Time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) is exploited in emerging scientific applications in life sciences, such as single molecule spectroscopy, DNA sequencing, fluorescent lifetime imaging. Detectors with wide active area (diameter > 100 μm) are desirable for attaining good photon collection efficiency without requiring complex and time-consuming optical alignment and focusing procedures. Fiber pigtailing of the detector, often employed for having a more flexible optical system, is also obtained more simply and with greater coupling efficiency for wide-area detectors. TCSPC, however, demands to detectors also high photon-timing resolution besides low noise and high quantum efficiency. Particularly tight requirements are set for single-molecule fluorescence analysis, where components with lifetimes of tens of picoseconds are often met. Small photon timing jitter and wide area are considered …