Last Updated 1 day ago
Filmmaking Dictionary: Number 1 / 1:1 Pixel Readout
Definition
1:1 pixel readout usually describes a camera mode that reads individual sensor photosites without combining them through pixel binning or discarding rows through line skipping. A selected sensor region may supply the samples used for the recording rather than a larger region being reduced to the output size.
Manufacturers use readout terminology differently. Confirm the active sensor area, recorded raster and processing for the exact mode instead of assuming that ‘1:1’ means the whole sensor or an entirely unprocessed image.
Why the Image May Become Cropped
A sensor can contain more photosites than a selected video format needs. A camera may produce that format by reading a smaller central region. With the same lens and camera position, the smaller active area gives a narrower field of view.
For an illustrative sensor 6,000 photosites wide, a central 3,000-photosite-wide region covers half the original width. Its horizontal crop factor relative to that full width is 2×. That example describes geometry, not the behaviour of every camera offering a 1:1 mode.
Advertisement
Readout Methods Compared
- Individual-pixel readout: Retains separate samples from the selected photosites.
- Binning: Combines groups of photosites or their signals.
- Line skipping: Omits selected rows or columns.
- Oversampling: Uses a higher-resolution source to create a lower-resolution output through processing.
These methods can affect detail, aliasing, noise and processing demands. Their names alone do not establish which camera mode looks best. The sensor, optical filtering, reconstruction and scaling all contribute to the recorded result.
A Sensor Sample Is Not Always a Full-Colour Pixel
On a Bayer-pattern sensor, an individual photosite measures light through one colour filter. Producing a normal full-colour image requires reconstructing missing colour information from neighbouring samples. A 1:1 readout therefore does not eliminate debayering or guarantee one independently measured red, green and blue value at every image position.
Checks Before Changing Modes
- Check framing and lens coverage with the intended recording settings.
- Confirm whether resolution, maximum frame rate or image area changes.
- Inspect fine patterns for moiré and aliasing.
- Confirm the recorded format and monitoring output with post-production.
Advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 1:1 readout the same as viewing an image at 100%?
No. A 100% viewer setting maps image pixels to display pixels. Sensor readout describes how the camera obtains image data.
Does a cropped readout make the lens longer?
No. The lens’s focal length stays the same; the smaller recorded area changes the field of view.
Related Terms
Browse all terms starting with 1 or return to the filmmaking dictionary.