Pixel Binning
Pixel binning combines the signals of neighbouring pixels on a camera sensor into one larger pixel to collect more light.
On this page 4 sections
What it is
A camera sensor is a grid of tiny pixels, each measuring light. Pixel binning joins a small group of neighbouring pixels, usually four or nine, and treats them as one bigger pixel.
How it works
Larger pixels collect more light, so the picture has less noise in dim scenes. Joining pixels also averages out the random noise of each tiny pixel, which is why binned night photos look cleaner. The trade-off is resolution. A 48-megapixel sensor with four pixels joined gives 12-megapixel photos. Many sensors can also skip binning and use every pixel for a full-resolution shot, which suits bright light better. Some sensors join even larger groups, such as sixteen pixels into one, with the same trade-off.
What the numbers mean
- 4-in-1 means four pixels become one.
- 9-in-1 means nine pixels become one.
- The combined pixel size is quoted in microns. A bigger figure means more light per pixel.
What it does not promise
Pixel binning does not turn a small sensor into a large one. Sensor size, lens and software processing still decide image quality. A high megapixel figure is also not the resolution of most photos, because binned photos have fewer pixels than the sensor.