A zoom lens (ZL) comprises, in order from an object: a first lens group (G1) having negative refractive power; an aperture stop (S); a second lens group (G2) having positive refractive power; a third lens group (G3) having negative refractive power; and a fourth lens group (G4) having positive refractive power. In this zoom lens (ZL), upon zooming from a wide angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between the aperture stop (S) and the first lens group (G1), a distance between the aperture stop (S) and the second lens group (G2), and a distance between the aperture stop (S) and the third lens group (G3) are changed and the aperture stop (S) is moved in an optical axis direction.