A zoom camera comprising an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding the light from a first optical path to a second optical path, a first lens having a first optical axis and a first effective focal length EFL.sub.L1, the first optical axis being along the second optical path, a collimating lens having a second optical axis, and an image sensor located on the second optical path, wherein the collimating lens is movable between at least a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the collimating lens is positioned in the second optical path between the OPFE and the first lens such that light entering the first lens arrives only from the image side of the collimating lens, and wherein in the second state the collimating lens is positioned outside the first optical path such that light entering the first lens does not arrive from the image side of the collimating lens.

A zoom camera comprising an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding the light from a first optical path to a second optical path, a first lens having a first optical axis and a first effective focal length EFL.sub.L1, the first optical axis being along the second optical path, a collimating lens having a second optical axis, and an image sensor located on the second optical path, wherein the collimating lens is movable between at least a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the collimating lens is positioned in the second optical path between the OPFE and the first lens such that light entering the first lens arrives only from the image side of the collimating lens, and wherein in the second state the collimating lens is positioned outside the first optical path such that light entering the first lens does not arrive from the image side of the collimating lens.

An imaging optical system consists of a first lens group having positive power, a second lens group having power; and a third lens group having power. The first lens group and the third lens group are immobile along an optical axis and the second lens group moves along the optical axis while the imaging optical system is focusing. The first lens group consists of: a sub-lens group G1A; an aperture stop; and a sub-lens group G1B. The sub-lens group G1A includes: a meniscus lens L1A1 having positive power and having a convex surface facing the object; a meniscus lens L1A2 having negative power and having a convex surface facing the object; and a meniscus lens L1A3 having negative power and having a convex surface facing the object.

An imaging optical system consists of a first lens group having positive power, a second lens group having power; and a third lens group having power. The first lens group and the third lens group are immobile along an optical axis and the second lens group moves along the optical axis while the imaging optical system is focusing. The first lens group consists of: a sub-lens group G1A; an aperture stop; and a sub-lens group G1B. The sub-lens group G1A includes: a meniscus lens L1A1 having positive power and having a convex surface facing the object; a meniscus lens L1A2 having negative power and having a convex surface facing the object; and a meniscus lens L1A3 having negative power and having a convex surface facing the object.

A zoom camera comprising an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding the light from a first optical path to a second optical path, a first lens having a first optical axis and a first effective focal length EFL.sub.L1, the first optical axis being along the second optical path, a collimating lens having a second optical axis, and an image sensor located on the second optical path, wherein the collimating lens is movable between at least a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the collimating lens is positioned in the second optical path between the OPFE and the first lens such that light entering the first lens arrives only from the image side of the collimating lens, and wherein in the second state the collimating lens is positioned outside the first optical path such that light entering the first lens does not arrive from the image side of the collimating lens.

A plurality of imaging optical systems includes at least two imaging optical systems, and each imaging optical system includes an identical diaphragm member. Each imaging optical system includes in order from an object side, a front lens unit having a positive refractive power, a focusing lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a rear lens unit having a positive refractive power. The diaphragm member is disposed near the focusing lens unit. At the time of focusing, only the focusing lens unit moves on an optical axis. Each imaging optical system satisfies the following conditional expression (1), and the plurality of imaging optical systems satisfies the following conditional expressions (2) and (3).
0.5<f.sub.ff/f.sub.fb<1.9(1)
1AP.sub.max/AP.sub.min1.15(2)
1.02<f.sub.foLA/f.sub.foSM<2.50(3)

An imaging optical system consists of a first lens group having positive power, a second lens group having power; and a third lens group having power. The first lens group and the third lens group are immobile along an optical axis and the second lens group moves along the optical axis while the imaging optical system is focusing. The first lens group consists of: a sub-lens group G1A; an aperture stop; and a sub-lens group G1B. The sub-lens group G1A includes: a meniscus lens L1A1 having positive power and having a convex surface facing the object; a meniscus lens L1A2 having negative power and having a convex surface facing the object; and a meniscus lens L1A3 having negative power and having a convex surface facing the object.

An imaging optical system consists of a first lens group having positive power, a second lens group having power; and a third lens group having power. The first lens group and the third lens group are immobile along an optical axis and the second lens group moves along the optical axis while the imaging optical system is focusing. The first lens group consists of: a sub-lens group G1A; an aperture stop; and a sub-lens group G1B. The sub-lens group G1A includes: a meniscus lens L1A1 having positive power and having a convex surface facing the object; a meniscus lens L1A2 having negative power and having a convex surface facing the object; and a meniscus lens L1A3 having negative power and having a convex surface facing the object.