To provide a high-performance compact zoom lens by adopting what is called an inner focus system.

In the zoom lens constituted of a 1st lens group G1 including a doublet and having positive refractive power, a 2nd lens group G2 having negative refractive power, a 3rd lens group G3 having positive refractive power, a 4th lens group G4 having negative refractive power, a 5th lens group G5 having positive refractive power, and a 6th lens group G6 having negative refractive power in this order from an object side, all of spaces between the respective adjacent lens groups G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 and G6 are changed in the case of zooming from a wide angle end state to a telephoto end state, and the 4th and the 5th lens groups G4 and G5 are respectively independently moved to the object side in the case of focusing from an infinity object to a close range object.

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