The design and operation of a pure electron plasma imaging system is described. The system yields images with high resolution and a large dynamic range. A two‐dimensional image of the plasma is acquired by streaming the plasma directly onto a microchannel plate and phosphor screen. Resolution of the rapidly evolving plasma requires that all the plasma strike the microchannel plate in a single charge pulse lasting less than 1 &mgr;s. The expected performance and actual operational characteristics of the system are detailed, with special attention given to the properties of a microchannel plate used in a pulsed imaging mode.