A zoom lens includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a subsequent lens group in order from an object side. A focusing lens group closer to an image side than the first lens group moves during focusing. The first lens group consists of a first-a lens group and a first-b lens group in order from the object side. Assuming that an average of refractive indices of the negative lenses of the first-a lens group is Nd1ave, a focal length of the focusing lens group is ff, and a focal length of the first lens group is f1, Conditional Expression (1) of 1.73<Nd1ave<1.95 and Conditional Expression (2) of 1<|ff/f1|<3 are satisfied.

An optical system includes a first optical subsystem disposed on an enlargement side and a second optical subsystem disposed on a reduction side with an intermediate image in between. The first optical subsystem includes: a first lens group that is disposed on the enlargement side of a first stop with a first distance, in which other lenses could be disposed but no other lenses are disposed, and is provided on the enlargement side with a first component with negative refractive power; and a second lens group that has positive refractive power, is disposed on the reduction side of the first stop with a second distance, in which other lenses could be disposed but no lenses are disposed, and forms the intermediate image so as to be adjacent on a reduction side of the second lens group and so as to be tilted toward the enlargement side.

A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power, a second lens unit having negative refractive power, and a subsequent unit including a plurality of lens units. A distance between adjacent lens units changes during zooming. The first lens unit does not move and the second lens unit moves during zooming. The first lens unit consists of, in order from the object side to the image side, a first subunit and a second subunit. The first subunit consists of two positive lenses. The second subunit consists of a single positive lens and a single negative lens. A predetermined condition is satisfied.

A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power, a second lens unit having negative refractive power, and a subsequent unit including a plurality of lens units. A distance between adjacent lens units changes during zooming. The first lens unit does not move and the second lens unit moves during zooming. The first lens unit consists of, in order from the object side to the image side, a first subunit and a second subunit. The first subunit consists of two positive lenses. The second subunit consists of a single positive lens and a single negative lens. A predetermined condition is satisfied.

An optical system includes, in order from an object side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power, a second lens unit having negative refractive power, and a third lens unit having positive refractive power. A distance between adjacent lens units changes during focusing. During focusing from an infinity object to the closest object, the first and third lens units do not move and the second lens unit moves toward the image side. The third lens unit consists of, in order from the object side, a first subunit having positive refractive power, a second subunit having negative refractive power, and a third subunit having positive refractive power. The second subunit moves in a direction including a component in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis during image stabilization. The second subunit includes positive and negative lenses. A predetermined condition is satisfied.

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.

A zoom optical system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group, and a fourth lens group which are sequentially disposed in a direction from an object side to an image side, wherein the second lens group and the third lens group are movable, a total track length (TTL) is less than 20 mm, and an effective focal length (EFL) in a telephoto is greater than 25 mm.

A zoom optical system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group, and a fourth lens group which are sequentially disposed in a direction from an object side to an image side, wherein the second lens group and the third lens group are movable, a total track length (TTL) is less than 20 mm, and an effective focal length (EFL) in a telephoto is greater than 25 mm.

A zoom lens consists of, in order from the object side, a first lens group that has a positive refractive power, a middle group that includes a plurality of lens groups in which the spacings between adjacent lens groups change during zooming, and the final lens group. The focusing group that moves during focusing is disposed in the middle group. The zoom lens satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.