A frequency domain optical coherence tomography imaging system, the system comprising: a source arm (102, 140, 141) including an optical source (100, 145, 210, 212, 214, 300, 320, 500, 501) emitting across a total bandwidth that partially defines an axial resolution of the system; an optical splitter that receives light from the source arm (102, 140, 141) and directs a first portion of the light from the source arm (102, 140, 141) into a reference arm and a second portion of light from the source arm (102, 140, 141) into a sample arm; an optical coupler that receives light from the reference arm and from the sample arm; and a detector arm comprising at least one optical detector (203, 204, 205, 218, 219, 220, 510, 511), wherein the optical coupler directs a portion of light received from the reference arm and the sample arm to the detector arm, the detector arm receiving light from the optical coupler and directing the light from the optical coupler to the at least one optical detector (203, 204, 205, 218, 219, 220, 510, 511), wherein at least one of the source arm (102, 140, 141), reference arm, sample arm or detector arm comprises a periodic optical filter (108, 130, 131, 132, 137, 142, 160, 165, 171, 177, 310, 311, 530, 531, 532, 533) having a finesse greater than two, and wherein the periodic optical filter is arranged such as to create a plurality of spectrally separated spectral elements within the total bandwidth of the optical source; wherein the at least one optical detector (203, 204, 205, 218, 219, 220, 510, 511) is configured to sample the plurality of spectral elements created within the total bandwidth of the optical source (100, 145, 210, 212, 214, 300, 320, 500, 501); wherein the periodic optical filter (108, 130, 131, 132, 137, 142, 160, 165, 171, 177, 310, 311, 530, 531, 532, 533) and the at least one optical detector (203, 204, 205, 218, 219, 220, 510, 511) are arranged such that the bandwidth of the spectral elements sampled by the at least one optical detector (203, 204, 205, 218, 219, 220, 510, 511) is less than or equal to one-half the spectral spacing between each sampled spectral element and wherein the spectral spacing between each sampled spectral element partially defines an image depth of the system and the bandwidth associated with each sampled spectral element partially defines an image depth of the system. a source arm (102, 140, 141) including an optical source (100, 145, 210, 212, 214, 300, 320, 500, 501) emitting across a total bandwidth that partially defines an axial resolution of the system; an optical splitter that receives light from the source arm (102, 140, 141) and directs a first portion of the light from the source arm (102, 140, 141) into a reference arm and a second portion of light from the source arm (102, 140, 141) into a sample arm; an optical coupler that receives light from the reference arm and from the sample arm; and a detector arm comprising at least one optical detector (203, 204, 205, 218, 219, 220, 510, 511), wherein the optical coupler directs a portion of light received from the reference arm and the sample arm to the detector arm, the detector arm receiving light from the optical coupler and directing the light from the optical coupler to the at least one optical detector (203, 204, 205, 218, 219, 220, 510, 511), wherein at least one of the source arm (102, 140, 141), reference arm, sample arm or detector arm comprises a periodic optical filter (108, 130, 131, 132, 137, 142, 160, 165, 171, 177, 310, 311, 530, 531, 532, 533) having a finesse greater than two, and wherein the periodic optical filter is arranged such as to create a plurality of spectrally separated spectral elements within the total bandwidth of the optical source; wherein the at least one optical detector (203, 204, 205, 218, 219, 220, 510, 511) is configured to sample the plurality of spectral elements created within the total bandwidth of the optical source (100, 145, 210, 212, 214, 300, 320, 500, 501); wherein the periodic optical filter (108, 130, 131, 132, 137, 142, 160, 165, 171, 177, 310, 311, 530, 531, 532, 533) and the at least one optical detector (203, 204, 205, 218, 219, 220, 510, 511) are arranged such that the bandwidth of the spectral elements sampled by the at least one optical detector (203, 204, 205, 218, 219, 220, 510, 511) is less than or equal to one-half the spectral spacing between each sampled spectral element and wherein the spectral spacing between each sampled spectral element partially defines an image depth of the system and the bandwidth associated with each sampled spectral element partially defines an image depth of the system.