A high-performance zoom lens is disclosed having at least four axially movable lens groups for zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. The zoom lens constitutes a number of lens elements that is no more than twice the number of movable lens groups, thereby facilitating compactness. The movable lens groups include a first, or most objectwise, movable lens group having positive refractive power, and a rear, or most imagewise, movable lens group having negative refractive power. The zoom lens satisfies at least one of four conditions, including:0.3