CION is the new 4K/UHD and 2K/HD production camera from AJA. Record directly to Apple ProRes 422 and 444 at up to 4K 60fps or output AJA Raw at up to 4K 120fps. CION features an ergonomic design and open connectivity to give complete flexibility in the field or studio.
Built With PassionCIONrepresents a new direction for AJA but one that is firmly rooted in everything that has been learned over the last 21 years. A considered process has been used to create a true production camera with a feature set and form factor that offers the user a wide variety of options both in the field and the studio. The design of the camera allows complete flexibility for the user to adapt to any environment.
CION is a union of great design and functionality, an engineered aesthetic that AJA is proud to describe as the Science of the Beautiful.
AJA's foundation has always been to introduce ground breaking products that combine high quality engineering and passion. CION fulfills these core values but adds a new creative vision for the demanding needs of production for both today and tomorrow. CION is the culmination of years of development; from its foundation as an extension of our revolutionary Ki Pro range. The design of the camera allows complete flexibility for the user to adapt to any environment.
SensorCION 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.
Recording formatsCION 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.
Pak mediaCION uses AJAs 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 Thunderboltor USB3.
AJA Raw workflowsCION 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. AJAs 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.
User interfaceAll interface controls are found on the side of the camera facing the operator to provide easy single user functionality. The menu structure itself is elegant and free of cumbersome sub-menu navigation. Confidently dial settings with a robust selection knob that gives clear mechanical feedback as you adjust.The integrated confidence monitor not only displays the menu information but also previews your real-time image, allowing independent operation.CION also offers powerful network-based control. Via the LAN connection, a web-browser UI allows for remote configuration of the camera. Your CION is completely controllable whether its on a crane, jib or car mount from virtually any web browser.
Conveniently ConnectedCIONs considered design brings ease of operation to both field and studio based productions. For single users, set up and operation is intuitive and straightforward. For more complex productions camera operators, camera assistants and digital imaging technicians may all interact with CION without conflict. In such a scenario, the camera operator can use one monitor output for framing, the camera assistant another monitor output for judging focus and the digital imaging technician can use yet another monitor output as well as the web UI to configure the unit.
ElegantOperationsAll interface controls are found on the side of the camera facing the operator to provide easy single user functionality. The menu structure itself is elegant and free of cumbersome sub-menu navigation. Confidently dial settings with a robust selection knob that gives clear mechanical feedback as you adjust.
The integrated confidence monitor not only displays the menu information but also previews your real-time image, allowing independent operation.
LED VU meters are placed for easy and accurate audio monitoring. Control knobs for each audio channel allow adjustment of the input level. A headphone monitoring output and a headphone volume control knob are also provided.
ErgonomicsCIONs sleek chassis is formed of gravity molded magnesium which is lightweight but extremely strong. Integrated steel rosettes allow you to mount industry standard accessories including hand grips and handle extensions directly to the camera body. CION was designed to be comfortable, convenient and totally flexible for any shooting environment. A contoured shoulder pad fits comfortably to your shoulder for hand held use.
CION is designed to create an open approach to accessorizing the camera.This open system gives you immense flexibility no matter the shooting environment, both indoors and outdoors. From shoulder to tripod and from dolly to crane, CION keeps all of your options open.All of the audio and video connections used on CION are industry-standard and thoughtfully positioned. Audio and video connectors have been placed where they are unobtrusive to the operator.3G-SDI and HDMI monitor outputs, as well as a power output, make monitor and viewfinder additions to CION easy to implement. Utilizing CIONs high-quality scaling capabilities, these dedicated monitoring outputs are always active even when working with 4K or Ultra HD.
Production and Post UnifiedCION elegantly connects production and post with support for the Apple ProRes family of codecs. In 2007 AJA introduced the Io HD. It was the first device to offer hardware-based encoding of Apple ProRes. In 2009, AJA introduced the Ki Pro tapeless video recorder, the first camera-connected recorder to offer Apple ProRes encoding. CION draws on thisdistinguished history of support for Apple ProRes capturing vivid and detailed images that are easily manipulated in professional video editing and finishing applications.
On-Set backup andmonitoring workflowCION provides a multitude of on-set monitoring options for 4K/UHD and 2K/HD including a hardware dedicated down convert for 4K/UHD to 2K/HD. CIONs outputs are simultaneously live allowing great flexibility in any scenario independent of resolution.The AJA Pak Dock and Pak media are designed for field use, featuring a rugged and reliable form factor; unlike a bare SSD drive, AJA Pak media features a multi-insertion rated connector. Connecting to CION via the LAN connector provides real time information regarding the Pak currently in use and by utilizing a Thunderbolt enabled RAID storage drive you can quickly back up your Pak media as you shoot.
Multicam Gang ControlCION multicam shoots are straightforward to implement and manage by using a laptop with a simple ethernet switch and LAN cables. The web UI allows complete and independent set up of multiple CION cameras; you may name each camera and consolidate control of the cameras from within a web browser using the unique gang recording feature. The web UI will also allow realtime monitoring of the capacity of the Pak media used in each CION.