Zoom lens system which covers a wide angle range

A zoom lens system, covering a wide-angle range, comprising a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a negative third lens group, in this order from an object,

• wherein zooming is performed by varying the distances between said first to third lens groups;
• and
• wherein said zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions:
• 1.9<|(fw*ft)1/2/f1|<2.9(f1<0) 1.0<f12t/f12w<1.8
• wherein
• fw designates the focal length of the entire zoom lens system at the short focal length extremity;
• ft designates the focal length of the entire zoom lens system at the long focal length extremity;
• f1 designates the focal length of said negative first lens group;
• f12w designates the combined focal length of said negative first lens group and said positive second lens group at the short focal length extremity;
• and
• f12t designates the combined focal length of said negative first lens group and said positive second lens group at the long focal length extremity.