Variable focal length lens, photographing lens unit, camera, and portable information terminal device

A variable focal length lens comprising:

• a first group optical system having a negative refracting power, a second group optical system having a positive refracting power, and a third group optical system having a positive refracting power, wherein the first through the third group optical systems are sequentially arranged from an object side;
• and
• a stop provided on the object side of the second group optical system and that moves integrally with the second group optical system, wherein
• a focal length is changed by changing relative distances between the first through the third group optical systems and when performing focusing the third group optical system is moved along an optical axis,
• the first group optical system includes a negative meniscus lens, a negative meniscus lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side,
• the second group optical system includes a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side,
• the third group optical system includes one positive lens,
• at least one surface of the negative meniscus lens in the first group optical system and a surface on the most object side in the second group optical system being aspherical surfaces, and
• the third group optical system includes only a spherical lens.

A photographing lens unit comprising a variable focal length lens as an optical system, the variable focal length lens including

• a first group optical system having a negative refracting power, a second group optical system having a positive refracting power, and a third group optical system having a positive refracting power, wherein the first through the third group optical systems are sequentially arranged from an object side;
• and
• a stop provided on the object side of the second group optical system and that moves integrally with the second group optical system, wherein
• a focal length is changed by changing distances between the first through the third group optical systems and when performing focusing the third group optical system is moved along an optical axis,
• the first group optical system includes a negative meniscus lens, a negative meniscus lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side, at least one surface of the two negative meniscus lenses being an aspherical surface,
• the second group optical system includes a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side, a surface on the object side of the positive lens on the most object side being an aspherical surface, and
• the third group optical system includes one positive lens not including an aspherical surface.

A photographing lens unit comprising a variable focal length lens as an optical system, the variable focal length lens including

• a first group optical system having a negative refracting power, a second group optical system having a positive refracting power, and a third group optical system having a positive refracting power, wherein the first through the third group optical systems are sequentially arranged from an object side;
• and
• a stop provided on the object side of the second group optical system and that moves integrally with the second group optical system, wherein
• a focal length is changed by changing relative distances between the first through the third group optical systems and when performing focusing the third group optical system is moved along an optical axis,
• the first group optical system includes a negative meniscus lens, a negative meniscus lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side,
• the second group optical system includes a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side,
• the third group optical system includes one positive lens,
• at least one surface of the negative meniscus lens in the first group optical system and a surface on the most object side in the second group optical system being aspherical surfaces, and
• the third group optical system includes only a spherical lens.

A camera comprising a variable focal length lens as a photographing optical system, the variable focal length lens including

• a first group optical system having a negative refracting power, a second group optical system having a positive refracting power, and a third group optical system having a positive refracting power, wherein the first through the third group optical systems are sequentially arranged from an object side;
• and
• a stop provided on the object side of the second group optical system and that moves integrally with the second group optical system, wherein
• a focal length is changed by changing distances between the first through the third group optical systems and when performing focusing the third group optical system is moved along an optical axis,
• the first group optical system includes a negative meniscus lens, a negative meniscus lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side, at least one surface of the two negative meniscus lenses being an aspherical surface,
• the second group optical system includes a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side, a surface on the object side of the positive lens on the most object side being an aspherical surface, and
• the third group optical system includes one positive lens not including an aspherical surface.

A camera comprising a variable focal length lens as a photographing optical system, the variable focal length lens including

• a first group optical system having a negative refracting power, a second group optical system having a positive refracting power, and a third group optical system having a positive refracting power, wherein the first through the third group optical systems are sequentially arranged from an object side;
• and
• a stop provided on the object side of the second group optical system and that moves integrally with the second group optical system, wherein
• a focal length is changed by changing relative distances between the first through the third group optical systems and when performing focusing the third group optical system is moved along an optical axis,
• the first group optical system includes a negative meniscus lens, a negative meniscus lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side,
• the second group optical system includes a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side,
• the third group optical system includes one positive lens,
• at least one surface of the negative meniscus lens in the first group optical system and a surface on the most object side in the second group optical system being aspherical surfaces, and
• the third group optical system includes only a spherical lens.

A portable information terminal device comprising a variable focal length lens as a photographing optical system of a camera function unit, the variable focal length lens including

• a first group optical system having a negative refracting power, a second group optical system having a positive refracting power, and a third group optical system having a positive refracting power, wherein the first through the third group optical systems are sequentially arranged from an object side;
• and
• a stop provided on the object side of the second group optical system and that moves integrally with the second group optical system, wherein
• a focal length is changed by changing distances between the first through the third group optical systems and when performing focusing the third group optical system is moved along an optical axis,
• the first group optical system includes a negative meniscus lens, a negative meniscus lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side, at least one surface of the two negative meniscus lenses being an aspherical surface,
• the second group optical system includes a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side, a surface on the object side of the positive lens on the most object side being an aspherical surface, and
• the third group optical system includes one positive lens not including an aspherical surface.

A portable information terminal device comprising a variable focal length lens as a photographing optical system of a camera function unit, the variable focal length lens including

• a first group optical system having a negative refracting power, a second group optical system having a positive refracting power, and a third group optical system having a positive refracting power, wherein the first through the third group optical systems are sequentially arranged from an object side;
• and
• a stop provided on the object side of the second group optical system and that moves integrally with the second group optical system, wherein
• a focal length is changed by changing relative distances between the first through the third group optical systems and when performing focusing the third group optical system is moved along an optical axis,
• the first group optical system includes a negative meniscus lens, a negative meniscus lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side,
• the second group optical system includes a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens those are sequentially arranged from the object side,
• the third group optical system includes one positive lens,
• at least one surface of the negative meniscus lens in the first group optical system and a surface on the most object side in the second group optical system being aspherical surfaces, and
• the third group optical system includes only a spherical lens.