diff --git a/MMCore/MMCore.cpp b/MMCore/MMCore.cpp
index 0ac29080a..318c85ffe 100644
--- a/MMCore/MMCore.cpp
+++ b/MMCore/MMCore.cpp
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ namespace mmi = mmcore::internal;
  * (Keep the 3 numbers on one line to make it easier to look at diffs when
  * merging/rebasing.)
  */
-const int MMCore_versionMajor = 11, MMCore_versionMinor = 11, MMCore_versionPatch = 0;
+const int MMCore_versionMajor = 11, MMCore_versionMinor = 12, MMCore_versionPatch = 0;
 
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -4407,6 +4407,210 @@ double CMMCore::getExposure(const char* label) MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError)
      return 0.0;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Returns the current binning setting of the camera.
+ * Binning values in "NxN" format (e.g., "2x2") are parsed to return the integer factor (e.g., 2).
+ * @return the binning factor (1-100)
+ */
+int CMMCore::getBinning() MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError)
+{
+   std::shared_ptr<mmi::CameraInstance> camera = currentCameraDevice_.lock();
+   if (!camera)
+   {
+      throw CMMError(getCoreErrorText(MMERR_CameraNotAvailable).c_str(), MMERR_CameraNotAvailable);
+   }
+   else
+   {
+      std::string cameraName;
+      {
+         mmi::DeviceModuleLockGuard guard(camera);
+         cameraName = camera->GetLabel();
+      }
+      return getBinning(cameraName.c_str());
+   }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns the current binning setting of the specified camera.
+ * Binning values in "NxN" format (e.g., "2x2") are parsed to return the integer factor (e.g., 2).
+ * @param label  the camera device label
+ * @return the binning factor (1-100)
+ */
+int CMMCore::getBinning(const char* label) MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError)
+{
+   std::shared_ptr<mmi::CameraInstance> pCamera =
+      deviceManager_->GetDeviceOfType<mmi::CameraInstance>(label);
+
+   mmi::DeviceModuleLockGuard guard(pCamera);
+
+   if (!pCamera->HasProperty(MM::g_Keyword_Binning))
+   {
+      throw CMMError("Camera does not support binning property");
+   }
+
+   std::string binningValue = pCamera->GetProperty(MM::g_Keyword_Binning);
+
+   if (binningValue.empty())
+   {
+      throw CMMError("Binning property returned empty value");
+   }
+
+   // Parse the binning value - handle both integer ("2") and NxN ("2x2") formats
+   int binning;
+   size_t xPos = binningValue.find('x');
+   if (xPos != std::string::npos)
+   {
+      // NxN format - parse both parts and verify they match
+      int binX = atoi(binningValue.c_str());
+      int binY = atoi(binningValue.c_str() + xPos + 1);
+      if (binX != binY)
+      {
+         throw CMMError("Asymmetric binning not supported: " + binningValue);
+      }
+      binning = binX;
+   }
+   else
+   {
+      // Integer format
+      binning = atoi(binningValue.c_str());
+   }
+
+   if (binning < 1 || binning > 100)
+   {
+      throw CMMError("Binning value out of valid range (1-100): " + binningValue);
+   }
+
+   return binning;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Sets the binning setting of the camera.
+ * Automatically handles both integer ("2") and "NxN" ("2x2") property formats.
+ * @param binning the binning factor (1-100)
+ */
+void CMMCore::setBinning(int binning) MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError)
+{
+   if (binning < 1 || binning > 100)
+   {
+      throw CMMError("Binning must be between 1 and 100");
+   }
+
+   std::shared_ptr<mmi::CameraInstance> camera = currentCameraDevice_.lock();
+   if (!camera)
+   {
+      throw CMMError(getCoreErrorText(MMERR_CameraNotAvailable).c_str(), MMERR_CameraNotAvailable);
+   }
+   else
+   {
+      std::string cameraName;
+      {
+         mmi::DeviceModuleLockGuard guard(camera);
+         cameraName = camera->GetLabel();
+      }
+      setBinning(cameraName.c_str(), binning);
+   }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Sets the binning setting of the specified camera.
