AJA INTRODUCED CION AT NAB 2014

 by George Leon

A very sharp looking camera, ergonomically designed to go up easy in your shoulder and to be configured as a studio camera. CION, is the new 4K/UHD and 2K/HD production camera from AJA Video Systems. It records directly to Apple ProRes 422 and 444 at up to 4K 60fps or output AJA Raw at up to 4K 120fps. CION features a 4K APS-C sized CMOS sensor with an electronic global shutter and 12 stops of dynamic range. Lenses designed for Super 35mm cover the sensor imaging area and the global shutter eliminates the undesirable qualities associated with rolling shutter-based sensors.


CION can record at 4K (4096x2160), UltraHD (3840x2160), 2K (2048x1080) and HD (1920x1080). 2K and HD are hardware scaled from the full 4K sensor, resulting in beautiful over-sampled images, which also retain your lens’ focal length at any desired resolution. Frame rates up to 50 and 60p are supported - even at full 4K resolution.


CION uses AJA’s proven SSD-based Pak storage. The robust high speed compact storage mounts directly in-camera and allows recording of 4K/UHD and 2K/HD as ProRes 4444, ProRes 422 (HQ), ProRes 422, ProRes 422 (LT) and ProRes (Proxy). Choose from generous 256GB or 512GB capacities and by utilizing the AJA Pak Dock (sold separately) you can transfer your footage over high-speed Thunderbolt™or USB3.


CION is also fully capable of outputting frame rates up to 120 fps as either 4K or UHD from its 4 x 3G-SDI outputs as AJA Raw. AJA’s Corvid Ultra in conjunction with TruZoom™ software can take the AJA Raw output and replay it at up to 60 fps. Output up to 30fps AJA Raw via the Thunderbolt™ connector. CION can also record HFR 4K 50 and 60p to Pak media, as Apple ProRes 422. The AJA Cion will be available in summer of 2014 and sell for $8,995 (~£5,413).

For more information, CION AJA Video Systems