The present invention relates to a novel zoom lens and a novel image pick-up apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a zoom lens including broad picture angle of 60 to 100 degrees as photographic picture angle of the wide-angle end state, having magnification ratio of about 3 to 6 times, small optical gem diameter, excellent compactness and high image formation performance, which is suitable for photographic optical system of digital input/output equipment such as digital still camera or digital video camera, etc.; and an image pick-up apparatus comprising such a zoom lens.

This Application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-068932, field on March 11, 2005 , the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

In recent years, image pick-up apparatuses using solid-state image pick-up device such as digital still camera are being popularized. Further, with popularization of digital still camera, there is required a zoom lens having excellent compactness and having high image formation performance while covering the range from super-broad angle side up to the telescopic side by single lens.

For example, in the zoom lens described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 1995-261084 publication, zoom lens configuration including negative lens group as preceding lens group is used to realize broad angle of zoom lens. However, in the zoom lens described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 1995-261084 publication, magnification ratio is small. The magnification of about two times or three times is limit. Realization of high magnification is difficult.

On the other hand, in the zoom lenses described in the Japanese Patent Application NO. 1997-5629 publication, and the Japanese Patent Application No. 1995-318805 publication, the zoom configuration including positive lens group as the preceding lens group is used to realize high magnification of the zoom lens and broad angle thereof.

However, in the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 1997-5629 publication and the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 1995-318805 publication, photographic picture angle of about 80 degrees is limit. As a result, realization of broader angle is difficult. Moreover, even if realization of broader angle can be attained, the number of lenses constituting the first lens group having large lens diameter is increased so that miniaturization is not sufficient, and cost is increased and weight also becomes heavy. This is not preferable.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens including broad picture angle of 60 to 100 degrees as photographic picture angle of wide-angle end state, and having magnification ratio of about three to six times, small front optical gem diameter and excellent compactness, and high image formation performance, which is used in video camera or digital still camera; and an image pick-up apparatus comprising such zoom lens.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the zoom lens of the present invention consists of plural groups and serving to change group spacing or spacings to thereby perform magnification changing or adjusting operation, and comprises a first lens griup GR1 having refractive power, a second lens group GR2 having negative refractive power, a third lens group GR3 having positive refractive power which are arranged in order from the object side, and a last lens group GRR arranged at the side closest to the image surface and having negative refractive power, wherein the first lens group GR1 is constituted by single positive lens, and when Ymax indicates the maximum image height on the image pick-up surface, FW indicates focal length at the wide-angle end state of the lens entire system, and VdG1 indicates Abbe number at d line of the first lens group GR1, the following conditional formulas are satisfied. $$0.5<\mathrm{Ymax}/\mathrm{FW}<1.3,$$ $$\mathrm{VdG}1>40.$$

Moreover, in oder to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image pick-up apparatus of the present invention comprises a zoom lens consisting of plural groups and serving to change group spacing or spacings to thereby perform magnification changing or adjusting operation, and an image pick-up device for converting an optical image formed by the zoom lens into an electric signal, the zoom lens comprising a first lens group GR1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group GR2 having negative refractive power and a third lens group GR3 having positive refractive power which are arranged in order from the object side, and a last lens group GRR arranged at the side closest to the image surface and having negative refractive power, wherein the first lens group GR1 is constituted by single positive lens, and when Ymax indicates the maximum image height on the image pick-up surface, FW indicates focal length at the wide-angle end state of the lens entire system, and VdG1 indicates Abbe number at d line of the first lens group GR1, the conditional formulas (1) 0.5 < Ymax/FW < 1.3 and (2) VdG1 > 40 are satisfied.

Accordingly, in the zoom lens of the present invention, photographic picture angle at the wide-angle end state includes broad picture angle of 60 to 100 degrees, the magnification ratio is about three to six times, the front gem diameter is small, compactness is excellent, and high image formation performance is provided. Moreover, since the image pick-up apparatus of the present invention comprises zoom lens of the present invention, photographing operation having broad picture angle about of 60 to 100 degrees can be performed. Thus, photographing operation by an arbitrary picture angle within magnification ratio of three times to six times can be performed, and image of high quality can be acquired by high performance image formation performance.

Accordingly, in the zoom lens of the present invention, it is possible to attain magnification ratio of about three times to six times while including broad picture angle of 60 to 100 degrees as photographic picture angle of the wide-angle end state. Moreover, since image is magnified or enlarged by the last lens group, the front gem of the first lens group GR1 can be constituted as small-sized front gem. In addition, since height of rays of marginal (peripheral) light passed through the first lens group GR1 at the telescopic end state can be lower than that of the ordinary zoom lens, the first lens group GR1 which has greatest influence on axial color aberration can be constituted only by single lens. Thus, it is possible to attain miniaturization and/or light weight of the lens entire system while maintaining picture angle of 60 to 100 degrees and magnification ratio of about three times to six times.

Moreover, since the image pick-up of the present invention comprises the zoom lens of the present invention, photographing operation having the broad picture angle of about 60 to 100 degrees can be performed although the image pick-up apparatus is small-sized and light in weight. As a result, photographing operation by an arbitrary picture angle within the magnification ratio of three to six times can be performed. In addition, image of high quality can be acquired by high image formation performance.

In the inventions described in the claims 2 and 7, since the first lens group GR1 satisfies the conditional formula (3) 2<F1/√FW·FT<15 when F1 is focal length of the first lens group GR1, FT is focal length at the telescopic end state of the lens entire system, and √FW·FT is square root of product of FW and FT, various aberrations including spherical aberration can be further satisfactorily corrected, and further miniaturization/light weight can be made.

