A variable magnification optical system comprising, in order from an object side, a first lens group and a plurality of lens groups; upon varying a magnification, a distance between the first lens group and the plurality of lens groups being varied, and distances between respective lens groups in the plurality of lens groups being varied; the plurality of lens groups comprising an object side focusing lens group which is moved upon carrying out focusing and at least one image side focusing lens group disposed in a more image side than the object side focusing lens group and moved with a trajectory differing from that of the object side focusing lens group, upon carrying out the focusing; and
the predetermined conditional expressions being satisfied, whereby variations in aberrations upon varying magnification from the wide angle end state to the telephoto end state as well as variations in aberrations upon carrying out focusing from an infinite distance object to a close distance object can be suppressed superbly.