A fluorescence imaging system (210, 310, 510), comprising: a bi-telecentric optical imaging system; a sample platform (200, 300) holding a fluorescent material; a light source (201, 301, 400) for illuminating the fluorescent material with excitation light (202, 302) in an absorption band of the fluorescent material; a first filter (207, 307) that passes wavelengths of light other than the excitation light (202, 302), the first filter (207, 307) being positioned in a first light path between the sample platform (200, 300) and an entry aperture stop of the bi-telecentric optical imaging system; a light detector (205, 305) having an array of sensing locations for detecting light from the fluorescent material; and a second filter (206, 306) that passes wavelengths of light in an emission band of the fluorescent material, the second filter (206, 306) being positioned in a second light path between the light detector (205, 305) and an exit aperture stop of the bi-telecentric optical imaging system; wherein the bi-telecentric optical imaging system comprises imaging optics (203a, 203b, 303a, 303b, 503a, 503b) arranged and positioned such that a first telecentric space exists in the first light path between the sample platform (200, 300) and the entry aperture stop wherein principal rays from a plurality of field points on the sample platform are parallel to each other when passing through the first filter (207, 3017); and such that a second telecentric space exists in the second light path between the light detector (205, 305) and the exit aperture stop wherein the principal rays from the plurality of field points are parallel to each other when passing through the second filter (206, 306). a bi-telecentric optical imaging system; a sample platform (200, 300) holding a fluorescent material; a light source (201, 301, 400) for illuminating the fluorescent material with excitation light (202, 302) in an absorption band of the fluorescent material; a first filter (207, 307) that passes wavelengths of light other than the excitation light (202, 302), the first filter (207, 307) being positioned in a first light path between the sample platform (200, 300) and an entry aperture stop of the bi-telecentric optical imaging system; a light detector (205, 305) having an array of sensing locations for detecting light from the fluorescent material; and a second filter (206, 306) that passes wavelengths of light in an emission band of the fluorescent material, the second filter (206, 306) being positioned in a second light path between the light detector (205, 305) and an exit aperture stop of the bi-telecentric optical imaging system; wherein the bi-telecentric optical imaging system comprises imaging optics (203a, 203b, 303a, 303b, 503a, 503b) arranged and positioned such that a first telecentric space exists in the first light path between the sample platform (200, 300) and the entry aperture stop wherein principal rays from a plurality of field points on the sample platform are parallel to each other when passing through the first filter (207, 3017); and such that a second telecentric space exists in the second light path between the light detector (205, 305) and the exit aperture stop wherein the principal rays from the plurality of field points are parallel to each other when passing through the second filter (206, 306).