In the inventions described in the claims 3 and 8, since the last lens group GRR includes negative lens GRn at the side closest to the object and positive lens GRp at the side closest to the image surface, and satisfies the conditional formulas (4) 1.2<&bgr;GRRT<1.8, (5) 0.2<Twbf/FW<1.2 and (6) VdGRRn>VdGRRp when &bgr;GRRT is magnification at the telescopic end state of the last lens group GRR, Twbf is back focus (air conversion length) at the wide-angle end state, VdGRRn is Abbe number at d line of the negative lens GRn and VdGRRp is Abbe number at d line of the positive lens GRp, marginal rays of light are jumped upwards by the negative lens located at the side closest to the object side and are suppressed by the positive lens located at the side closest to the image surface at the last lens group GRR to thereby permit incident angle onto the image pick-up device to be gentle or small, and to realize high performance by miniaturization, high magnification and color aberration reduction. Moreover, at the wide-angle end state, the lens GRn at the side closest to the object and the lens GRp at the side closest to the object surface in the lens at the side closest to the object (constituting the first lens group GR1), the lens at the side closest to the object of the second lens group GR2 and the last lens group GRR has symmetry in the lens configuration, i.e., the relationship of positive, negative: negative, positive with aperture diaphragm being put therebetween, thus mating it possible to suppress distortion aberration while realizing broad angle.

In the inventions described in the claims 4 and 9, since at least one lens surface of the second lens group GR2 is constituted by non-spherical surface, and the second lens group GR2 satisfies the conditional formula (7) 0.4<|F2/√FW·FT| < 1.0 when F2 is focal length of the second lens group GR2, comatic aberration in the radial direction at the wide-angle end state can be effectively corrected, and miniaturization and realization of high performance can be attained at the same time.

In the inventions described in the claims 5 and 10, since the third lens group GR3 at least includes one positive lens and one negative lens, at least one len plane surface is constituted by non-spherical surface, and the third lens group GR3 satisfies the conditional formula (8) VdGR3p>50 when VdGR3p is average value of Abbe numbers at d line of the positive lens within the third lens group GR3, it is possible to suppress occurrence of color aberration to maintain high optical performance over the entire range. In addition, at least one lens plane surface is constituted by non-spherical surface to thereby suppress occurrence of various aberrations such as spherical aberration and/or comatic aberration, etc., thus making it possible to maintain high optical performance over the zooming range.

• FIG. 1 is a view showing lens configuration of a first embodiment of a zoom lens of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 shows, together with FIGS. 3 and 4, various aberration diagrams of numeric value embodiment 1 in which practical numeric values are applied to the first embodiment of the zoom lens of the present invention, and this Figure shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the wide-angle end state.
• FIG. 3 shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at intermediate focal length.
• FIG. 4 shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the telescopic end state.
• FIG. 5 is a view showing lens configuration of a second embodiment of the zoom lens of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 shows, together with FIGS. 7 and 8, various aberration diagrams of numeric value embodiment 2 in which practical numeric values are applied to a second embodiment of a zoom lens of the present invention, and this Figure shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the wide-angle end state.
• FIG. 7 shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the intermediate focal length.
• FIG. 8 shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the telescopic end state.
• FIG. 9 is a view showing the lens configuration of a third embodiment of the zoom lens of the present invention.
• FIG. 10 shows, together with FIGS. 11 and 12, various aberration diagrams of numeric value embodiment 3 in which practical numeric values are applied to the third embodiment of the zoom lens of the presentn invention, and this Figure shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the wide-angle end state.
• FIG. 11 shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the intermediate focal length.
• FIG. 12 shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the telescopic end state.
• FIG. 13 is a view showing the lens configuration of a fourth embodiment of the zoom lens of the present invention.
• FIG. 14 shows, along with FIGS. 15 and 16, various aberration diagrams of numeric value embodiment 4 in which practical numeric values are applied to the fourth embodiment of the zoom lens of the present invention, and this Figure shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the wide-angle end state.
• FIG. 15 shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the intermediate focal length.
• FIG. 16 shows spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion aberration at the telescopic end state.
• FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image pick-up apparatus of the present invention.

Best mode for carrying out zoom lens and image pick-up apparatus of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the attached drawings.

The zoom lens of the present invention is directed to a zoom lens consisting of plural groups and serving to change group spacing or spacings to thereby perform magnification changing or adjusting operation, and comprises a first lens group GR1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group GR2 having negative refractive power and a third lens group GR3 having positive refractive power which are arranged in order from the object side, and a last lens group GRR arranged at the side closest to the image surface and having negative refractive power, wherein the first lens group GR1 is constituted by single positive lens, and satisfies the following conditional formulas (1), (2). $$0.5<\mathrm{Ymax}/\mathrm{FW}<1.3$$ $$\mathrm{VdG}1>40$$

In the above formula,

Ymax: maximum image height on image pick-up surface

FW: focal length at the wide-angle end state of the lens entire system

VdG1: Abbe number at d line of the first lens group GR1

Accordingly, in the zoom lens of the present invention, it is possible to attain magnification ratio of about three times to six times while including broad picture angler of 60 to 100 degrees as photographic picture angle of the wide-angle end state. Moreover, since the image is magnified or enlarged by the last lens group GRR, the front optical gem diameter of the first lens group GR1 can be constituted as miniaturized configuration, and height of marginal (peripheral) rays of light passed through the first lens group GR1 serving as positive lens group at the telescopic end state can be reduced as compared to the ordinary zoom lens. For this reason, the first lens group GR1 which has greatest influence on the axial color aberration can be constituted by only single positive lens. Further, miniaturization and light weight of the lens entire system can be attained while maintaining picture angle of 60 to 100 degrees, and magnification ratio of about three times to six times.

The conditional formula (1) prescribes ratio between the maximum image height on the image pick-up surface and the focal length at the wide-angle end state of the lens entire system.

When value of Ymax/FW is 0.5 or less, i.e., there results telescopic state, positive power of the first lens group GR1 becomes too strong. As a result, the influence of axial color aberration at the telescopic side becomes too strong so that correction cannot be made only by single lens. Moreover, when value of Ymax/FW is 1.3 or more, i.e., there results broad angle state, positive power of the first lens group GR1 becomes too weak. As a result, effective diameter of the first lens group GR1 becomes large so that miniaturization and light weight become difficult.

