1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a zoom lens, and more particularly, to a zoom lens which is suitable for a still-picture camera, which includes a wide-angle range, and which has a high varifocal ratio.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, zoom lenses have generally been used as interchangeable lenses for single-lens reflex cameras. This tendency is a result of the high performance, size reduction and low price of zoom lenses. Zoom lenses which have greater varifocal ratios, and which are even more compact, hereafter also will be required. In the field of compact cameras, where lenses are built into the camera, zoom lenses which have greater varifocal ratios and which are more compact also will be required.
Furthermore, in accordance with the popularity of autofocus cameras, optical systems suitable for an autofocusing operation also are required. Hence, it has become required that the amount of movement, weight, diameter and the like of a focus-moving lens have smaller values.
Zoom lenses having high varifocal ratios mainly are used for single-lens reflex cameras and have been disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-33531 (1983) and Japanese Patent Laid-open Application (Kokai) Nos. 59-198214 (1984) and 60-39613 (1985). So-called rear-focusing zoom lenses, in which focusing is performed by lens groups other than the front lens group also have been disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open Application (Kokai) Nos. 58-136012 (1983); 58-143312 (1983); 61-138228 (1986); 63-205628 (1988); 63-205629 (1988); 63-266414 (1988); 63-266415 (1988) and 1-154014 (1989).
These zoom lenses have the configuration of five groups having positive, negative, positive, negative and positive refractive powers, arranged from the object side, in order to efficiently perform a varifocal operation and to provide a small size. However, these efficiencies are still insufficient. While the diameter of a front lens can be reduced by adopting a rear-focusing configuration, such a configuration is so complicated that the response speed of an autofocusing operation becomes insufficient.