Does pixel binning reduce noise better than software filtering?

[sophiecentaur]

By taking groups of 2X2 pixels, are you doing anything more than low pass filtering the resulting image from a guide camera? It strikes me that a more sophisticated filter in the processing of the full image would / could improve SNR even more than a simple 'top hat' filter. Is the reason it is popular that it can be achieved with simple 'wiring' inside the camera?

 

[jedishrfu]

Here's one astrophotographer blogger's perspective on it:

http://www.starrywonders.com/binning.html

Basically you lose resolution of the image but reduce read noise.

 

[sophiecentaur]

Here's one astrophotographer blogger's perspective on it:

http://www.starrywonders.com/binning.html

Basically you lose resolution of the image but reduce read noise.

Yes. = a cheap and cheerful form of Spatial Low Pass Filtering.