Pixel binning is a technique used in digital imaging, particularly in cameras and sensors, to improve image quality and performance in low-light conditions. It involves combining the data from multiple adjacent pixels into a single pixel. This process can enhance the effective sensitivity of the sensor, reduce noise, and increase the dynamic range of the captured image.
Here’s how it works:
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Combining Pixels : In a typical sensor, each pixel captures light and converts it into an electrical signal. In pixel binning, the signals from several neighboring pixels (e.g., 2x2 in Jolla C2 Main-Camera 64Mpx-Sensor) are summed together to create a single, larger pixel. This effectively increases the size of the pixel, allowing it to gather more light.
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Improved Low-Light Performance : By combining the light from multiple pixels, the sensor can produce a brighter image in low-light conditions. This is particularly useful in smartphone cameras and other compact imaging devices where sensor size is limited.
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Reduced Noise : Binning can help reduce random noise in images, as the averaging effect of combining multiple pixels can smooth out variations in signal that are not related to the actual scene being captured.
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Trade-offs : While pixel binning can enhance low-light performance, it may also reduce the overall resolution of the image. For example, if a 12-megapixel sensor uses 2x2 pixel binning, the resulting image may be effectively 3 megapixels in resolution.
Pixel binning is commonly used in modern smartphone cameras and some digital cameras to balance the need for high resolution with the desire for better performance in challenging lighting conditions.
From Jolla C2 Lenses this means:
64MP Main-Camera-Sensor
In 4:3 you get 4624 x 3472 pixel ≈16,07 MP
In 16:9 you get 4608 x 2592 pixel ≈11,89 MP
16MP Wide-Camera-Sensor
4:3 = 3264 x 2448 pixel ≈8 MP
16:9 = 1920 x 1080 pixel ≈2,07 MP
8MP Macro-Lens-Sensor
4:3 = 1600 x 1200 pixel ≈1,92 MP
16:9 = 1280 x 720 pixel ≈0,92 MP
8?MP Front-Camera-Sensor
4:3 = 2320 x 1748 pixel ≈4,06 MP
16:9 = 1920 x 1080 pixel ≈2,07 MP
I took photos in 4:3 and 16:9 (my preferred format) and obtained these numbers from them.
You can select the Aspect-Ratio in Settings → Apps → Camera for Main-Cameras and Front-Camera.
Even flagship smartphones often have a default photo output of only 12 megapixels (such as Google Pixel smartphones), so this seems to be quite common these days.
The technique of pixel binning has been used in smartphone camera technology for several years. It became popular as manufacturers began integrating high-resolution sensors with 48 MP, 64 MP, and even 108 MP into their devices.
Notable applications of pixel binning in smartphones emerged around 2017, with devices like the Huawei P20 Pro featuring a 40 MP sensor and pixel binning technology.
In the following years, many other manufacturers, including Samsung and Xiaomi, implemented similar technologies in their smartphones to optimize camera performance.