Preferably, it is desirable to satisfy the range of 0.8 < Ymax/FW < 1.20.

The conditional formula (2) prescribes occurrence quantity of color aberrations of the first lens group serving as positive single lens. In the case where VdG1 is 40 or less, the influence of the axial color aberration at the telescopic side becomes too great. Correction of this phenomenon becomes difficult also at the entirety of the lens system. Preferably, it is desirable to satisfy the range of VdG1>55.

It is desirable that the first lens group GR1 satisfies the following conditional formula (3). $$2<\mathrm{F}1/\mathrm{\surd FW}\mathrm{.}\mathrm{FT}<15$$

In the above formula,

F1: focal length of the first lens group GR1

FT: focal length at the telescopic end state of the lens entire system

√FW·FT: square root of product of FW and FT

The conditional formula (3) prescribes ratio between focal length of the first lens group GR1 having positive refractive power constituted by positive single lens and focal length of the intermediate area in the lens entire system. In the case where F1/√FW·FT is 2 or less, refractive power of the first lens group GR1 becomes too strong. As a result, the influence of various aberrations including spherical aberration becomes large. Correction of such phenomenon becomes difficult even at the lens entire system. Moreover, in the case where F1/√FW·FT is 15 or more, refractive power of the first lens group GR1 becomes too weak. As a result, realization of high magnification becomes difficult, and miniaturization/light weight also become difficult.

It is desirable that the last lens group GRR includes negative lens GRn at the side closest to the object, and positive lens GRp at the side closest to the image surface, and satisfies the following conditional formulas (4), (5) and (6). $$1.2<\mathrm{\&bgr;GRRT}<1.8$$ $$0.2<\mathrm{Twbf}/\mathrm{FW}<1.2$$ $$\mathrm{VdGRRn}>\mathrm{VdGRRp}$$

In the above formula,

&bgr;GRRT: magnification at the telescopic end state of the last lens group GRR

Twbf: back focus (air conversion length) at the wide-angle end state

VdGRRn: Abbe number at d line of the negative lens GRn

VdGRRp: Abbe number at d line of the positive lens GRp

The last lens group GRR includes negative lens GRn at side closest to the object and positive lens GRp at the side closest to the image surface to thereby jump upward marginal rays of light by the negative lens GRn and to suppress them by the positive lens GRp, thus permitting incident angle onto the image pick-up device of marginal rays of light to be gentle or small. Moreover, at the wide-angle end state, the lens GRn at the side closest to the object and the lens GRp at the side closest to the image surface in the lens at the side closest to the object (constituting the first lens group GR1), the lens at the side closest to the second lens group GR2 and the last lens group GRR has symmetry in the lens configuration, i.e., the relationship of positive, negative: negative, positive with aperture diaphragm being put therebetween, thus to have ability to suppress distortion aberration while performing realization of broad angle.

The conditional formula (4) prescribes magnification at the telescopic end state of the last lens group GRR. In the case where &bgr;GRRT is 1.2 or less, magnification by the last lens group GRR is reduced. As a result, not only the first lens group serving as the front optical gem is enlarged, but also height of rays of light passed through the first lens group GR1 at the telescopic end state also becomes high. Thus, the influence of axial color aberration and/or spherical aberration, etc. become large so that it becomes impossible to maintain the performance only by single lens. On the other hand, in the case where &bgr;GRRT is 1.8 or more, magnification by the last lens group GRR becomes large. Although it is advantageous to miniaturization/light weight, various aberrations left at the lens groups before the last lens group GRR would be increased. As a result, realization of high performance and assembling accuracy also becomes rigorous.

The conditional formula (5) prescribes ratio between BF (back focus) length at the wide-angle end state and focal length of the lens entire system at the wide-angle end state. Namely, in the case where value of Twbf/FW is 0.2 or less, LPF (Low-Pass Filter) and/or IR (Infrared) cut glass becomes extremely close to the image pick-up surface. As a result, defect of the LPF or the IR cut glass and/or dust attached thereto are apt to become conspicuous at the time of minimum iris. Moreover, in the case where value of Twbf/FW is 1.2 or more, the lens front gem becomes large. As a result, not only miniaturization becomes difficult, but also realization of broad angle becomes difficult.

The conditional formula (6) prescribes occurrence quantity of color aberrations of the last lens group GRR. When this condition is not satisfied, occurrence quantity of magnification color aberrations at the last group becomes large. Correction of such occurrence quantity becomes difficult even at the lens entire system.

It is desirable that at least one lens surface of the second lens group GR2 is constituted by non-spherical surface, and the second lens group GR2 satisfies the following conditional formula (7). $$0.4<\left|\mathrm{F},,2,/,\mathrm{\surd FW},\cdot ,\mathrm{FT}\right|<1.0$$

In the above formula,

F2: focal length of the second lens group GR2

The second lens group GR2 is caused to have at least one non-spherical surface to thereby have ability to effectively correct comatic aberration in the radial direction at the wide-angle end state. Thus, miniaturization and high performance can be attained at the same time.

The conditional formula (7) prescribes ratio between focal length of the second lens group GR2 having negative refractive power and focal length within the intermediate area in the lens entire system. In the case where F2/√FW·FT is 0.4 or less, refractive power of the second lens group GR2 becomes too strong. Thus, correction of image surface bending or curvature or marginal comatic aberration becomes difficult. Moreover, in the case where F1/√FW·FT is 1.0 or more, refractive power of the second lens group GR2 becomes too weak. As a result, realization of high magnification becomes difficult, or the movable range of the second lens group GR2 for the purpose of obtaining a predetermined magnification becomes large so that miniaturization would become difficult.

