To obtain a high variable power ratio, at which an ordinary photographing area is completely covered, to attain miniaturization and to obtain high resolving power, while securing a sufficient wide viewing angle at a wide angle end, in a zoom lens which is constituted by successively disposing a first positive lens group G1, a second negative lens group G2, a diaphragm FA, a third positive lens group G3 and a fourth positive lens group G4 from an object side, and where the first lens group and the third lens group monotonously move toward the object side with varying power from the wide-angle end to a telephoto end.

In the case of varying power from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 fixedly holds its position, and the fourth lens group G4 moves to be positioned closer to an image side at the telephoto end than at the wide-angle end, and the zoom lens satisfies the conditional expression: 0.60COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT