© 2016 Thorlabs Scientific Imaging
2 Camera Basics
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2.4.3 Binning
Binning is a function that averages or adds multiple sensor pixels to obtain a single value. This
reduces the amount of data to be transferred and enables higher camera frame rates. The
captured image has a lower resolution but still the same field of view compared to the full-resolution
image. This mode can be used as a fast preview mode for high-resolution cameras.
Color binning, as performed by most color sensors, combines only pixels of the same color (see
also the Color filter (Bayer filter) chapter). For some monochrome sensors, the camera also
performs color binning, resulting in slight artifacts.
Most monochrome sensors and some color sensors combine neighboring Bayer pattern pixels; in
this case, the color information gets lost (mono binning).
With CCD sensors, binning makes the images brighter because the pixel values are added up.
With CMOS sensors, pixel values are usually averaged; this reduces image noise.
Depending on the model, DCx Cameras support different binning factors. Binning of horizontal and
vertical pixels can be enabled independently.
The Camera and sensor data chapter lists the binning methods and factors the individual camera
models support.
Binning on monochrome sensors
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