It is desirable that the third lens group GR3 at least one positive lens and one negative lens, and at least one lens plane surface of respective lens planes or plane surfaces is constituted by non-spherical surface and the third lens group GR3 satisfies the following conditional formula (8). $$\mathrm{VdGR}3\mathrm{p}>50$$

In the above formula,

VdGR3p: average value of Abbe numbers at d line of the positive lens within the third lens group GR3

Thus, occurrence of color aberration is suppressed thus to have ability to maintain high optical performance over the entire range. Moreover, at least one plane or plane surface of lens respective plane surfaces constituting the third lens group GR3 is constituted by non-spherical surface. Thus, occurrence of various aberrations such as spherical aberration or comatic aberration, etc. are suppressed thus to have ability to maintain high optical performance over the zooming entire range.

It is desirable that at least one plane or plane surface of respective planes of lenses constituting the last lens group GRR is constituted by non-spherical surface. This is because it is thus possible to effectively correct distortion aberration or image surface bending or curvature at the peripheral area.

In addition, it is most desirable that the zoom lens of the present invention has magnification ratio of about four times - five times in order to simultaneously attain realization of broad angle and compactness.

Four embodiments of the zoom lens of the present invention and numeric value embodiments in which practical numeric values are applied to these embodiments will now be explined with reference to FIGS. 1 to 16 and Tables 1 to 13.

It is to be noted that while non-spherical surface is used in the respective embodiments, the non-spherical shape is represented by the following formula (1). $$x=\frac{y^2\cdot c^2}{1+{\left(1,-,\left(1,+,K\right),\cdot ,y^2,\cdot ,c^2\right)}^{1/2}}+\mathrm{\&Sgr;}{A}^i\cdot y^i$$

In the above formula,

y: height in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis

x: distance in the optical axis direction from lens plane surface summit point

c: paraxial curvature at lens summit point

k: conic constant

Aⁱ: the i-th non-spherical coefficient

FIG. 1 shows the lens configuration by the first embodiment 1 of the zoom lens system of the present invention, wherein there are arranged, in order from the object side, a first lens group GR1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group GR2 having negative refractive power, a third lens group GR3 having positive refractive power, a fourth lens group GR4 having positive refractive power, a fifth lens group GR5 having negative refractive power, and a sixth lens group GR6 having negative refractive power. Further, in magnification changing or adjusting operation from the wide-angle end state up to the telescopic end state, respective lens groups are moved on the optical axis as indicated by arrow of solid line in FIG. 1.

The first lens group GR1 is comprised of a single lens G11 having positive refractive power. The second lens group GR2 is composed of a negative lens G12 having composite non-spherical surface at the object side, a negative lens G13, and a positive lens G14. The third lens group GR3 is composed of a positive lens G15 having non-spherical surfaces at both surface sides, an iris S, and a negative lens G16. The fourth lens group GR4 is comprised of a connection lens of a positive lens G17 and a negative lens G18. The fifth lens group GR5 is comprised of a negative lens G19 having non-spherical surface at the object side. The sixth lens group GR6 is composed of a negative lens G110, a positive lens G111, and a positive lens G112.

Moreover, in the first embodiment and the second, third and fourth embodiments which will be described later, a parallel plane surface plate-shaped low-pass filter LPF is disposed between the last lens plane surface and the image pick-up surface IMG. It is to be noted that, as the above-mentioned low-pass filter LPF, there may be applied double refraction type low-pass filter using, as material, quartz, etc. in which crystallization axis is adjusted in a predetermined direction, and/or phase type low-pass filter for attaining required optical cut-off frequency characteristic by diffraction effect.

Values of various elements of numeric value embodiment 1 in which practical numeric values are applied to the first embodiment are shown in Table 1. The plane No. in various element Tables of the numeric value embodiment 1 and respective numeric value embodiments which will be explained later indicates the i-th plane from the object side, R indicates radius of curvature of the i-th plane, D indicates axial spacing between the i-th plane and the (i+1)-th plane, Nd indicates refractive index with respect to d line (&lgr;=587.6 nm) of nitric material having the i-th plane at the body side, and Vd indicates Abbe number with respect to d line of nitric material having the i-th plane at the object side. Moreover, plane indicated by "ASP" indicates non-spherical surface. Radius of curvature "INFINITY" indicates plane. PLANE No. R D Nd Vd 1 79.293 5.384 1.4875 70.441 2 22777.974 variable 3 606.965 ASP 0.200 1.5361 41.200 4 147.526 1.500 1.8350 42.984 5 19.773 7.766 6 47107.787 1.100 1.8350 42.984 7 34.902 3.657 8 49.228 3.258 1.9229 20.884 9 805.396 variable 10 16.118 ASP 4.157 1.5831 59.460 11 -62.255 ASP 3.443 IRIS INFINITY 3.000 13 28.928 0.900 1.9229 20.884 14 14.588 variable 15 25.650 4.511 1.4970 81.608 16 -10.988 0.900 1.7292 54.674 17 -19.579 variable 18 -199.771 ASP 1.600 1.5831 59.460 19 184.409 variable 20 -12.900 1.000 1.8340 37.345 21 89.461 0.703 22 1121.947 3.379 1.5814 40.888 23 -23.344 0.200 24 50.317 2.956 1.9229 20.884 25 -147.936 variable 26 INFINITY 1.200 1.5168 64.198 27 INFINITY 1.620 1.5523 63.424 28 INFINITY 1.000 29 INFINITY 0.500 1.5567 58.649 30 INFINITY 1.000 i INFINITY 0.000

In accordance with change of the lens position state from the board angle end state up to the telescopic end state, spacing D2 between the first lens group GR1 and the second lens group GR2, spacing D9 between the second lens group GR2 and the third lens group GR3, spacing D14 between the third lens group GR3 and the fourth lens group GR4, spacing D17 between the fourth lens group GR4 and the fifth lens group GR5, spacing D19 between the fifth lens group GR5 and the sixth lens group GR6, and spacing D25 between the sixth lens group GR6 and the low-pass filter LPF are changed. In view of the above, various values at the wide-angle end state of the respective spacings, intermediate focal length between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and the telescopic end state are shown in Table 1 along with focal length f, F number Fno. and half picture angle &ohgr;. f 14.73 32.05 69.71 Fno. 2.88 3.78 4.94 &ohgr; 42.31 21.60 10.35 D2 1.000 21.962 52.715 D9 41.120 14.134 1.000 D14 4.243 4.949 7.390 D17 4.647 3.942 1.500 D19 4.556 8.026 13.707 D25 2.500 10.508 21.754

