Abstract: A prism optical system for a color television camera having first and second dichroic layers designed to split a light passing through the objective lens into three color light components adapted to enter the corresponding three pickup tubes, wherein the first dichroic layer is positioned nearer to the objective lens than the second dichroic layer to reflect at least a green light component and defines an angle of 30.degree. or less with a plane perpendicularly intersecting the axis of a nonreflecting light; a light reflected by the first dichroic layer is totally reflected by that prism surface of a first prism which faces the objective lens and is emitted outside of a prism system; the second dichroic layer defines an angle of 45.degree. or less with a plane perpendicularly intersecting the axis of a nonreflecting light; and a light reflected by the second dichroic layer is immediately emitted outside of the prism system.