The invention relates to a zoom lens with an easily bendable optical path, which has high optical specification performance such as a high zoom ratio, a wide-angle arrangement, a small F-number and reduced aberrations. The zoom lens comprises a first lens group G1 that remains fixed during zooming, a second lens group G2 that has negative refracting power and moves during zooming, a third lens group G3 that has positive refracting power and moves during zooming, and a fourth lens group G4 that has positive refracting power and moves during zooming and focusing. The first lens group comprises, in order from an object side thereof, a negative meniscus lens component convex on an object side thereof, a reflecting optical element for bending an optical path and a positive lens. Upon focusing on an infinite object point, the fourth lens group G4 moves in a locus opposite to that of movement of the third lens group G3 during zooming.