Zoom lens and imaging apparatus

A zoom lens, comprising:

• a first lens group having a positive refractive power;
• a second lens group having a negative refractive power;
• and
• a third lens group having a positive refractive power;
• provided in this order from an object side;
• the first lens group, the second lens group, and the third lens group moving such that the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group is greater, and the distance between the second lens group and the third lens group is smaller at a telephoto end compared to a wide angle end, and only these three lens group moving while changing magnification;
• the third lens group comprising a plurality of lenses, and the distances among the lenses provided in the third lens group being constant while changing magnification;
• the third lens group substantially consisting of a 3-1 lens group having a positive refractive power and a 3-2 lens group, provided in this order from the object side;
• the 3-1 lens group being fixed when camera shake occurs and during focusing operations;
• the 3-2 lens group comprising a shake preventing lens group provided most toward the object side that moves in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis when camera shake occurs to correct an imaging plane but is fixed during focusing operations, and a focusing lens group provided more toward an image side than the shake preventing lens group that moves along the optical axis during focusing operations but is fixed when camera shake occurs.