Respective lens plane surfaces of the third plane, the 10-th plane, the 11-th plane and the 18-th plane are constituted by non-spherical surface, and non-spherical coefficients are shown in Table 3. It is to be noted that, in the Table 3 and Tables indicating non-spherical coefficients, "E^-i" represents exponential representation having 10 as base, i.e., "10^-i". For example, "0.12345E-05" represents "0.12345 × 10^-5". PLANE No. K A⁴ A⁶ A⁸ A¹⁰ 3 0.000E+00 9.455E-06 -1.520E-08 1.95E-11 -1.38E-14 10 0.000E+00 -2.379E-05 -2.911E-08 -1.48E-11 -3.23E-13 11 0.000E+00 1.668E-05 -1.816E-09 3.62E-11 0.00E+00 18 0.000E+00 2.362E-05 7.530E-08 8.09E-10 -4.70E-12

Various aberration diagrams in the infinity far in-focus state of the numeric value embodiment 1 are respectively shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 shows various aberration diagrams at the wide-angle end state (f=14.73), FIG. 3 shows various aberration diagrams at the intermediate focal length (f=32.05) between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and FIG. 4 shows various aberration diagrams at the telescopic end state (f=69.71).

In the respective aberration diagrams of FIGS. 2 to 4, in the case of spherical aberration, ratio with respect to open F value is taken on the odinate and defocus is taken on the abscissa, wherein solid line indicates d line, single-dotted lines indicate C line and dotted lines indicate spherical aberration. In the case of astigmatism, the ordinate indicates image height, the abscissa indicates focus, the solid line S indicates sagittal image surface, and dotted lines M indicate meridional image surface. In the case of distortion aberration, the ordinate indicates image height and the abscissa indicates %.

In the above-mentioned numeric value embodiment 1, as shown in the Table 13 which will be described later, the conditional formulas (1) to (8) are satisfied. Moreover, as shown in the respective aberration diagrams, respective aberrations are all corrected in well balanced manner at the wide-angle end state, the intermediate focal length between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and the telescopic end state.

FIG. 5 shows the lens configuration by the second embodiment 2 of the zoom lens of the present invention, wherein there are arranged, in order from the object side, first lens group GR1 having positive refractive power, second lens group GR2 having negative refractive power, third lens group GR3 having positive refractive power, fourth lens group GR4 having positive refractive power, and fifth lens group GR5 having negative refractive power. Further, in magnification changing or adjusting operation from the wide-angle end state up to the telescopic end state, respective lens groups are moved on the optical axis as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 5.

The first lens group GR1 is comprised of a single lens G21 having positive refractive power. The second lens group GR2 is composed of a negative lens G22 having composite non-spherical surface at the object side, a negative lens G23, a positive lens G24, and a negative lens G25. The third lens group GR3 is composed of an iris S, a positive lens G26 having non-spherical surfaces at both surfaces, and a connection lens of a positive lens G27 and a negative lens G28. The fourth lens group GR4 is composed of a positive lens G29 having non-spherical surfaces at the both surfaces, and a connection lens of a negative lens G210 and a positive lens G211. The fifth lens group GR5 is composed of a positive lens G213 having non-spherical surface at the object side.

Values of various elements of the numeric value embodiment 2 in which practical numeric values are applied to the above-mentioned second embodiment is shown in Table 4. PLANE NO. R D Nd Vd 1 79.571 5.274 1.4875 70.441 2 335.075 variable 3 92.312 ASP 0.300 1.5273 42.315 4 56.834 1.800 1.8350 42.984 5 17.052 9.817 6 -88.533 1.200 1.8350 42.984 7 39.682 2.614 8 60.327 3.853 1.9229 20.884 9 -82.616 1.214 10 -49.685 1.200 1.7292 54.674 11 -169.164 variable IRIS INFINITY 2.000 13 23.533 ASP 4.514 1.5831 59.460 14 -43.767 ASP 0.279 15 22.946 4.838 1.4970 81.608 16 -119.965 1.000 1.8340 37.345 17 19.175 variable 18 19.524 ASP 7.171 1.4875 70.441 19 -27.555 ASP 0.300 20 -94.179 1.200 1.8350 42.984 21 18.000 6.086 1.4875 70.441 22 -48.007 variable 23 -18.094 1.200 1.8042 46.503 24 -236.068 0.500 25 37.222 ASP 3.500 1.8467 23.785 26 -315.162 variable 27 INFINITY 2.000 1.5168 64.198 28 INFINITY 2.000 1.5523 63.424 29 INFINITY 1.000 30 INFINITY 0.500 1.5567 58.649 31 INFINITY 1.000 i INFINITY 0.000

In accordance with change of the lens position state from the wide-angle end state up to the telescopic end state, spacing D2 between the first lens group GR1 and the second lens group GR2, spacing D11 between the second lens group GR2 and the third lens group GR3, spacing D17 between the third lens group GR3 and the fourth lens group GR4, spacing D22 between the fourth lens group GR4 and the fifth lens group GR5, and spacing between the fifth lens group GR5 and the low-pass filter LPF are changed. In view of the above, respective values at the wide-angle end state of the respective spacings, the intermediate focal length between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and the telescopic end state are shown in Table 5 along with focal length f, F number Fno. and half picture angle &ohgr;. f 14.42 31.37 68.25 Fno. 2.85 3.65 5.03 &ohgr; 45.73 24.45 11.79 D2 1.200 27.771 51.410 D11 38.353 14.834 1.500 D17 17.025 15.273 9.161 D22 7.062 11.760 24.506 D26 5.000 16.739 27.064

