The present description relates to a readout circuit for digitizing an analog input signal of an imaging device into a digital output. The readout circuit comprises a pixel signal input for providing an analog signal from at least one imaging pixel element, a variable gain amplifier for providing an amplified signal of the analog signal by a gain factor, and a first analog to digital conversion means for quantizing the analog signal into a first digital signal. The circuit further comprises a control means for setting the gain factor of the variable gain amplifier by taking into account the first digital signal, and a second analog to digital conversion means for quantizing the amplified signal into a second digital signal. The circuit also comprises a digital output for outputting a signal determined as function of at least the second digital signal.