{"product_id":"mars-c-usb3-0-color-camera-imx462","title":"Mars-C USB3.0 Color Camera (IMX462)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Player One Mars-C is a compact USB3.0 colour camera built around the Sony IMX462 back-illuminated CMOS sensor, a 1\/2.8\" chip prized for its high near-infrared sensitivity. It is designed for high-frame-rate imaging of the Moon, planets and the Sun (with appropriate filtration), where capturing thousands of frames quickly is what freezes the atmosphere and yields a sharp final stack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt its heart is a 2.1-megapixel sensor (1944×1096) with 2.9µm pixels across a 6.5 mm diagonal. The IMX462's standout trait is its response deep into the near-IR, which makes it a strong performer for IR-pass planetary work and methane-band imaging where other sensors fall away. With a 12k e⁻ full-well, read noise that drops to about 0.7 e⁻, a 12-bit ADC and a peak QE near 90%, it captures clean, high-cadence video that stacks into detailed lunar and planetary images.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a good match if you image the Moon, planets or the Sun and want a sensitive, fast, affordable colour camera. It also suits all-sky and meteor monitoring thanks to the sensor's low-light performance, and it doubles as an autoguider through its ST4 port.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSony IMX462 colour sensor:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1\/2.8\" back-illuminated CMOS with strong near-IR response for planetary and IR imaging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh frame rates:\u003c\/strong\u003e up to 136 FPS in Raw8 and 62.5 FPS in Raw16 at the full 1944×1096 resolution over USB3.0, so you can collect long capture runs quickly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow read noise:\u003c\/strong\u003e falls to roughly 0.7 e⁻ at higher gain, preserving faint detail in short sub-frames.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e256MB DDR3 buffer:\u003c\/strong\u003e smooths data transfer to prevent dropped frames during high-speed capture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eST4 autoguide port:\u003c\/strong\u003e lets the camera pull double duty as a guide camera.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProtective window:\u003c\/strong\u003e D21×1.1 mm with AR Plus multi-layer anti-reflection coating.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical \/ Mechanical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mars-C uses a rolling-shutter colour CMOS with an RGGB Bayer matrix and 2.9µm pixels, a pitch well suited to the long focal lengths used for planetary work. The sensor sits at a 12.5 mm back focal distance from the camera's face, and the body threads accept both 1.25\" and M42×0.75 (T-thread) adapters, so it drops into a standard planetary imaging train or Barlow with no special hardware. The 66 mm diameter body keeps it light on a focuser. Exposures range from 32µs to 2000 s. The published weight is 180 g.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh-resolution lunar and planetary imaging behind a Barlow or long-focal-length scope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNear-IR and methane-band planetary imaging where the IMX462 excels.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolar imaging with a suitable solar filter or dedicated solar scope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll-sky and meteor monitoring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAutoguiding through the ST4 port.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility \u0026amp; Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe camera connects through 1.25\" nosepiece or M42×0.75 threads and works with any telescope that provides those interfaces. For planetary work you will typically add a Barlow or telecentric amplifier to reach a focal ratio around f\/15–f\/25. The 12.5 mm back focus is generous for a nosepiece connection. It pairs with common capture software over USB3.0, and the ST4 port accepts a standard autoguide cable to your mount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt for speed, not long exposures:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is an uncooled, small-sensor high-frame-rate camera. It is at its best on the Moon, planets and Sun rather than faint deep-sky targets that need cooled long exposures.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSB3.0 for full frame rates:\u003c\/strong\u003e a USB3.0 port and cable are what deliver the headline capture speeds; USB2.0 works but caps throughput.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA Barlow helps on planets:\u003c\/strong\u003e reaching a suitable image scale on the planets usually means adding a Barlow or telecentric to your existing scope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. It threads onto a 1.25\" or M42 connection, installs its driver, and appears in your capture software. Most of the setup time is on framing and focus, not the camera itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is it best used for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigh-frame-rate imaging of the Moon, planets and Sun, plus all-sky monitoring and autoguiding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for deep-sky astrophotography?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not the right tool for long-exposure deep-sky imaging. The small uncooled sensor is optimized for bright, fast solar-system targets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it autoguide?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The ST4 port lets it act as a guide camera with a suitable guide scope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat makes the IMX462 special?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts high near-infrared sensitivity, which opens up IR-pass and methane-band planetary imaging alongside standard colour capture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: a sensitive, fast, near-IR-capable 1\/2.8\" colour planetary camera that captures the Moon, planets and Sun at high frame rates and doubles as an autoguider, connecting through standard 1.25\" and M42 threads.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Player One Astronomy","offers":[{"title":"Yes \/ Yes \/ Yes","offer_id":44013641171055,"sku":"MARS-C","price":398.97,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Yes \/ Yes \/ No","offer_id":44013641203823,"sku":"MARS-C","price":358.98,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Yes \/ No \/ Yes","offer_id":44013641236591,"sku":"MARS-C","price":358.98,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Yes \/ No \/ No","offer_id":44013641269359,"sku":"MARS-C","price":318.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"No \/ Yes \/ Yes","offer_id":44013641302127,"sku":"MARS-C","price":363.98,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"No \/ Yes \/ No","offer_id":44013641334895,"sku":"MARS-C","price":323.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"No \/ No \/ Yes","offer_id":44013641367663,"sku":"MARS-C","price":323.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"No \/ No \/ No","offer_id":44013641400431,"sku":"MARS-C","price":284.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/Mars-C-IMX462-planetary-camera__29836.jpg?v=1766558331","url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/products\/mars-c-usb3-0-color-camera-imx462","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}