Company's Highly Anticipated Entry to the Camera Market Enables a Plethora of Workflow Options, from ProRes to 4K Raw
AJA said it has begun global shipments of the Cion, the 4K production camera that collected the lion's share of buzz coming out of NAB 2014. Originally slated for summer, the highly anticipated camera shoots in 4K, Ultra HD, 2K, and HD resolutions, and AJA says it's the only camera on the market that captures 4K to 12-bit ProRes 444 files in camera. Using removable AJA Pak SSD media, 4K footage can be recorded at up to 60p, and the camera's 4K raw output maxes out at 120p over 3G-SDI or 30p via Thunderbolt.
"Cion is the culmination of years of R&D, technical ingenuity and passion," said AJA President Nick Rashby in a prepared statement. "We couldn't be prouder to release it." The camera was originally slated for availability this summer; like other newcomers to camera manufacturing, the company found itself revising that date backward, with word coming last month that the camera was finally scheduled to arrive before year's end.
Cion Formats, Frame Rates, Encoding and Output
4K
4K (4096×2160) progressive 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60/119.88/120
Apple ProRes 4444 or Apple ProRes 422 (all versions) up to/including 30 fps
Apple ProRes 422 (or a lower data rate ProRes version) for 50/59.94/60 fps
SDI output support for 23.98/24/25/29.97/30 fps
(SDI 1-4 YCbCr, SDI 1-4 RGB or SDI 1 Raw)
SDI output support for 50/59.94/60 fps (SDI 1-4 YCbCr or SDI 1-2 Raw)
SDI output support for 119.88/120 fps (SDI 1-4 Raw)
Ultra HD
Ultra HD (3840×2160) progressive 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60/119.88/120
Apple ProRes 4444 or Apple ProRes 422 (all versions) up to/including 30 fps
Apple ProRes 422 (or a lower data rate ProRes version) for 50/59.94/60 fps
SDI output support for 23.98/24/25/29.97/30 fps
(SDI 1-4 YCbCr, SDI 1-4 RGB or SDI 1 Raw)
SDI output support for 50/59.94/60 fps (SDI 1-4 YCbCr or SDI 1-2 RAW)
SDI output support for 119.88/120 fps (SDI 1-4 Raw)
2K
2K (2048×1080) progressive 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60
Apple ProRes 4444 or Apple ProRes 422 (all versions) up to/including 30 fps
Apple ProRes 422 (all versions) for 50/59.94/60 fps
SDI output support for 23.98/24/25/29.97/30 fps
(SDI 1 YCbCr, SDI 1-2 RGB, or SDI 1 RGB)
SDI output support for 50/59.94/60 fps (SDI 1-2 YCbCr or SDI 1 YCbCr)
1080 progressive
1080 HD (1920×1080) progressive 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60
Apple ProRes 4444 or Apple ProRes 422 (all versions) up to/including 30 fps
Apple ProRes 422 (all versions) for 50/59.94/60 fps
SDI output support for 23.98/24/25/29.97/30 fps
(SDI 1 YCbCr, SDI 1-2 RGB, or SDI 1 RGB)
SDI output support for 50/59.94/60 fps (SDI 1-2 YCbCr or SDI 1 YCbCr)
1080 interlaced
1080 HD (1920×1080) interlaced 25/29.97/30
Apple ProRes 422 (all versions) up to/including 30 fps
SDI output up to/including 30 fps (SDI 1 YCbCr)
Source: AJA
The Cion utilizes an APS-C-sized (22.5mm x 11.9mm) CMOS sensor with an electronic global shutter that AJA rates for 12 stops of dynamic range and a removable PL lens mount. HD and 2K images are scaled from the full 4K sensor image, not cropped, meaning the field of view remains the same across capture resolutions. The camera has an integrated optical low-pass filter to reduce moiré as well as an integrated infrared cut filter.
Click the image to load a full-resolution version. Source: AJA
Unsurprisingly for the first camera from a company known for its prodigious support of different video workflow options, connectivity is one of the Cion's strong suits. "There’s not one proprietary connector or mount point anywhere on this camera,” Rashby promised at NAB. Instead, the company has made the most of industry-standard connectivity.
For on-set monitoring, AJA said users can simultaneously output two 4K/UHD feeds alongside up to three 2K/HD feeds, or a of total eight different 2K/HD signals when 4K is not required. The Cion has a LAN port and embedded web server for remote control, allowing multiple Cions to be controlled via a web browser. Files can be offloaded on set using the optional AJA Pak Dock (pictured) to transfer them to editorial via Thunderbolt or USB 3.
Cion Connectivity
4x 3G-SDI/HD-SDI outputs (4K/UltraHD/2K/HD)
2x 3G/HD-SDI monitor outputs with overlay support
1x HDMI output offering support for 4K and UltraHD or scaled 2K/HD
1x HDMI output for 2K/HD
2x mic/line/48v XLR analog audio inputs
2x LANC control ports
1x LTC input connector
1x Reference connector
1x USB connector
1x 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN connection
1x Mini TRS headphone jack
1x 4-pin XLR power connector
1x input power connector for attaching third-party battery plates
1x P-TAP output power connector
1x Thunderbolt connector
Source: AJA
The shoulder-mounted Cion weighs 7.4 lbs with its top handle attached, making it a little heavier than the five-pound Red Epic or Sony F55, but significantly lighter than the 11-pound Panasonic VariCam 35 or the 16-pound Blackmagic Ursa, to pick a few convenient points of reference.
AJA's MSRP for the Cion is $8,995. AJA Pak media runs $695 for 256 GB and $1,295 for 512 GB, and the AJA Pak Dock is $395. The camera ships with handle grip, handle mount, LANC collar and cable, rear door plates, battery adapter plate, and AC power supply. AJA is also offering a variety of accessories, including front and rear baseplates, 15mm rods, rosette extension arms, and rosette adapters.
