The present invention provides digital imaging architectures comprising detectors coupled to readout circuitry. The readout circuitry functions in particular modes, the use of which can depend on characteristics of the input signals transferred to the readout circuitry from the detectors, or can depend on the characteristics of the output signal required from the readout circuitry. When the input signal has a particular magnitude the readout circuitry can function in a first mode in which the input signal can be amplified to a measurable level, and when the input signal has another magnitude, the readout circuitry can function in an alternate mode in which the input signal can be read out with a different or no amplification. Thus, the present invention can provide a large dynamic range of detection that can amplify sensitive input signals from a detector as well as read larger signals with little or no amplification.