Abstract: A filter system and associated method efficiently suppress noise and improve edge definition in a digitized image. The filter system has a statistical noise determination mechanism which initially determines a baseline noise level of the image. The baseline noise level is used by a filter(s) which operates upon the image data at a later time. After the statistical noise determination mechanism, the filter system generally comprises three independent system branches. Each branch has one or more filters. Each filter is configured to receive an image data array and to modify the image data array to derive a respective modified image data array. Further, each branch has a gain control mechanism adapted to modify a respective modified image data array based upon a gain factor. Finally, an assimilation mechanism combines the modified image data arrays from the gain control mechanisms to derive an improved image data array.