Why Two Ways to Get Bin 2 with Hardware Binning

donboy

Why with some of my ZWO color cameras inorder to get a simulated hardware binning I need to use Raw 8 and no option to select this function it does it automatically? And with other models I can be in Raw16, select bin 2 and select to run as Hardware Binning or Software Binning? The later is the preferred method. Yes give me the option to choose.

Don

chad

Hi Don,

Here's why:

We provide a software bin as a default mode。However, there is a problem。 The frame rate after bin depends entirely on the collection speed of the original image.

But, Less data, shouldn't it be faster? So some sensors provide the hardware Bin model. In this mode, it's going to be faster. So excellent function, Why not open it to the user? However, not all sensors support it.

Beside, Software Bin also has advantages. It can complete some Bin mode that sensor may not support. For example, a sensor only support hardware Bin2, but you want use Bin 3.

Thanks

Chad

donboy

I'm a little confused. I have a ASI294 Pro and have to use Raw 8 to get hardware bin 2. So are you are saying this camera doesn't support hardware bin 2 in Raw 16 because it can't support the data rate?

chad

Hi Don,

Are you sure?

For 294, we do not support the hardware bin mode , neither Raw8 nor Raw16.Please make sure.

I thought you wanted to ask why some cameras had HardwareBin and others did not.

Thanks

Chad

donboy

With the 294 if I select Raw 8 and bin2 my signal increases by 4 and the noise increases by I think 2. If I were in Raw 16 and bin2 I would see no change in signal but the noise does decrease I think by 2.

The 294 manual states the following.

6.7 Binning

The ASI294 camera supports hardware and software bin2, bin3 and bin4 mode. Hardware

binning is supported by sensor but is done in digital domain like software binning and use 10bit

ADC. The only advantage of hardware binning is faster fps. We recommend customer to use

software binning if you don’t care speed.

Sam@ZWO

donboy wrote:
With the 294 if I select Raw 8 and bin2 my signal increases by 4 and the noise increases by I think 2. If I were in Raw 16 and bin2 I would see no change in signal but the noise does decrease I think by 2..

Hi Don

the SNR is the same with the 2 different binning method

you can have a look at there

https://forums.sharpcap.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=262

you can increase the gain under RAW16 if you wish to see the signal increase by eye

chad

Hi Don,

donboy wrote:

The 294 manual states the following.

6.7 Binning

The ASI294 camera supports hardware and software bin2, bin3 and bin4 mode. Hardware

binning is supported by sensor but is done in digital domain like software binning and use 10bit

ADC. The only advantage of hardware binning is faster fps. We recommend customer to use

software binning if you don’t care speed.

Sorry for the confusion.

They made a mistake. And we will modify our manul.

Thanks

Chad