A zoom optical system comprises, in order from an object: a first lens group (G1) having positive refractive power; a second lens group (G2) having negative refractive power; and a subsequent group (GR) including at least one lens group. Upon zooming, distances between the first lens group (G1) and the second lens group (G2) and between the second lens group (G2) and the subsequent group (GR) change. The subsequent group (GR) comprises a focusing group (Gfc) having negative refractive power for focusing. The first lens group (G1) comprises a 1-1st lens that has positive refractive power and is disposed closest to the object. A following conditional expression is satisfied:

0.20<f1/fR<0.85 where, f1 denotes a focal length of the first lens group, and fR denotes a focal length of a lens component, in the subsequent group, closest to an image surface.

A variable magnification optical system comprising, in order from an object side, a first lens group having negative refractive power, a first intermediate lens group having positive refractive power, a second intermediate lens group having negative refractive power and a rear lens group; upon varying a magnification from a wide angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and the first intermediate lens group being varied, a distance between the first intermediate lens group and the second intermediate lens group being varied, and a distance between the second intermediate lens group and the rear lens group being varied; the rear lens group comprising at least one focusing lens group which is moved upon carrying out focusing from an infinitely distant object to a closely distant object; and predetermined conditional expressions being satisfied, thereby the focusing lens group(s) being reduced in weight.

A variable magnification optical system comprising, in order from an object side, a first lens group having negative refractive power, a first intermediate lens group having positive refractive power, a second intermediate lens group having negative refractive power and a rear lens group; upon varying a magnification from a wide angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and the first intermediate lens group being varied, a distance between the first intermediate lens group and the second intermediate lens group being varied, and a distance between the second intermediate lens group and the rear lens group being varied; the rear lens group comprising at least one focusing lens group which is moved upon carrying out focusing from an infinitely distant object to a closely distant object; and predetermined conditional expressions being satisfied, thereby the focusing lens group(s) being reduced in weight.

An optical system (LS) includes lenses (L22,L23) satisfying the following conditional expressions,

ndLZ+(0.01425dLZ)<2.12, and

dLZ<35.0,

where ndLZ: a refractive index of the lens with reference to d-line, and dLZ: Abbe number of the lens with reference to d-line.

An optical system (LS) includes lenses (L22,L23) satisfying the following conditional expressions,

ndLZ+(0.01425dLZ)<2.12, and

dLZ<35.0,

where ndLZ: a refractive index of the lens with reference to d-line, and dLZ: Abbe number of the lens with reference to d-line.

The zoom lens according to the present invention consists of, in order from an object side to an image side, a positive first lens unit, a negative second lens unit, and a positive rear unit including at least four lens units. The second lens unit moves toward the object side during zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, and an interval between each pair of adjacent lens units is changed during zooming. The rear unit includes a positive lens unit LP, which is arranged closest to the image side. Focal lengths of the zoom lens at the wide angle end and at the telephoto end, focal lengths of the first lens unit and the second lens unit, and a distance from the lens surface of the lens unit LP on the image side to an image plane at the telephoto end are each set appropriately.

The zoom lens according to the present invention consists of, in order from an object side to an image side, a positive first lens unit, a negative second lens unit, and a positive rear unit including at least four lens units. The second lens unit moves toward the object side during zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, and an interval between each pair of adjacent lens units is changed during zooming. The rear unit includes a positive lens unit LP, which is arranged closest to the image side. Focal lengths of the zoom lens at the wide angle end and at the telephoto end, focal lengths of the first lens unit and the second lens unit, and a distance from the lens surface of the lens unit LP on the image side to an image plane at the telephoto end are each set appropriately.

A lens apparatus includes an operation member that is rotatable by a user operation, a zoom lens configured to perform zooming in accordance with a rotation of the operating member, and a detector configured to divide an entire zoom range from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, and detect a zoom position of the zoom lens. A predetermined condition is satisfied.

A lens apparatus includes an operation member that is rotatable by a user operation, a zoom lens configured to perform zooming in accordance with a rotation of the operating member, and a detector configured to divide an entire zoom range from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, and detect a zoom position of the zoom lens. A predetermined condition is satisfied.

A zoom optical system comprises, in order from an object: a first lens group (G1) having positive refractive power; a second lens group (G2) having negative refractive power; and a subsequent group (GR) including at least one lens group. Upon zooming, distances between the first lens group (G1) and the second lens group (G2) and between the second lens group (G2) and the subsequent group (GR) change. The subsequent group (GR) comprises a focusing group (Gfc) having negative refractive power for focusing. The first lens group (G1) comprises a 1-1st lens that has positive refractive power and is disposed closest to the object. A following conditional expression is satisfied:
0.20<f1/fR<0.85 where, f1 denotes a focal length of the first lens group, and fR denotes a focal length of a lens component, in the subsequent group, closest to an image surface.