Camera technology ; so what do you know about 'pixel binning'

smiley — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 18:01:04 GMT

I guess this is one of those 'nerdy posts' that I like to post in an educational and informative way. Whilst some understand how the smartphone cameras work, not everyone has a good understanding of what goes on in the background.

I guess the main question is 'do i need to know this information'... and the answer is subjective. Personally i believe if you understand the way things work, it can help you to make some better decisions over the settings you use when taking camera pictures.

So the question is... 'What is pixel binning and how does it work'. I will let the article below explain the details, but give a very quick summary in my own simplistic words.

https://amateurphotographer.com/technique/what-is-pixel-binning-smartphone-sensor-technology-explained/

Pixel binning is the method of using groups of pixels in an image to improve the conditions, amount of light, and during less than ideal conditions.

The smartphone sensor will have millions of pixels. As an example with the S25 ultra and fold 7 the main camera is a 200mp sensor. The 200,000,000 pixels used in their full resolution will be able to provide a very good quality picturewhen used in perfect light and optimal conditions.

However there are situations when the light is slightly worse, overcast, and less optimal conditions, where it is a better option to optimise the pixel configuration.

When pixel binning occurs, then a group of pixels are put together to make a larger pixel. The benefit of this is that more light and data can be captured in that larger combined 'pixel bin'. This results in a better image when conditions are worsened by light.

With the 200mp sensor example that i have used, then these pixels can be combined into a group of 4 pixels, and additionally for even more light into a pixel bin of 16 adjacent pixels.

This actually might start meaning some sense when you consider the settings in your phone that are allowed for the image sizes.

200mp setting. This is the standard 1 to 1 pixel and used for optimal conditions.

50mp setting. This is a pixel binned 2x2 pixels (4) and calculated as 200/4 = 50mp. Effectively the megapixel count of the resulting image is divided by four.

12mp setting. This is a pixel binned 4x4 pixels (16) and calculated as 200/16 = 12.5mp. In a similar way, the final image size is divided by the size of the pixel bin.

Here are some tips of when to use pixel bin settings... and these do not apply to an raw capture mode images that you take.

In the standard photo mode then a lot of this will be managed for you, but if you are considering using expert and pro modes of the camera system, then these tips may help you to make some more intelligent decisions and based around the light.

As a top tip, if you enable both Raw and processed images of your pictures then you can compare and contrast the results of a processed image by the camera, and one that you can adjust the light and image using software such as Adobe lightroom.

Perhaps this simple explanation and the article above, might help with understanding.

Smiley

Re: Camera technology ; so what do you know about 'pixel binning'

Star_girl — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 19:38:57 GMT

This makes alot of sense. thank you for the info.😊💯📸

Re: Camera technology ; so what do you know about 'pixel binning'

JAMES4578 — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:43:18 GMT

Yes know a bit about it, your explaination quite clear and good to see the detail

Re: Camera technology ; so what do you know about 'pixel binning'

Chappell101 — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:19:28 GMT

Yeah I have a pretty good grasp of pixel binning. Nice post to help others in understanding why night shots default to 12MP to help speed up the exposure.

It's incredibly common now but it is something I look for with sensors. 200MP meant I can shoot at 50MP/24MP at night as a best of both worlds option binned keeping some extra details.

topic Re: Camera technology ; so what do you know about 'pixel binning' in Samsung Lounge

Camera technology ; so what do you know about 'pixel binning'

Re: Camera technology ; so what do you know about 'pixel binning'

Re: Camera technology ; so what do you know about 'pixel binning'

Re: Camera technology ; so what do you know about 'pixel binning'