Imaging device and digital camera using the imaging device

An imaging device comprising:

• a zoom lens system having a plurality of lens units and forming an optical image of an object so as to continuously optically zoom by varying distances between all of the plurality of lens units;
• the zoom lens system including from an object side:
• a first lens unit being overall negative and including a reflecting surface that bends a luminous flux substantially 90 degrees;
• a second lens unit disposed with a variable air distance from the first lens unit and having a negative optical power, the second lens unit being disposed next to the first lens unit;
• and
• a third lens unit disposed with a variable air distance from the second lens unit and having a positive optical power;
• and
• an image sensor converting the optical image formed by the zoom lens system to an electric signal,
• wherein the zoom lens system fulfills the following condition:
• 0.4<|f12w|/f3<1.5
• where f12w is the composite focal length of the first lens unit and the second lens unit in the shortest focal length condition and f3 is the focal length of the third lens unit.

A camera comprising:

• an imaging device including:
• a zoom lens system having a plurality of lens units and forming an optical image of an object so as to continuously optically zoom by varying distances between all of the plurality of lens units, the zoom lens system having from an object side:
• a first lens unit being overall negative and including a reflecting surface that bends a luminous flux substantially 90 degrees;
• and
• a second lens unit disposed with a variable air distance from the first lens unit and having a negative optical power, the second lens unit being disposed next to the first lens unit;
• and
• an image sensor converting the optical image formed by the zoom lens system to an electric signal,
• wherein the zoom lens system fulfills the following condition:
• 1.5<|f12w |/fw<4
• where f12 w is the composite focal length of the first lens unit and the second lens unit in the shortest focal length condition and fw is the overall focal length of the zoom lens system in the shortest focal length condition.

A camera comprising:

• an imaging device including:
• a zoom lens system having a plurality of lens units and forming an optical image of an object so as to continuously optically zoom by varying distances between all of the plurality of lens units, the zoom lens system having from an object side:
• a first lens unit being overall negative and including a reflecting surface that bends a luminous flux substantially 90 degrees;
• a second lens unit disposed with a variable air distance from the first lens unit and having a negative optical power, the second lens unit being disposed next to the first lens unit;
• and
• a third lens unit disposed with a variable air distance from the second lens unit and having a positive optical power;
• and
• an image sensor converting the optical image formed by the zoom lens system to an electric signal,
• wherein the zoom lens system fulfills the following condition:
• 0.4<|f12w |/f3<1.5
• where f12w is the composite focal length of the first lens unit and the second lens unit in the shortest focal length condition and f3 is the focal length of the third lens unit.