Respective lens plane surfaces of the third plane, the 13-th plane, the 14-th plane, the 18-th plane and the 25-th plane are constituted by non-spherical surface, and non-spherical coefficients are as shown in Table 6. PLANE No. K A⁴ A⁶ A⁸ A¹⁰ 3 0.000E+00 1.213E-05 -1.781E-08 2.95E-11 -2.34E-14 13 0.000E+00 -1.187E-05 2.76E-09 -6.87E-11 2.13E-13 14 0.000E+00 5.237E-06 6.974E-09 -7.76E-12 0.00E+00 18 0.000E+00 -1.161E-05 -3.59E-08 3.16E-11 -3.20E-13 19 0.000E+00 1.105E-05 3.13E-09 1.89E-11 0.00E+00 25 0.E+00 -1.16E-05 2.10E-08 -8.05E-11 3.29E-13

Various aberration diagrams in the infinity far in-focus state of the numeric value embodiment 2 are respectively shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. FIG. 6 shows various aberration diagrams at the wide-angle end state (f=14.42), FIG. 7 shows various aberration diagrams at the intermediate focal length (f=31.37) between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and FIG. 8 shows various aberration diagrams at the telescopic end state (f=68.25).

In the respective aberration diagrams of FIGS. 6 to 8, in the case of the spherical aberration, ratio with respect to open F value is taken on the ordinate and defocus is taken on the abscissa, wherein solid line indicates d line, single dotted lines indicate C line, and dotted line indicates spherical aberration at g line. In the case of astigmatism, the ordinate indicates image height, the abscissa indicates focus, solid line S indicates sagittal image surface, and dotted lines M indicate meridional image surface. In the case of distortion aberration, the ordinate indicates image height, and the abscissa indicates %.

In the numeric value embodiment 2, as shown in FIG. 13 which will be described later, the conditional formulas (1) to (8) are satisfied. Moreover, as shown in the respective aberration diagrams, respective aberrations are all corrected in well-balanced manner at the wide-angle end state, the intermediate focal length between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and the telescopic end state.

FIG. 9 shows the lens configuration by the third embodiment 3 of the zoom lens of the present invention, wherein there are arranged in order first lens group GR1 having positive refractive power, second lens group GR2 having negative refractive power, third lens group GR3 having positive refractive power, fourth lens group GR4 having positive refractive power, and a fifth lens group GR5 having negative refractive power. Further, in magnification changing or adjusting operation from the wide-angle end state up to the telescopic end state, respective lens groups are moved on the optical axis as indicated by arrow of solid line of FIG. 9.

The first lens group GR1 is comprised of single lens G31 having positive refractive power. The second lens group GR2 is composed of a negative lens G32 having composite non-spherical surface at the object side, a negative lens G33, a positive lens G34, and a negative lens G35. The third lens group GR3 is composed of an iris S, a positive lens G36 having non-spherical surfaces at the both surfaces, and a connection lens of a positive lens G37 and a negative lens G38. The fourth lens group GR4 is composed of a positive lens G39 having non-spherical surfaces at the both surfaces, and a connection lens of a negative lens G310 and a positive lens G311. The fifth lens group GR5 is composed of a negative lens G312, and a positive lens G313 having non-spherical surface at the object side.

Values of various elements of the numeric value embodiment 3 in which practical numeric values are applied to the above-mentioned third embodiment are shown in Table 7. PLANE No. R D Nd Vd 1 143.348 4.5 1.6968 55.46 2 373.253 variable 3 79.544 ASP 0.2 1.5273 42.315 4 48.173 1.6 1.883 40.805 5 19.849 11.44 6 446.917 1.2 1.835 42.984 7 27.807 8.962 8 59.203 6 1.9229 20.884 9 -196.687 1.641 10 -53.186 2.927 1.7725 49.624 11 -200.818 variable IRIS INFINITY 2 13 24.772 ASP 6 1.4875 70.441 14 -37.719 ASP 1 15 27.651 6 1.497 81.608 16 -319.491 1 1.834 37.345 17 22.57 variable 18 18.223 ASP 6.888 1.5247 56.238 19 -26.379 ASP 0.8 20 -50.637 1.2 1.883 40.805 21 15 6.84 1.4875 70.441 22 -35.587 variable 23 -19.062 1.2 1.8042 46.503 24 -80 0.5 25 55.153 ASP 3 1.8467 23.785 26 -253.322 variable 27 INFINITY 2 1.5168 64.198 28 INFINITY 2 1.5523 63.424 29 INFINITY 1 30 INFINITY 0.5 1.5567 58.649 31 INFINITY 1 i INFINITY 0

In accordance with change of the lens position state from the wide-angle end state up to the lens position state, spacing D2 between the first lens group GR1 and the second lens group GR2, spacing D11 between the second lens group GR2 and the third lens group GR3, spacing D17 between the third lens group GR3 and the fourth lens group GR4, spacing D22 between the fourth lens group GR4 and the fifth lens group GR5, and spacing D26 between the fifth lens group GR5 and the low-pass filter LPF are changed. In view of the above, various values at the wide-angle end state of the respective spacings, the intermediate focal length between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and the telescopic end state are shown in Table 8 along with focal length f, F number Fno. and half picture angle &ohgr;. f 12.10 24.20 48.40 Fno. 2.85 3.66 5.03 &ohgr; 49.81 30.18 16.33 D2 1.000 25.829 52.000 D11 44.445 16.793 1.000 D17 11.498 9.507 5.693 D22 9.853 13.825 25.064 D26 2.000 11.681 20.788

Respective lens plane surfaces of the third plane, the 13-th plane, the 14-th plane, the 18-th plane, the 19-th plane and the 25-th plane are constituted by non-spherical surface. Non-spherical coefficients are as shown in Table 9. PLANE No. K A⁴ A⁶ A⁸ A¹⁰ 3 0.000E+00 1.02E-05 -8.79E-09 1.03E-11 -3.46E-15 13 0.000E+00 -1.22E-05 1.66E-08 -2.43E-10 1.31E-12 14 0.000E+00 7.35E-06 2.51E-08 -2.59E-10 1.48E-12 18 0.000E+00 -7.12E-06 -2.49E-08 4.13E-11 -5.99E-13 19 0.000E+00 1.94E-05 -7.46E-09 7.91E-12 9.22E-14 25 0.000E+00 -1.66E-06 2.72E-08 -2.26E-10 7.31E-13

Various aberration diagrams in the infinity far in-focus state of the numeric value embodiment 3 are respectively shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, wherein FIG. 10 shows various aberration diagram at the wide-angle end state (f=12.10), FIG. 11 shows various aberration diagrams at the intermediate focal length (f=24.20) between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and FIG. 12 shows various aberration diagrams at the telescopic end state (f=48.40).

