An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising: a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of three distinct colors; b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including eight pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group, wherein the minimal repeating unit of the image sensor is: P P A B P P B C wherein P represents pixels of the second group, A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group, B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group; and c) means for combining similarly positioned pixels from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units, wherein the adjacent minimal repeating units are linearly arranged, wherein two minimal repeating units are considered adjacent only if they share a boundary of positive length, wherein similarly positioned pixels are defined as having the same relative position within each minimal repeating unit, wherein the similarly positioned pixels are pixels of like color, wherein like color is defined as having a similar spectral photoresponse, wherein pixels are combined by binning charge from the pixels, by averaging voltages produced by the pixels, or by first converting pixel values to digital representations and then summing or averaging the digital representations, or combinations thereof. a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of three distinct colors; b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including eight pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group, wherein the minimal repeating unit of the image sensor is: P P A B P P B C wherein P represents pixels of the second group, A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group, B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group; and wherein P represents pixels of the second group, A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group, B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group; and c) means for combining similarly positioned pixels from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units, wherein the adjacent minimal repeating units are linearly arranged, wherein two minimal repeating units are considered adjacent only if they share a boundary of positive length, wherein similarly positioned pixels are defined as having the same relative position within each minimal repeating unit, wherein the similarly positioned pixels are pixels of like color, wherein like color is defined as having a similar spectral photoresponse, wherein pixels are combined by binning charge from the pixels, by averaging voltages produced by the pixels, or by first converting pixel values to digital representations and then summing or averaging the digital representations, or combinations thereof.