The zoom lens consists of a first lens group, a front group, a middle group, and a rear group, in order from an object side. The first lens group has a positive refractive power and includes a negative lens and a positive lens, successively in order from a position closest to the object side to an image side. The front group consists of one or more lens groups that move during zooming and has a negative refractive power as a whole throughout an entire zoom range. The middle group includes only one lens group as a lens group. The rear group consists of a plurality of lens groups. An aperture stop is disposed between a lens surface closest to the image side in the front group and a lens surface closest to the object side in the rear group. The zoom lens satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.

The zoom lens consists of a first lens group, a front group, a middle group, and a rear group, in order from an object side. The first lens group has a positive refractive power and includes a negative lens and a positive lens, successively in order from a position closest to the object side to an image side. The front group consists of one or more lens groups that move during zooming and has a negative refractive power as a whole throughout an entire zoom range. The middle group includes only one lens group as a lens group. The rear group consists of a plurality of lens groups. An aperture stop is disposed between a lens surface closest to the image side in the front group and a lens surface closest to the object side in the rear group. The zoom lens satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.

A variable magnification optical system used in an optical apparatus is configured to include a plurality of lens groups such that upon varying magnification the distances between the lens groups are varied; a final lens group closest to an image side of the lens groups includes at least one lens surface having a pole; and the following conditional equation (1) or (2) is satisfied.

0.50<TL/fw<10.00  (1)

where TL denotes the shorter of the total optical length in a wide-angle end state and the total optical length in a telephoto end state of the variable magnification optical system, and fw denotes the focal length of the variable magnification optical system in the wide-angle end state.

−5.00<fRI/fR<5.00  (2)

where fRI denotes the focal length of a lens in the final lens group including a lens surface having a pole, and fR denotes the focal length of the final lens group.

A variable magnification optical system used in an optical apparatus is configured to include a plurality of lens groups such that upon varying magnification the distances between the lens groups are varied; a final lens group closest to an image side of the lens groups includes at least one lens surface having a pole; and the following conditional equation (1) or (2) is satisfied.

0.50<TL/fw<10.00  (1)

where TL denotes the shorter of the total optical length in a wide-angle end state and the total optical length in a telephoto end state of the variable magnification optical system, and fw denotes the focal length of the variable magnification optical system in the wide-angle end state.

−5.00<fRI/fR<5.00  (2)

where fRI denotes the focal length of a lens in the final lens group including a lens surface having a pole, and fR denotes the focal length of the final lens group.

A variable power optical system (ZL (1)) includes a plurality of lens groups (G1-G7). During variable magnification, an interval between adjacent lens groups changes. The plurality of lens groups include: a first focusing lens group (G5) that moves during focusing; and a second focusing lens group (G6) that is disposed more toward an imaging surface side than the first focusing lens group and that moves along a different trajectory than the first focusing lens group during focusing. The first focusing lens group and the second focusing lens group both have a negative refractive power. The plurality of lens groups satisfy the following condition: 0.40<fF1/fF2<3.50 (wherein fF1 is the focal distance of the first focusing lens group, and fF2 is the focal distance of the second focusing lens group).

A variable power optical system (ZL (1)) includes a plurality of lens groups (G1-G7). During variable magnification, an interval between adjacent lens groups changes. The plurality of lens groups include: a first focusing lens group (G5) that moves during focusing; and a second focusing lens group (G6) that is disposed more toward an imaging surface side than the first focusing lens group and that moves along a different trajectory than the first focusing lens group during focusing. The first focusing lens group and the second focusing lens group both have a negative refractive power. The plurality of lens groups satisfy the following condition: 0.40<fF1/fF2<3.50 (wherein fF1 is the focal distance of the first focusing lens group, and fF2 is the focal distance of the second focusing lens group).

A zoom lens includes, from an object side to an image side, a positive first lens unit configured not to move for zooming, at least three movable lens units configured to move for zooming, and a positive final lens unit closest to the image side in lens units and configured not to move for zooming. In the at least three movable lens units, a lens unit closest to the image side has a positive power, and a lens unit second closest to the image side has a negative power. The first lens unit includes a first sub unit closest to the object side and configured not to move for focusing and a second sub unit configured to move for focusing. The final lens unit includes a positive lens closest to the image side in elements having a refractive power in the final lens unit. Predetermined inequalities are satisfied.

A zoom lens includes, from an object side to an image side, a positive first lens unit configured not to move for zooming, at least three movable lens units configured to move for zooming, and a positive final lens unit closest to the image side in lens units and configured not to move for zooming. In the at least three movable lens units, a lens unit closest to the image side has a positive power, and a lens unit second closest to the image side has a negative power. The first lens unit includes a first sub unit closest to the object side and configured not to move for focusing and a second sub unit configured to move for focusing. The final lens unit includes a positive lens closest to the image side in elements having a refractive power in the final lens unit. Predetermined inequalities are satisfied.

The zoom lens includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a negative fourth lens group, a negative fifth lens group, and a positive sixth lens group in order from an object side. All distances between adjacent lens groups change during zooming. The first lens group consists of a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens in order from the object side. Only the fourth lens group moves to an image side during focusing from a long range to a short range. Conditional Expression related to a distance from a lens surface of the first lens group closest to the object side to an image plane and a distance from a lens surface of the second lens group closest to the object side to the image plane is satisfied.

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.