Compact zoom lens

Abstract

A variable focal length optical system comprises, in the following order from the object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power, the first lens group including, in succession from the object side, a first lens component having positive refractive power, a second lens component comprising a cemented lens consisting of a negative lens component and a positive lens component, and a third lens component having positive refractive power, and a second lens group having negative refractive power, the second lens group including, in succession from the object side, a fourth lens component having positive refractive power, and a fifth lens component having negative refractive power. The variable focal length optical system satisfies the following condition: -0.19<(r23-r32)/(r23+r32)<-0.01, where r23 is the radius of curvature of that surface of the second lens component which is most adjacent to the image side, and r32 is the radius of curvature of that surface of the third lens component which is most adjacent to the image side.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.