A zoom lens system (10) for imaging, includes, in order from an object side (11); a first lens group (G1) with negative refractive power that moves at the time of zooming; a second lens group (G2) with a positive refractive power that moves at the time of zooming, the second lens group including an aperture stop (St); a third lens group (G3) with a positive refractive power, the position of which is fixed relative to the image plane. The second lens group includes: a first sub-lens group (S1) with a positive refractive power arranged on the object side and having the aperture stop; and a second sub-lens group (S2) with a negative refractive power arranged on the image plane side and configured to move independently of the first sub-lens group at the time of focusing.