A radiation readout apparatus includes: a concave mirror defining a central optical axis; a refractive lens assembly spaced from the concave mirror and symmetrical with the optical axis; an optical assembly which is optically coupled to the refractive lens assembly; a color filter for filtering out leaked stimulating radiation; and a dichroic prism optically coupled to the optical assembly for directing a linear stimulating radiation beam of a first wavelength, which is projected into the dichroic prism from the system, to a stimulable phosphor at the stimulable phosphor location, wherein stimulated radiation of a second wavelength emitted by the stimulable phosphor is passed back through the dichroic prism through the optical assembly, through the refractive lens assembly, reflected from the concave mirror, passed back through the refractive lens assembly, through the optical assembly, through the color filter, and to a linear sensor located at the sensor location.