diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index e8b1df8..990cb51 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
 
 # Print Python environment info for easier debugging on ReadTheDocs
 
-import sys
 import subprocess
+import sys
 import xee  # verify this works
 
 print('python exec:', sys.executable)
diff --git a/xee/ext.py b/xee/ext.py
index eaab42b..36a5316 100644
--- a/xee/ext.py
+++ b/xee/ext.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 import math
 import os
 import sys
-from typing import Any, Dict, List, Iterable, Literal, Optional, Tuple, Union
+from typing import Any, Dict, Iterable, List, Literal, Optional, Tuple, Union
 from urllib import parse
 import warnings
 
@@ -464,9 +464,30 @@ def image_to_array(
         pixels_getter, params, catch=ee.ee_exception.EEException
     )
 
-    # TODO(#9): Find a way to make this more efficient. This is needed because
-    # `raw` is a structured array of all the same dtype (i.e. number of images).
-    arr = np.array(raw.tolist(), dtype=dtype)
+    # Extract out the shape information from EE response.
+    y_size, x_size = raw.shape
+    n_bands = len(raw.dtype)
+
+    # Get a view (no copy) of the data as the returned type from EE
+    # then reshape to the correct shape based on the request.
+    # This is needed because `raw` is a structured array of all the same dtype
+    # (i.e. number of images) and this converts it to an ndarray.
+    arr = raw.view(raw.dtype[0]).reshape(
+        y_size,
+        x_size,
+        n_bands,
+    )
+
+    # try converting the data to desired dtype in place without copying
+    # if conversion is not allowed then just use the EE returned dtype
+    try:
+      arr = arr.astype(dtype, copy=False)
+    except ValueError:
+      warnings.warn(
+          f'Could convert EE results to requested dtype {dtype} '
+          f'falling back to returned dtype from EE {np.dtype(raw.dtype[0])}'
+      )
+
     data = arr.T
     current_mask_value = np.array(self.mask_value, dtype=data.dtype)
     # Sets EE nodata masked value to NaNs.
diff --git a/xee/ext_test.py b/xee/ext_test.py
index 74b47f4..ae732c8 100644
--- a/xee/ext_test.py
+++ b/xee/ext_test.py
@@ -2,10 +2,8 @@
 
 from absl.testing import absltest
 from absl.testing import parameterized
-
 import numpy as np
 import xee
-
 from xee import ext
 
 
diff --git a/xee/types.py b/xee/types.py
index a86e0f6..34ad79a 100644
--- a/xee/types.py
+++ b/xee/types.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 # ==============================================================================
 """Type definitions for Earth Engine concepts (and others)."""
-from typing import Dict, List, Tuple, Union, TypedDict
+from typing import Dict, List, Tuple, TypedDict, Union
 
 TileIndex = Tuple[int, int, int]
 # x_min, y_min, x_max, y_max