Binning

[Farzad_k]

Hello,

I am new to monochrome photography and have been just using 1x1 binning for all four channels. I know that apparently we could do 1x1 L frames and then half as much 2x2 RGB frames, or something like that. But what I am curious about is if calibration frames should be also taken to match the same binning. This could mean a lot of work. Where can I find guidance on that?

Thanks.

[pfile]

yes if you bin 2x2 you should get calibration frames at the same binning.

but the only reason to do this is if the read noise of your sensor is actually lower at bin 2x2 than at bin 1x1. if not, there's no real reason to do it. you can always bin in software if you are interested in binning.

rob

[mschuster]

Software binning results in 2x read noise, i.e. quadrature sum of 4 pixels.

My KAF-8300 2x2 read noise is 1.5x that of 1x1, i.e. less than 2x, so IMO hardware binning worth doing when goal is SNR not resolution.

[Farzad_k]

Software binning results in 2x read noise, i.e. quadrature sum of 4 pixels.

My KAF-8300 2x2 read noise is 1.5x that of 1x1, i.e. less than 2x, so IMO hardware binning worth doing when goal is SNR not resolution.

Thanks for the reply. The read noise for my ASI 1600 is given as 1.2e @ 30 db Gain. And I thought the higher the binning the higher the noise is.