A zoom lens with an easily bendable optical path has high optical specification performance such as a high zoom ratio, a wide-angle arrangement, a small F-number and reduced aberrations. It includes a first lens group G1 remaining fixed during zooming, a second lens group G2 having negative refracting power and moving during zooming, a third lens group G3 having positive refracting power and moving during zooming, and a fourth lens group G4 having positive refracting power and moving 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.