Abstract: A color television camera has a camera tube for receiving incident light from an image pickup object. It produces output signals representing an image of the object. The signal level varies in accordance with the incident light quantity assuming a constant target voltage. The system disposes of excessive incident light quantity. A control circuit lowers the voltage impressed on the target of the camera tube and controls the output signal level of the camera tube at a constant value, when the incident light quantity to the camera tube becomes excessive and exceeds a first predetermined light quantity. An indicator indicates when the incident light quantity to the camera tube becomes excessive, exceeding a second predetermined light quantity which is greater than the first predetermined light quantity. The resulting pickup picture deteriorates when the light exceeds a practical allowable limit despite the operation of the control circuit.