A semiconductor based X-Y addressable imager, such as a MOS imager, having an imaging array comprising a plurality of pixels: at least one pixel within the X-Y addressable imager having a photodetector and a first color filter provided over the photodetector, the first color filter having a first bandpass configured to sense a first bandwidth of light, a floating diffusion and a second color filter provided over the floating diffusion, the second color filter having a second bandpass different from the first bandpass and configured to sense a second bandwidth of light, a reset mechanism operatively configured to the photodetector and the floating diffusion to allow resetting each of the photodetector and the floating diffusion to a predetermined potential, the floating diffusion being formed such that it does not have a light shield allowing the floating diffusion to act as a second photodetector and a transfer mechanism within the pixel configured to transfer charge from the photodetector to the floating diffusion, further comprising: a first capacitor coupled to store charge accumulated on the photodetector in response to the first bandwidth of light; a second capacitor coupled to store the reset potential level of the floating diffusion; a third capacitor coupled to store charge accumulated on the floating diffusion in response to the second bandwidth of light; a first differential amplifier coupled to the first and second capacitors and to output a first signal level of the first color filter using the charge stored on the second capacitor as a reference; and a second differential amplifier coupled to the second and third capacitors and to output a second signal level of the second color filter using the charge stored on the second capacitor as a reference; wherein the imager is configured so that an output signal from the pixel is determined by combining the first signal level and the second signal level, wherein the final output signal represents either a color difference or color addition value of the pixel. at least one pixel within the X-Y addressable imager having a photodetector and a first color filter provided over the photodetector, the first color filter having a first bandpass configured to sense a first bandwidth of light, a floating diffusion and a second color filter provided over the floating diffusion, the second color filter having a second bandpass different from the first bandpass and configured to sense a second bandwidth of light, a reset mechanism operatively configured to the photodetector and the floating diffusion to allow resetting each of the photodetector and the floating diffusion to a predetermined potential, the floating diffusion being formed such that it does not have a light shield allowing the floating diffusion to act as a second photodetector and a transfer mechanism within the pixel configured to transfer charge from the photodetector to the floating diffusion, further comprising: a first capacitor coupled to store charge accumulated on the photodetector in response to the first bandwidth of light; a second capacitor coupled to store the reset potential level of the floating diffusion; a third capacitor coupled to store charge accumulated on the floating diffusion in response to the second bandwidth of light; a first differential amplifier coupled to the first and second capacitors and to output a first signal level of the first color filter using the charge stored on the second capacitor as a reference; and a second differential amplifier coupled to the second and third capacitors and to output a second signal level of the second color filter using the charge stored on the second capacitor as a reference; wherein the imager is configured so that an output signal from the pixel is determined by combining the first signal level and the second signal level, wherein the final output signal represents either a color difference or color addition value of the pixel. a first capacitor coupled to store charge accumulated on the photodetector in response to the first bandwidth of light; a second capacitor coupled to store the reset potential level of the floating diffusion; a third capacitor coupled to store charge accumulated on the floating diffusion in response to the second bandwidth of light; a first differential amplifier coupled to the first and second capacitors and to output a first signal level of the first color filter using the charge stored on the second capacitor as a reference; and a second differential amplifier coupled to the second and third capacitors and to output a second signal level of the second color filter using the charge stored on the second capacitor as a reference; wherein the imager is configured so that an output signal from the pixel is determined by combining the first signal level and the second signal level, wherein the final output signal represents either a color difference or color addition value of the pixel.