Comprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power; a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractive power; upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, the first lens group G1 being fixed in the position in the direction of the optical axis, at least the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 being moved in the direction of the optical axis such that a distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 is increased and a distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased; and a predetermined conditional expression being satisfied, thereby providing a variable magnification optical system which can suppress variations in aberrations upon zooming and having excellent optical performance from a wide angle end state to a telephoto end state, an optical apparatus, and a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical system.