitor or a light. The Tilta Xeno side handle clamps over a NATO rail on either the left or the right side of the cage.

A phone or a power bank on the rig

A Tilta magnetic articulating mount with MagSafe support can be screwed onto the cage to keep a phone or a power bank on the rig itself, for livestreaming, monitoring or charging. The mount is an optional accessory and is not part of this kit.

The Tilta Xeno side handle offers 40 mm of height adjustment, so the grip sits exactly where you want it. The surface is textured non-slip silicone that keeps its hold through a whole shooting day, and the handle itself carries a cold shoe and a 1/4″-20 thread with locating points for further accessories.

Three configurations

The ES-T21 cage for the Blackmagic PYXIS comes in three configurations. The cage itself is the same in all three; what differs is what comes with it:

• Full Camera Cage (ES-T21-FCC) — the five-part cage on its own, a Manfrotto quick-release bottom plate and a tool kit. No handles, no power.
• Base Kit (ES-T21-A) — the same cage plus a Tilta Xeno top handle and a Tilta Xeno side handle.
• Pro Kit (ES-T21-B-AB / ES-T21-B-V) — the same cage, a Tilta Xeno top handle, a Gold Mount or V-Mount battery plate, a 15mm LWS Manfrotto baseplate and two 15 × 200 mm rods.

Camera, lens, battery and SSD are not included.

What is in the box