The ultrafast streak camera is presently the only comprehensive temporal diagnostic tool available for laser‐fusion studies. An internally emplaced CCD readout system has been designed to minimize the data reducing complexity, cost, and time delay associated with the present phosphor/intensifier/film readout technique. Experimental results using the front‐illuminated Fairchild 202 CCD and the back‐illuminated RCA SID 52501 CCD for direct imaging of the streak‐camera photoelectrons are presented. The important sensor requirements which optimize the performance of the CCD in the streak‐camera application have been defined.