The Newell Electric Suction Cup lets you mount a camera, smartphone or photo and video accessories on glass, car body panels, tiles and other smooth surfaces. Find out how automatic vacuum maintenance works and how you can use this versatile mounting solution to capture unusual angles in a car, in the studio or on location.
What will you learn from this article?
- how the Newell Electric Suction Cup and automatic vacuum maintenance work
- which surfaces are suitable for safe suction cup mounting
- how to use the suction cup for shooting in a car, in the studio and on location
- how to capture unusual angles using windows, car body panels, tiles and worktops
- how to mount a camera, smartphone or additional accessories correctly
- what to consider when building a rig and working with heavier loads
- how to prepare the mounting surface and add extra safety measures during a shoot
Newell Electric Suction Cup – secure mounting for cameras, smartphones and accessories on smooth surfaces
A shot from the bonnet of a car, a camera mounted to a side window, a smartphone filming from worktop level or an additional light attached to a glass surface – a tripod does not always let you position your gear exactly where you want it. This is where suction cup mounts come in. An electric model takes things a step further: the built-in pump not only creates a vacuum, but also monitors its level and automatically restores it when necessary. See what new possibilities this opens up for photographers and filmmakers.
Why would a filmmaker need a suction cup?
A tripod is stable and versatile, but it has one fundamental limitation – it needs enough space for its legs. A suction cup changes the way you think about mounting points. Instead of looking for floor space, you can make use of an existing surface: a window, mirror, ceramic tiles, a painted panel or even a suitable wall.
This gives you access to angles that would otherwise require a much more elaborate mounting system. And the suction cup is not limited to mounting cameras or action cameras. Its 1/4″ and 3/8″ threads, NATO rail and ARRI locating holes allow it to work with articulating arms, camera cages and other rigging components.
Why does maintaining the vacuum matter?
With a suction cup mount, maintaining sufficient vacuum is crucial. Dirt, uneven surfaces and loads generated by movement can affect the stability of the connection. Proper mounting therefore starts with choosing a suitable surface and making sure the entire suction pad sits flush against it.
The Newell Electric Suction Cup features a built-in vacuum pump. Once the device is placed on a suitable surface, the suction process takes around 5 seconds. The system checks the vacuum level every 1,000 seconds – approximately every 16 minutes and 40 seconds. If it detects a drop, it automatically activates the pump. The digital display also lets you check the pressure level, battery status and current operating status.
Car shoots – a perspective you cannot get with a tripod
This is one of the most obvious applications for the Newell Electric Suction Cup. You can mount a camera to a window or, provided the surface is sufficiently smooth, directly to a car body panel.
Depending on the mounting position, you can film the interior, the driver and passenger, the road through the windscreen or a shot looking along the body of the car. Mounting the camera low can also emphasise the road rushing beneath it and the movement of the wheels, creating a much stronger sense of speed and motion.
What should you consider when the camera moves with the car?
Mounting a camera to the outside of a moving vehicle is much more demanding than shooting from a stationary position. Acceleration, braking, vibrations, uneven road surfaces and aerodynamic drag all introduce additional loads. In these situations, it is worth securing your equipment with an independent safety tether, strap or another secondary safety system.
The mounting setup must not obstruct the driver’s field of view. Before shooting on public roads, you should also make sure that your planned setup complies with local regulations.
Not just for cars. Using a suction cup in the studio
The Newell Electric Suction Cup can also solve a problem familiar to anyone working in a small photo or video studio: where do you put yet another stand?
A smooth surface can become an additional mounting point for a smartphone, camera, monitor or other accessory. When shooting at a table, for example, you can attach the suction cup to a suitably smooth, non-porous worktop instead of taking up valuable space with another stand.
Vertical surfaces offer particularly interesting possibilities. A window, mirror or ceramic tiles can support equipment in places where setting up a tripod or stand would be difficult or simply impossible.
Camera on glass – make the most of the perspective
Glass is particularly well suited to the Newell suction cup, and its usefulness goes far beyond car windows.
Mounting the suction cup to a shop window or large glass panel allows you to position the lens very close to the surface. This can be useful when photographing or filming interiors, shooting through glass or looking for an unusual angle in a commercial space.
What should you consider when the lens is close to glass?
When shooting through glass, it is worth positioning the lens as close to the surface as possible without actually touching it – particularly in a car, where the glass can transmit vibrations. Reflections can be reduced further by shielding the area around the lens from stray light or by using a polarising filter.
Unusual shots from worktop level
The Newell Electric Suction Cup can also replace a conventional tripod when you want to capture very low product shots. Mounting a camera or smartphone next to a smooth worktop lets you bring the lens almost level with the subject.
