Variable power lens

A variable power lens provided with an imaging optical system including at least a first lens group and a second lens group which are movable in an optical axis direction, said variable power lens comprising:

• a first lens group support frame and a second lens group support frame which support said first lens group and said second lens group, respectively;
• a linear guide ring which linearly guides each of said first lens group support frame and said second lens group support frame in said optical axis direction;
• a power-variation operating member;
• a focus operating member;
• a first lens group drive ring which moves said first lens group support frame in said optical axis direction by rotation of said first lens group drive ring relative to said linear guide ring;
• a second lens group drive ring which moves said second lens group support frame in said optical axis direction by rotation of said second lens group drive ring relative to said linear guide ring;
• a drive ring coupler which couples said first lens group drive ring and said second lens group drive ring with each other in a manner to prevent said first lens group drive ring and said second lens group drive ring from rotating relative to each other while allowing said first lens group drive ring and said second lens group drive ring to move relative to each other in said optical axis direction;
• and
• a drive-ring movement controller which integrally rotates said first lens group drive ring and said second lens group drive ring via said drive ring coupler with a relative distance therebetween in said optical axis direction remaining unchanged when said power-variation operating member is manually operated, and moves only one of said first lens group drive ring and said second lens group drive ring in said optical axis direction without rotation when said focus operating member is manually operated.