A portable data collection device comprising: (a) an imaging assembly comprising a two-dimensional solid state image sensor array and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array, said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array having a plurality of pixels , said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array being a hybrid image sensor array constructed such that a first subset of pixels of said image sensor array are monochrome pixels and a second subset of pixels of said image sensor array are color sensitive pixels or light polarizing pixels characterized in that the first subset of pixels is operable to be selectively addressed independently of said second subset of pixels by said device to read out a frame of image data, wherein at least the first subset of pixels or the second subset of pixels is configured to be operated in a global shutter mode, wherein all or substantially all of the at least the first subset of pixels or the second subset of pixels in the image sensor array are exposed simultaneously in the image sensor array in response to an exposure control timing pulse; (b) a hand held housing encapsulating and supporting said solid state image sensor; (c) wherein said portable data collection device is configured to be operated in a user-selectable indicia decode mode of operation; and (d) wherein said device is configured, when said indicia decode mode of operation is selected and a trigger signal is received, to control said solid state image sensor array to obtain said frame of image data and automatically transfer said frame of image data to an indicia decode circuit. (a) an imaging assembly comprising a two-dimensional solid state image sensor array and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array, said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array having a plurality of pixels , said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array being a hybrid image sensor array constructed such that a first subset of pixels of said image sensor array are monochrome pixels and a second subset of pixels of said image sensor array are color sensitive pixels or light polarizing pixels characterized in that the first subset of pixels is operable to be selectively addressed independently of said second subset of pixels by said device to read out a frame of image data, wherein at least the first subset of pixels or the second subset of pixels is configured to be operated in a global shutter mode, wherein all or substantially all of the at least the first subset of pixels or the second subset of pixels in the image sensor array are exposed simultaneously in the image sensor array in response to an exposure control timing pulse; (b) a hand held housing encapsulating and supporting said solid state image sensor; (c) wherein said portable data collection device is configured to be operated in a user-selectable indicia decode mode of operation; and (d) wherein said device is configured, when said indicia decode mode of operation is selected and a trigger signal is received, to control said solid state image sensor array to obtain said frame of image data and automatically transfer said frame of image data to an indicia decode circuit. <EOS>