AJA showed off their new CION 4K production camera at events in Los Angeles last week.  Originally slated for summer 2014, units have now begun shipping.  The camera shoots in 4K, Ultra HD, 2K, and HD resolutions, capturing 4K in camera as 12-bit ProRes 444 files. 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.

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.

Initial impressions are that the camera is very well designed from an ergonomics standpoint and has great IO connectivity, which is what you would expect from AJA, a company famous for building various IO boxes.  However, the sensor requires a healthy amount of light, natively rated in a range as low as 250 ISO to capture the least noise.  At an MSRP of $8,995, it could certainly be the right choice for many jobs, but not without a bit of lighting.

DCS is planning test shoots and events in other areas in the near future with exact dates and locations TBD.

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)