Player One Mars-C II IMX662

Designed by Player One Astronomy for planetary imaging and Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA), the Mars-C II features a Sony IMX662 colour sensor with a 1/2.8-inch format. Its 5.6 × 3.2 mm imaging area and 6.44 mm diagonal provide a capture field suited to high-resolution imaging.

With a resolution of 1936 × 1100 pixels, approximately 2.1 megapixels, and 2.9 µm pixels, it combines a maximum full-well capacity of 54 ke⁻ with native 12-bit analogue-to-digital conversion.

Its back-illuminated Sony STARVIS 2 CMOS sensor, with a stated peak quantum efficiency of approximately 91%, provides high sensitivity for colour imaging of the Moon and planets.

STARVIS 2 technology and native 12-bit conversion

Sony STARVIS 2 technology provides the CMOS sensor with a back-illuminated pixel architecture.

The integrated analogue-to-digital converter distinguishes 4,096 conversion levels. This digitisation precision allows variations in light intensity to be recorded while preserving tonal information useful for astronomical image processing.

Colour sensor and high quantum efficiency

Equipped with an RGGB Bayer colour filter array, the Sony IMX662 sensor captures the information required to reconstruct RGB colour images.

Player One specifies a peak quantum efficiency of approximately 91%, helping the camera detect faint light signals.

This design allows colour images of planets and the Moon to be captured without separately recording red, green and blue channels.

The Mars-C II is also suitable for Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA), which allows astronomical objects to be viewed through digital image acquisition and processing.

1/2.8-inch sensor format

With dimensions of 5.6 × 3.2 mm, the Sony IMX662 sensor features a compact format particularly suited to planetary imaging.

Its 1936 × 1100 pixel resolution provides a capture area capable of recording detailed sequences of Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and different regions of the lunar surface.

The actual field of view depends on the focal length of the optical instrument.

High full-well capacity

With a maximum full-well capacity of 54 ke⁻, the Mars-C II offers more than four times the 13 ke⁻ capacity quoted by Player One for the previous-generation IMX462 sensor.

This allows each pixel to accumulate a substantial amount of electrical charge before reaching saturation.

High frame rate

With a USB 3.0 connection, the Mars-C II can reach 108 frames per second at full resolution in 10-bit mode.

Higher frame rates can be achieved by reducing the capture area, making the camera particularly useful for high-resolution planetary imaging.

The frame rates specified by Player One are:

• 1936 × 1100 pixels: 108 frames per second in 10-bit mode and 76.5 in 12-bit mode.

• 1920 × 1080 pixels: 110 frames per second in 10-bit mode and 78 in 12-bit mode.

• 1280 × 720 pixels: 162 frames per second in 10-bit mode and 114 in 12-bit mode.

Additional resolutions can be configured in the acquisition software.

Actual recording speed also depends on the performance of the computer and storage device.

Sensor performance and HCG mode

The Mars-C II features a High Conversion Gain (HCG) mode that activates at gain 210.

This mode reduces readout noise at higher gain settings and helps improve performance when acquiring faint light signals.

Player One specifies a readout noise range of 6.7 to 0.7 e⁻, depending on the camera settings.

The manufacturer states that its readout noise figures are based on actual measurements. Users can also verify these values with the Sensor Analysis function in SharpCap 4.

No amplifier glow

The Mars-C II is free from amplifier glow, or Amp Glow, avoiding this source of unwanted brightness in long-exposure images.

Player One provides a demonstration dark frame captured with an exposure time of 300 seconds.

This characteristic helps simplify image processing by reducing unwanted brightness gradients caused by the readout electronics.

Planetary, lunar and EAA imaging

Thanks to its Sony IMX662 sensor and high acquisition speed, the Mars-C II is particularly well suited to planetary imaging.

When photographing Jupiter, Saturn or Mars, it can rapidly record large numbers of frames, which can subsequently be selected and stacked to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and reveal fine detail.

For lunar photography, its compact format allows different regions of the surface to be captured and detailed mosaics to be produced.

