Provided are a variable magnification optical system, an optical device, and a production method for the variable magnification optical system. The variable magnification optical system has, in order from the object side, a first lens group with positive refractive power, a second lens group with negative refractive power, and a third lens group with positive refractive power. When changing magnification from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end sate, the interval between the first lens group and the second lens group, the interval between the second lens group and the third lens group, and the interval between the third lens group and an image plane changes. When changing from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto end sate, a fixed lens group with a fixed position is nearest to the image side. When changing focus from an object at infinity to a nearby object, the variable magnification optical system is compact due to the fact that the third lens group moves along the optical axis, and the variable magnification optical system has high optical performance even when changing focus from an object at infinity to a nearby object.