A zoom optical system (ZL) comprises 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, a fourth lens group (G4) having negative refractive power, and a fifth lens group (G5) having positive refractive power that are disposed in order from an object. Upon zooming from a wide angle end state to a telephoto end state, the lens groups are moved along an optical axis to change distances between the lens groups. The fifth lens group (G5) comprises at least one positive lens and at least one negative lens. Certain conditional expressions are satisfied.