In respective aberration diagrams of FIGS. 10 to 12, in the case of spherical aberration, ratio with respect to open F value is taken on the ordinate, and defocus is taken on the abscissa, wherein solid line indicates spherical aberration at d line, single dotted lines indicate spherical aberration at C line, and dotted line indicate spherical aberration at g line. In the case of astigmatism, the ordinate indicates image height, the abscissa indicates focus, solid line S indicates sagittal image surface, and dotted lines M indicate meridional image surface. In the case of distortion aberration, the ordinate indicates image height, and the abscissa indicates %.

In the numeric value embodiment 3, as shown in the Table 13 which will be described later, the conditional formulas (1) to (8) are satisfied. Moreover, as shown in the respective aberration diagrams, respective aberrations are corrected in well-balanced manner at the wide-angle end state, the intermediate focal length between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and the telescopic end state.

FIG. 13 shows the lens configuration by the fourth embodiment 4 of the zoom lens of the present invention, wherein there are arranged, in order from the object side, first lens group GR1 having positive refractive power, second lens group GR2 having negative refractive power, third lens group GR3 having positive refractive power, fourth lens group GR4 having negative refractive power, fifth lens group GR5 having positive refractive power, and a sixth lens group GR6 having negative refractive power. Further, in magnification changing or adjusting operation from the wide-angle end state up to the telescopic end state, the respective lens groups are moved on the optical axis as indicated by arrow of solid line in FIG. 13.

The first lens group is comprised of a single lens G41 having positive refractive power. The second lens group GR2 is composed of a negative lens G42 having non-spherical surface at the object side, a negative lens G43 having composite non-spherical surface at the image pick-up surface side, and a positive lens G44. The third lens group GR3 is composed of a positive lens G45 having composite non-spherical surface at the object side, an iris S, and a connection lens of a negative lens G46 and a positive lens G47 having non-spherical surface at the image pick-up surface side. The fourth lens group GR4 is comprised of a negative lens G48. The fifth lens group GR5 is comprised of a positive lens G49 having non-spherical surfaces at both surface sides. The sixth lens group GR6 is composed of a connection lens of a negative lens G410 and a positive lens G411, and a positive lens G412.

Values of various elements of the numeric value embodiment 4 in which practical numeric values are applied to the above-mentioned fourth embodiment are shown in Table 10. PLANE No. R D Nd Vd 1 59.370 9.000 1.6180 63.396 2 260.955 variable 3 133.403 ASP 2.000 1.8350 42.984 4 17.570 6.501 5 472.303 1.700 1.8350 42.984 6 45.831 0.200 1.5361 41.207 7 34.599 ASP 3.013 8 49.990 4.185 1.9229 20.880 9 5000.000 variable 10 19.172 ASP 0.200 1.5146 49.961 11 19.221 4.635 1.4875 70.441 12 -300.000 5.000 IRIS INFINITY 3.250 14 20.595 0.900 1.9037 31.312 15 11.395 4.368 1.6230 58.122 16 -60.206 ASP variable 17 -167.453 1.000 1.9037 31.319 18 24.684 variable 19 50.507 ASP 2.400 1.5831 59.461 20 -51.079 ASP variable 21 -13.347 1.800 1.8830 40.805 22 -5000.000 3.275 1.8467 23.785 23 -36.845 1.000 24 45.259 3.088 1.9229 20.880 25 -500.000 variable 26 INFINITY 2.010 1.5523 63.424 27 INFINITY 2.100 28 INFINITY 0.500 1.5567 58.649 29 INFINITY 1.000 i INFINITY 0.000

In accordance with change of the lens position state from the broad angle state up to the telescopic end state, spacing D2 between the first lens group GR1 and the second lens group GR2, spacing D9 between the second lens group GR2 and the third lens group GR3, spacing D16 between the third lens group GR3 and the fourth lens group GR4, spacing D18 between the fourth lens group GR4 and the fifth lens group GR5, spacing D20 between the fifth lens group GR5 and the sixth lens group GR6, and spacing D25 between the sixth lens group GR6 and the low-pass filter LPF are changed. In view of the above, various values at the wide-angle end state of the respective spacings, the intermediate focal length between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and the telescopic end state are shown in Table 11 along with focal length f, F number Fno. and half picture angle &ohgr;. f 20.00 41.95 88.00 Fno. 2.89 3.52 4.66 &ohgr; 33.14 17.10 8.49 D2 3.447 24.779 43.000 D9 38.000 15.015 1.000 D16 4.372 4.221 2.000 D18 3.181 3.332 5.553 D20 7.887 10.468 18.215 D25 2.000 8.255 16.076

Respective lens plane surfaces of the third plane, the 7-th plane, the 10-th plane, the 16-th plane, the 19-th plane and the 20-th plane are constituted by non-spherical surface. Non-spherical coefficients are as shown in Table 12. PLANE No. K A⁴ A⁶ A⁸ A¹⁰ 3 0.000E+00 -7.08E-08 -1.98E-10 -3.45E-12 -1.17E-15 7 -1.092E-01 -1.09E-05 -4.70E-08 1.86E-10 -8.70E-13 10 0.000E+00 -1.41E-05 -2.15E-08 -1.68E-10 7.12E-13 16 2.549E-01 2.68E-05 -1.25E-07 7.04E-10 -5.36E-12 19 0.000E+00 7.99E-05 2.45E-07 -1.77E-10 5.78E-11 20 0.000E+00 4.90E-05 3.26E-07 -8.57E-10 7.3256E-11

Various aberration diagrams in the infinity far in-focus state of the numeric value embodiment 4 are respectively shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, wherein FIG. 14 shows various aberration diagrams at the wide-angle end state (f=20.00), FIG. 15 shows various aberration diagrams at the intermediate focal length (f=41.95) between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and FIG. 16 shows various aberration diagrams at the telescopic end state (f=88.00).