+ * Automatically handles both integer ("2") and "NxN" ("2x2") property formats.
+ * @param label  the camera device label
+ * @param binning the binning factor (1-100)
+ */
+void CMMCore::setBinning(const char* label, int binning) MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError)
+{
+   if (binning < 1 || binning > 100)
+   {
+      throw CMMError("Binning must be between 1 and 100");
+   }
+
+   std::shared_ptr<mmi::CameraInstance> pCamera =
+      deviceManager_->GetDeviceOfType<mmi::CameraInstance>(label);
+
+   {
+      mmi::DeviceModuleLockGuard guard(pCamera);
+      LOG_DEBUG(coreLogger_) << "Will set camera " << label <<
+         " binning to " << binning;
+
+      if (!pCamera->HasProperty(MM::g_Keyword_Binning))
+      {
+         throw CMMError("Camera does not support binning property");
+      }
+
+      // Try to determine the format by checking the current property value
+      std::string currentValue;
+      bool useNxNFormat = false;
+
+      try
+      {
+         currentValue = pCamera->GetProperty(MM::g_Keyword_Binning);
+         // If current value contains 'x' and looks like NxN format, use that
+         size_t xPos = currentValue.find('x');
+         if (!currentValue.empty() && xPos != std::string::npos)
+         {
+            // Validate that the current value has symmetric binning
+            int binX = atoi(currentValue.c_str());
+            int binY = atoi(currentValue.c_str() + xPos + 1);
+            if (binX != binY)
+            {
+               throw CMMError("Asymmetric binning not supported: " + currentValue);
+            }
+            useNxNFormat = true;
+         }
+      }
+      catch (...)
+      {
+         // If we can't get current value, we'll try integer format first
+      }
+
+      // Build the property value string
+      std::string binningValue;
+      if (useNxNFormat)
+      {
+         // NxN format: "2x2", "4x4", etc.
+         std::string binStr = CDeviceUtils::ConvertToString(binning);
+         binningValue = binStr + "x" + binStr;
+      }
+      else
+      {
+         // Integer format: "2", "4", etc.
+         binningValue = CDeviceUtils::ConvertToString(binning);
+      }
+
+      // Try to set the property with detected format
+      try
+      {
+         pCamera->SetProperty(MM::g_Keyword_Binning, binningValue);
+      }
+      catch (const CMMError&)
+      {
+         // If it failed and we haven't tried the other format yet, try it
+         if (useNxNFormat)
+         {
+            // Tried NxN, now try integer
+            binningValue = CDeviceUtils::ConvertToString(binning);
+         }
+         else
+         {
+            // Tried integer, now try NxN
+            std::string binStr = CDeviceUtils::ConvertToString(binning);
+            binningValue = binStr + "x" + binStr;
+         }
+
+         // Try with alternate format (this will throw if it still fails)
+         pCamera->SetProperty(MM::g_Keyword_Binning, binningValue);
+      }
+
+      {
+         MMThreadGuard scg(stateCacheLock_);
+         stateCache_.addSetting(PropertySetting(label, MM::g_Keyword_Binning, binningValue.c_str()));
+      }
+   }
+
+   LOG_DEBUG(coreLogger_) << "Did set camera " << label <<
+      " binning to " << binning;
+}
+
 /**
  * Set the hardware region of interest for the current camera.
  *
diff --git a/MMCore/MMCore.h b/MMCore/MMCore.h
index b8d68e056..c1b529f27 100644
--- a/MMCore/MMCore.h
+++ b/MMCore/MMCore.h
@@ -394,6 +394,11 @@ class CMMCore
    double getExposure() MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError);
    double getExposure(const char* label) MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError);
 
+   int getBinning() MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError);
+   int getBinning(const char* label) MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError);
+   void setBinning(int binning) MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError);
+   void setBinning(const char* label, int binning) MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError);
+
    void snapImage() MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError);
    void* getImage() MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError);
    void* getImage(unsigned numChannel) MMCORE_LEGACY_THROW(CMMError);