PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope system which makes it possible to observe a subject in almost the same manner as in the case where used as illumination light is continuous spectral light using a plurality of light sources each of which independently emits light of a color different from each other, and also to provide a method of operating the endoscope system.SOLUTION: An endoscope system 10 comprises: a light source unit 20 including V-LED20a, B-LED20b, G-LED20c, and R-LED20d as light sources and emitting first multicolor spectral light 25 having a first multicolor spectrum in which the V light, B light, G light, and R light emitted from their respective light sources are superimposed； an image pickup sensor 48 having B pixels, G pixels, and R pixels； and a light source control unit 22 for controlling each of LEDs 20a-20d to establish a matching between a ratio of the light quantity integral value of each color obtained by receiving the first multicolor spectral light 25 with pixels of each color and a ratio of the light quantity integral value of each color obtained by receiving xenon lamp continuous spectral light 26 with pixels of each color.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2【課題】互いに異なる色の光を独立して発光する複数の光源を用いて連続スペクトル光を照明光に用いた場合とほぼ同様に観察対象を観察可能にする内視鏡システム及び内視鏡システムの作動方法を提供する。【解決手段】内視鏡システム１０は、Ｖ－ＬＥＤ２０ａ、Ｂ－ＬＥＤ２０ｂ、Ｇ－ＬＥＤ２０ｃ、Ｒ－ＬＥＤ２０ｄを有し、これらが発光するＶ光、Ｂ光、Ｇ光、Ｒ光を重ね合わせた第１多色スペクトルを有する第１多色スペクトル光２５を発する光源部２０と、Ｂ画素、Ｇ画素、Ｒ画素を有する撮像センサ４８と、各ＬＥＤ２０ａ～２０ｄを制御し、第１多色スペクトル光２５を各色の画素でそれぞれ受光して得る色毎の光量積分値の比率を、キセノンランプの連続スペクトル光２６を各色の画素でそれぞれ受光して得る色毎の光量積分値の比率に一致させる光源制御部２２と、を備える。【選択図】図２