The camera is also suitable for Electronically Assisted Astronomy, where digital image acquisition enables astronomical objects to be observed and displayed on a screen.

Hexagonal body and sandblasted finish

The Mars-C II features a hexagonal body with rounded edges, characteristic of Player One Astronomy's planetary camera range.

Its red and black sandblasted finish combines a rigid structure with a compact design.

With a body diameter of 66 mm and a weight of just 150 g, the camera adds little weight to the imaging equipment and is easy to integrate into different optical configurations.

Second-generation sensor tilt adjustment

An integrated tilt adjustment plate allows the inclination of the sensor relative to the optical axis to be corrected.

This mechanism helps improve focus uniformity across the field when mechanical alignment issues affect image quality.

A high-density foam light seal helps prevent unwanted light from entering through the side gaps.

256 MB DDR3 buffer

A 256 MB DDR3 buffer helps stabilise data transfers and limit dropped frames during high-speed acquisition.

It also reduces data-transfer demands, including when using a USB 2.0 connection.

This buffer is particularly useful for planetary recording sequences containing large numbers of frames.

DPS dead pixel suppression technology

The Mars-C II features Player One Astronomy's DPS, or Dead Pixel Suppression, technology.

This function analyses several dark frames to identify pixels with abnormal behaviour and stores their positions in the camera's memory.

During acquisition, these pixel values can be corrected using surrounding pixels according to the method described by the manufacturer.

USB 3.0 connectivity and ST4 guiding

Equipped with a USB 3.0 interface, the Mars-C II supports fast image transfers to a computer.

The camera is also compatible with USB 2.0 connections, subject to the corresponding bandwidth limitations.

An ST4 port allows the camera to be connected to the autoguiding port of an equatorial mount using a suitable cable.

Player One recommends a high-quality SSD to make full use of the camera's stated recording speeds.

Power supply and electrical protection

The Mars-C II operates using power supplied through its USB connection.

Overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanisms help protect the camera and connected equipment.

Technical specifications

Sensor and resolution

• Manufacturer: Player One Astronomy.

• Model: Mars-C II.

• Type: colour astronomy camera.

• Sensor: Sony IMX662 back-illuminated colour CMOS.

• Technology: Sony STARVIS 2.

• Format: 1/2.8 inch.

• Sensor dimensions: 5.6 × 3.2 mm.

• Sensor diagonal: 6.44 mm.

• Resolution: 1936 × 1100 pixels, approximately 2.1 MP.

• Pixel size: 2.9 µm.

• Bayer pattern: RGGB.

• Peak quantum efficiency: approximately 91%.

• Analogue-to-digital converter: native 12-bit.

• Conversion levels: 4,096.

• Shutter type: rolling shutter.

• Exposure range: 32 µs to 2,000 seconds.

Imaging performance

• Maximum full-well capacity: 54 ke⁻.

• Stated readout noise: 6.7 to 0.7 e⁻.

• HCG activation: gain 210.

• Amplifier glow: none.

• Stated frame rate at full resolution in 10-bit mode: 108 frames per second.

• Stated frame rate at full resolution in 12-bit mode: 76.5 frames per second.

• Stated frame rate at 1280 × 720 pixels in 10-bit mode: 162 frames per second.

• Buffer memory: 256 MB DDR3.

• Dead pixel correction technology: DPS.

Connectivity and adjustments

• Data interface: USB 3.0.

• USB 2.0 connection: supported.

• Autoguiding port: ST4.

• Connection thread: M42 × 0.75.

• Adapter: 1.25 inch.

• Mechanical backfocus: 12.5 mm.

• Protective window: 21 mm diameter, 1.1 mm thickness, AR Plus multi-layer anti-reflective coating.

• Sensor tilt adjustment: second-generation tilt plate.

• Tilt plate light seal: high-density foam.

• Electrical protection: overvoltage and overcurrent.

• Manufacturer's recommended storage: a high-quality SSD.

Construction and dimensions

• Body shape: hexagonal with rounded edges.

• Exterior finish: sandblasted.

• Colours: red and black.

• Body diameter: 66 mm.

• Weight: 150 g.