Provided is an optical system including, in order from an object side to an image side, a front lens unit, an aperture stop, and a rear lens unit. The front lens unit consists of a positive lens and a diffractive optical element, which are arranged in order from the object side to the image side. The diffractive optical element consists of a plurality of lenses that are cemented to each other, and at least one of cemented surfaces of the plurality of lenses is a diffractive surface. An interval on an optical axis between the positive lens and the diffractive optical element is the largest among intervals on the optical axis between two lenses that are adjacent in the optical system.

A photographing optical system includes seven lens elements which are, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, sixth lens element and a seventh lens element. Each of the seven lens elements of the photographing optical system has an object-side surface facing toward the object side and an image-side surface facing toward the image side. The image-side surface of the second lens element is convex in a paraxial region thereof. The third lens element has negative refractive power. At least one lens element of the photographing optical system has at least one aspheric surface having at least one inflection point.

A photographing optical system includes seven lens elements which are, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, sixth lens element and a seventh lens element. Each of the seven lens elements of the photographing optical system has an object-side surface facing toward the object side and an image-side surface facing toward the image side. The image-side surface of the second lens element is convex in a paraxial region thereof. The third lens element has negative refractive power. At least one lens element of the photographing optical system has at least one aspheric surface having at least one inflection point.

Comprising a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, disposed at the most object side, and an image side lens group disposed at a side closer to an image than the first lens group G1, upon zooming, at least a distance between the first lens group G1 and the image side lens group being varied, the image side lens group comprising a vibration reduction lens group GVR which is moved so as to have a component in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and a focusing lens group GF which is moved along the optical axis upon focusing, thereby providing a variable magnification optical system which has a higher optical performance, an optical apparatus and a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical system.

Comprising a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, disposed at the most object side, and an image side lens group disposed at a side closer to an image than the first lens group G1, upon zooming, at least a distance between the first lens group G1 and the image side lens group being varied, the image side lens group comprising a vibration reduction lens group GVR which is moved so as to have a component in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and a focusing lens group GF which is moved along the optical axis upon focusing, thereby providing a variable magnification optical system which has a higher optical performance, an optical apparatus and a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical system.

A variable magnification optical system includes a plurality of lens element, and includes in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and at least one lens unit. An aperture stop is either positioned between the second lens unit and the third lens unit, or positioned in the third lens unit. At the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit is fixed, the second lens unit moves from the object side to an image-plane side, and at least one of lens units positioned on an image side of the aperture stop moves. The first lens unit includes at least four positive lens elements and at least two negative lens elements.

A variable magnification optical system includes a plurality of lens element, and includes in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and at least one lens unit. An aperture stop is either positioned between the second lens unit and the third lens unit, or positioned in the third lens unit. At the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit is fixed, the second lens unit moves from the object side to an image-plane side, and at least one of lens units positioned on an image side of the aperture stop moves. The first lens unit includes at least four positive lens elements and at least two negative lens elements.

The imaging lens consists of, in order from an object side, a first lens group, a stop, and a positive second lens group. The second lens group has a negative lens on a side closest to an object and has a single lens or a cemented lens having a positive refractive power on a side closest to an image. Predetermined conditional expressions relating to a back focus, an incidence angle of a principal light ray on the image plane, a maximum image height, a distance from a lens surface on the side closest to the object to a lens surface on the side closest to the image, a distance from an object side principal point of the second lens group to a stop, and a focal length of the second lens group are satisfied.

The imaging lens consists of, in order from an object side, a first lens group, a stop, and a positive second lens group. The second lens group has a negative lens on a side closest to an object and has a single lens or a cemented lens having a positive refractive power on a side closest to an image. Predetermined conditional expressions relating to a back focus, an incidence angle of a principal light ray on the image plane, a maximum image height, a distance from a lens surface on the side closest to the object to a lens surface on the side closest to the image, a distance from an object side principal point of the second lens group to a stop, and a focal length of the second lens group are satisfied.

A lens module for capturing an object light-beam from an object-side is provided. The lens module includes a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group, a fourth lens group and a fifth lens group sequentially-arranged from the object-side to an image-side. The five lens groups respectively have at least one lens with positive refractive-power and at least one lens with negative refractive-power. The first, third and fifth lens groups are fixed groups, while the second and fourth lens groups are movable groups. An image apparatus including the lens module is also provided.