This perspective works particularly well when filming products, food, models, tools or tabletop scenes. Instead of looking down at the subject from typical tripod height, you can position the camera at the same level and use foreground elements to create a stronger sense of depth.
Kitchen and bathroom tiles can become mounting points too
Smooth ceramic tiles open up even more possibilities. When filming cooking content, you can mount a smartphone or camera on the wall next to a worktop without placing a tripod in your working area. The same approach can be useful for tutorials, product demonstrations and DIY content.
What should you consider when mounting the suction cup on tiles?
The entire suction pad should sit on a single, flat section of tile. Avoid positioning it across grout lines or other uneven areas, as these can prevent the suction cup from forming an airtight seal.
A mounting point for accessories
The Newell Electric Suction Cup is useful for much more than mounting a camera.
It provides a 1/4″ thread, a 3/8″ socket available after removing the adapter, a NATO rail and ARRI locating holes. Add a suitable arm and the suction cup can become a mounting point for a monitor, compact LED light, microphone or other compatible component of your filmmaking setup.
This accessory kit is a must-have
If you want to make full use of the Newell Electric Suction Cup, the Newell Mounting Accessory Kit is an essential addition. At its heart is a compact Magic Arm with two ball heads, allowing you to position mounted equipment freely at the angle you need.
The kit also includes a range of adapters and mounts, including 1/4″ threaded mounts, a cold shoe and cold shoe mount, an ARRI mount, a GoPro adapter and a NATO clamp. This makes it easy to connect the suction cup to an action camera, camera, monitor, LED light, microphone or another part of your rig and configure the setup for the shot you need.
How should you prepare the surface?
Even the most advanced pump cannot help if the suction cup cannot form an airtight seal against the surface. The mounting area should therefore be smooth, flat, non-porous and clean. Dust, sand, grease and other contaminants can prevent a secure connection.
Before mounting expensive equipment, thoroughly clean both the surface and the suction cup. Once the pump has been activated, check that the mount is stable before loading it with a camera or other equipment. Be particularly careful with heavily curved or textured surfaces – the suction cup may not make full contact even if it initially appears to be mounted correctly.
Be careful with paintwork and wrapped surfaces
A “smooth surface” does not automatically mean a “safe mounting surface”. Particular care is required with car panels covered in PPF or vinyl wrap, as well as other delicate finishes.
Vacuum pressure may leave marks or deform certain materials, while high temperatures and direct sunlight may increase the risk further. Before mounting the suction cup to a delicate surface, check the relevant care and durability recommendations and, if in doubt, choose another mounting point.
A 30 kg load capacity does not mean 30 kg in every situation
The Newell Electric Suction Cup offers a load capacity of up to 35 kg when mounted vertically and 40 kg when mounted horizontally, while the recommended maximum load is 30 kg.
Working conditions still matter enormously. A camera mounted to a stationary window in a studio is subjected to very different forces from the same setup attached to the body of a moving car. Acceleration, braking, road irregularities, vibrations and aerodynamic drag all generate additional dynamic loads.
For more demanding shoots, it is therefore advisable to maintain a substantial safety margin below the maximum ratings, keep the rig as compact as possible and use an additional independent safety system.
The Newell Electric Suction Cup changes the game
The Newell Electric Suction Cup combines the familiar principle of vacuum mounting with electronics that help keep its operating parameters under control.
The built-in 1,400 mAh battery provides up to 72 hours of operation, while a full charge via USB-C takes around 2 hours. The suction cup can also be used while charging.
It can operate at temperatures ranging from –20°C to +70°C. Its IP65 rating means the housing is dust-tight and protected against water jets, although the device must not be fully submerged.
The suction pad has a diameter of 112 mm, while the entire device weighs 350 g.
One mount, countless applications
The Newell Electric Suction Cup is a practical solution wherever a conventional tripod or stand is too large, inconvenient or simply unable to provide the angle you need.
The built-in pump automatically restores the vacuum if its level drops, while the display lets you keep an eye on the device’s status. In practice, this means greater convenience during a shoot and fewer things to worry about while recording.
Whatever the application, the basic rules remain the same: choose a clean, smooth surface, stay within the recommended load capacity and use an additional safety system when shooting in motion. Follow these principles and the Newell Electric Suction Cup can become one of the most versatile mounting solutions in your entire filmmaking kit.
Already using the Newell Electric Suction Cup? Show us how you use it in your productions. Share a photo or video on Instagram and tag @newell.pl. We’d love to see your ideas for unusual camera angles and creative mounting setups.
And if you have any questions about the suction cup, compatibility or configuring your setup, get in touch. We’ll be happy to help.