In the respective aberration diagrams of FIGS. 14 to 16, in the case of the spherical aberration, ratio with respect to open F value is taken on the ordinate and defocus is taken on the abscissa, wherein solid line indicates spherical aberration at d line, single dotted lines indicate spherical aberration at C line, and dotted lines indicate spherical aberration at g line. In the case of astigmatism, the ordinate indicates image height, the abscissa indicates focus, solid line S indicates sagittal image surface, and dotted lines indicate meridional image surface. In the case of distortion aberration, the ordinate indicates image height, and the abscissa indicates %.

In the numeric value embodiment 4, as shown in the Table 13 which will be described later, the conditional formulas (1) to (8) are satisfied. Moreover, respective aberrations are all corrected in well-balanced manner at the wide-angle end state, the intermediate focal length between the wide-angle end state and the telescopic end state, and the telescopic end state. Conditional Formula (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Numeric Value Embodiment YMAX/Fw VdG1 F1/√Fw·FT BGRRT Twbf/fw 1 0.874 70.441 5.076 1.533 0.452 2 0.985 70.441 6.754 1.586 0.688 3 1.174 55.460 13.838 1.392 0.573 4 0.650 63.396 2.904 1.483 0.336 Conditional Formula (6) (7) (8) Numeric Value Embodiment VdGRRn VdGRRp |F2/√Fw·FT| VdGR3p 1 37.3451 20.8835 0.723 59.460 2 46.5025 23.7848 0.593 70.534 3 46.5025 23.7848 0.820 76.025 4 40.8054 20.8804 0.598 64.282

It is to be noted that while respective lens groups of zoom lenses shown in the respective embodiments are constituted only by refraction type lens for deflecting rays of incident light by refraction (i.e., lens of the type in which deflection is performed at the interface or surface between media having different refractive indices), respective lens groups may be constituted, without being limited to the above mentioned implementation, by, e.g., diffraction type lens for deflecting rays of incident light by refraction, refraction diffraction hybrid type lens for deflecting rays of incident light by combination of diffracting action and refracting action, and/or refractive index distribution type lens for deflecting rays of incident light by refractive index distribution within medium, etc.

Moreover, plane having no optical power (e.g., reflection plane surface, refraction plane surface, diffraction plane surface) may be provided within optical path to bend or fold the optical path before and after the zoom lens or in the middle thereof. Bending position may be set as occasion demands. By suitable bending of optical path, it is possible to attain realization of superficial thin structure of camera.

Moreover, one or plural lens groups, or a portion of one lens group may be shifted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis among the lens groups constituting the zoom lens to thereby have ability to shift image. A detection system for detecting vibration or movement of the camera, a drive system for shifting the lens group, and a control system for giving shift quantity to the drive system in accordance with output of the detection system may be combined to thereby have ability to allow such combined system to function as a vibration proof optical system.

The embodiment of the image pick-up apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIG. 17.

The image pick-up apparatus 10 comprises a zoom lens 20, and includes an image pick-up device 30 for converting an optical image formed by the zoom lens 20 into an electric signal. In this example, as the image pick-up device 30, there can be applied photo-electric converting devices using, e.g., CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), etc. The zoom lens according to the present invention can be applied to the zoom lens 20. In FIG. 17, respective lens groups of the zoom lens 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are illustrated as single lens in a simplified manner. It is a matter of course that not only the zoom lens according to the first embodiment, but also the zoom lenses according to the second and third embodiments and/or the zoom lens of the present invention constituted by the embodiments except for the embodiments shown in this specification may be used.

An electric signal formed by the image pick-up device 30 is separated by a video separation circuit 40. Thus, a focus control signal is sent to a control circuit 50, and a video signal is sent to a video processing circuit. The signal which has been sent to the video processing circuit is processed so as to take a form suitable for processing subsequent thereto. The processed signal thus obtained is caused to undergo various processing such as display by display unit, recording onto recording medium and/or transfer by communication means, etc.

The control circuit 50 is supplied with an operation signal from the external, e.g., operation of zoom button, etc. so that various processing are performed in accordance with the operation signal. For example, when focus command by the zoom button is inputted, a drive unit 70 is caused to become operative through a driver circuit 60 in order that there results focal length state based on the command to move the respective lens groups to a predetermined position. Position information of the respective lens groups which have been obtained by respective sensors 80 are inputted to the control circuit 50. The position information thus inputted are referred in outputting a command signal to the driver circuit 60. Moreover, the control circuit 50 serves to check focus state on the basis of a signal sent from the video separation circuit 40 to conduct a control such that that optimum focus state can be obtained.

The above-mentioned image pick-up apparatus 10 may take various forms as practical products. For example, the image pick-up apparatus 10 can be widely applied as camera unit, etc. of digital input/output equipment such as digital still camera, digital video camera, mobile telephone in which camera is assembled or incorporated and/or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) in which camera is assembled or incorporated, etc.

It is to be noted that all of practical shapes and numeric values of respective components shown in the above-described respective embodiments and numeric embodiments only illustrate mere examples of embodiments in carrying out the present invention, and technical field of the present invention should not be restrictively interpreted by those implementations.

It is possible to provide zoom lens including broad picture angle of 60 to 100 degrees as photographic picture angle of the wide-angle end state, and having the magnification ratio of about three times to six times, small front gem diameter, excellent compactness and high image formation performance, and image pick-up apparatus using such zoom lens system. The zoom lens and the image pick-up apparatus using such zoom lens can be widely utilized for digital video camera and/or digital still camera, etc.