Abstract: Surveillance systems of this invention incorporate a charge coupled device image sensor with an illumination source that is made of an emitter which concentrates its optical output in a narrow band at or about the peak optical response of the photoconverter being used. Where a silicon imaging sensor is being used, the illumination system can comprise an emitter made of a rare earth oxide, such as ytterbium oxide, in the form of a filamentary network and fuel to energize the emitter. Different emitters can be employed to achieve the optimal radiant energy for any type of photoconverter device, including those based on silicon, germanium, indium gallium arsenide, and gallium antimonide. These surveillance systems may be applied in a number of specialized applications, such as, for example, in the covert surveillance of commercial, industrial, residential, or military sites, or any site in which the visible illumination of the surveillance area is undesirable.