Player One Mars-C II (IMX662) – Designed for Planetary Imaging and EAA
The Mars-C II (IMX662) is the latest evolution in the Mars planetary camera series, engineered by Player One Astronomy for exceptional performance in both planetary imaging and EAA (Electronically Assisted Astronomy). Featuring Sony’s newest IMX662 STARVIS 2 sensor, it delivers ultra-low noise, high sensitivity, and remarkable clarity.
Product Overview
The Mars-C II uses the latest Sony IMX662 sensor, a 1/2.8-inch format CMOS chip with a 2.9 µm pixel size and a full well capacity of 54,000 electrons — a dramatic increase over previous generations. With a resolution of 1936 × 1100 (2.1 MP) and a 6.44 mm diagonal, this camera delivers crisp, high-contrast images of the planets and Moon.
STARVIS 2 Technology
The IMX662 sensor incorporates Sony’s newest STARVIS 2 back-illuminated pixel technology, offering superb low-light sensitivity, excellent signal-to-noise performance, and outstanding real-world results.
Sensor Format
The 1/2.8” sensor format is perfectly matched to planetary imaging, providing a sharp, well-sampled image scale for a wide range of telescopes.
Extended Full Well Capacity
With a full well depth of 54 ke-, the Mars-C II offers nearly 4.5× the capacity of the older IMX462 sensor. This results in improved dynamic range, smoother gradients, and better colour integrity in bright planetary regions.
Highlights
Zero Amp Glow
One of the most impressive features of the Mars-C II is its completely amp-glow-free dark frames. Even with heavily stretched 300-second exposures, the background remains perfectly clean — ideal for EAA, lunar imaging, and planetary work.
This level of cleanliness makes it easy to extract fine detail and maintain a high-quality background.
Jupiter – John Gleason (10” MCT + Mars-C II)
Saturn – John Gleason (10” MCT + Mars-C II)
Jupiter – Dan Llewellyn (C14 + Mars-C II)
Feature Overview
Player One uses a unique naming system inspired by planets. Cameras named after Mars represent sensors in the 1/2.8” size class, matching the characteristics of this powerful IMX662-based model.
2nd-Gen Sensor Tilt Plate
The Mars-C II includes an improved tilt plate that allows fine adjustment of sensor orthogonality — extremely helpful when imaging with fast optics or achieving pinpoint stars across the field.
256MB DDR3 Buffer
The built-in 256MB DDR3 cache stabilises data transfer, prevents frame drops, and reduces readout noise — especially beneficial when using slower laptops, older USB ports, or long imaging sessions.
DPS Technology (Dead Pixel Suppression)
DPS technology automatically identifies and corrects fixed pattern noise and dead pixels in real time. Each exposure is analysed, producing cleaner raw frames and significantly improving stacked results.
Protection Features
The Mars-C II includes built-in overvoltage and overcurrent protection to safeguard both the camera and your other connected equipment.
Ports and Connectivity
Connected via USB 3.0, the camera can reach up to 107 FPS at full resolution in RAW8 mode. The ST4 port supports autoguiding for those who also wish to use the camera for tracking corrections.
Performance Charts
Quantum Efficiency
Mechanical Drawing
Package Contents
Mars-C II (IMX662) – Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is the Mars-C II good for beginners?
Yes. The camera is extremely easy to use, has no amp glow, and delivers fantastic results even with modest telescopes.
Q2: Is the Mars-C II better than the older IMX462-based models?
Absolutely. It features a much larger full well capacity, lower noise, and improved sensitivity thanks to STARVIS 2 technology.
Q3: Can I use this camera for deep sky?
While primarily a planetary and EAA camera, it can capture bright deep-sky objects using short exposures.
Q4: Does it support autoguiding?
Yes. The ST4 port allows the camera to act as a guide camera when needed.
Q5: What software is compatible?
Supported software includes Sharpcap, FireCapture, ASIStudio, and most major astronomy imaging applications.
Q6: What telescopes work best with the Mars-C II?
Maksutovs, Schmidt-Cassegrains, Newtonians, and APO refractors all pair extremely well with this camera.