Provided herein are an optical zoom lens capable of actively zooming in and/or out and an apparatus using the same. The optical zoom lens may include an electro-active polymer layer configured to be deformable in response to an electric signal; a lens structure formed over the electro-active polymer layer; a first electrode formed on an upper surface of the electro-active polymer layer; a second electrode formed on a lower surface of the electro-active polymer layer; and a control circuit unit configured to apply a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode. The optical zoom lens, having a structure of a combination of the polymer lens structure and the electro-active polymer actuator, is able to embody active variation in position of the polymer lens structure body and control therefor using deformation of the electro-active polymer layer by an electric signal.